DIGITAL LIBRARY ROLES IN EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT: CHALLENGES AND THE WAY FORWARD

TELLA, A., SANYA, I. E., ONYEBINAMA, C. O.

Abstract

Digital library is understood to be an electronic collection of real or virtual resources which are hitherto available elsewhere. They may appear in form of whole work which can be accessed holistically through cognitive or affective engagement. Digital libraries provide opportunities for widespread dissemination of information in a timely fashion. With this development, access to information in a networked world is now concerned of many people. If this is true, what then is the role of digital libraries especially as far as educational and cultural developments are concerned and what challenges are faced by digital libraries. These are the questions answered in this paper. Hence, the paper examined digital libraries and considers its roles in educational and cultural development, the services offered by digital libraries, the types of today’s digital libraries, the challenges it’s currently facing and the possible way forward.