The Convergence of Telecommunications and Today's Academic Libraries

Abstract

The ultimate result of the merger of the technologies of information systems, broadcasting, and traditional person-to-person telecommunications -- an integrated system -- is already in view, but not so clear are the regulatory [e.g., copyright, electronic carbon copies and postmarks], financial, and commercial/business junctions which will need eventuate. At academic institutions, and particularly so in academic libraries, the "electronic ["digital"] library" will not only maintain the historic role of electronic storage and retrieval but also include "knowledge management" and information delivery roles that have implications in every area of management, services, instruction and research.