| Libraries and archival institutions are encountering unprecedented pressures for change, arising largely from the emergence of the World Wide Web. Discusses those challenges in the framework of the key imperatives of support for public education, contribution to cultural development, preservation of our heritage for posterity, and information management. As examples, libraries and archival institutions need to support flexible online learning services; support collaborative cross-sectoral cultural programs; respond to the challenge of digital preservation and encourage a program of research and collaboration; manage traditional and digital collections in an integrated manner; manage text in different scripts in an integrated manner; and ensure persistent access to digital information resources. |