Tóm tắt
Information in electronic formats is becoming more and more the
chosen medium for publishers. Value‐added services are available to
customize downloaded data to user‐specific requirements with software
applications such as expert systems and hypermedia. The public library′s
role as the focal point for information access in any community
necessitates confirmation of this role through central and local
government provision of adequate resources. Such resources must be
sufficient to increase those information technology‐based services
already offered, together with the provision of value‐added facilities
for all library users, such that the existing division of the
information rich and the information poor, dependent on the user′s
institutional support, ceases to be of such significance. The library is
the central referral point for information for its user community and
such a role must be financially supported to avoid a divisive
information society.
