Libraries and Data – Paradigm Shifts and Challenges

Abstract

In a changing world, libraries have not only to keep in step with the developments but also to exert their influence as far as possible. Relevant developments congregate in the transformation of the library as a physical concept into a central learning and gathering place at the research campus, illustrating that the functional concept of a library is needed more than ever. As trusted advisers for the academia libraries can play a fundamental role in a time where more and more scholars are afraid of “information overload” and the definition of academic resources includes increasingly heterogeneous content types and new definitions of publishing. The new nature of tasks and content types ask for new services and new tools. The development and reliable maintenance of such services and tools are genuine tasks for libraries.