The International Yearbook of Library and Information Management (IYLIM) is a thematic, annual publication in the field of library science and information management worldwide. Each volume contains substantive chapters covering current issues, emerging debates and trends, and models of best practice and likely future developments, contributed by an internationally respected panel of researchers, practitioners and academics. The theme for 2002-2003, "the digital factor," looks at the all-encompassing questions of how digital initiatives are effecting library and information services. The focus is intentionally broad ranging from organizational to technical issues, from collection management to reader services. The book is divided into six parts; Part One asks the question: In praise of the digital revolution?; Part Two looks at institutional models and finance; Part Three analyses different types of information and users; Part Four evaluates reference services; Part Five considers collection management; and Part Six looks at standards and technology. Areas covered within these themes include: · The spectrum of digital objects in the library and beyond · Digital versus print issues · New models of the library in a digital era · The economic opportunities and costs of developing digital libraries and resources · Reading in a digital age · Judging a book by its cover: e-books, digitalization and print of demand · The digital library and younger users · Web-based reference services: design and implementation issues · Digital library initiatives for academic teaching and learning · The challenge of implementing a global information network · Evaluating digital collections · Beyond today's search engines