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Purpose The general aim of the annual conference and course Libraries in the Digital Age (LIDA), started in 2000, is to address the changing and challenging environment for libraries and information systems and services in the digital world, with an emphasis on examining contemporary problems, advances and solutions. Each year a different and hot theme is addressed, divided in two parts; the first part covers research and development and the second part addresses advances in applications and practice. LIDA seeks to bring together researchers, practitioners, and developers in a forum for personal exchanges, discussions, and learning, made easier by being held in memorable locations. Rationale Libraries and information systems everywhere are increasingly and greatly affected in all of their functions by the rapid evolution of the digital age. While the growing World Wide Web, and the Internet in general, greatly enhances access to a variety of information resources, it also provides for many new and complex challenges and problems for libraries and information systems, as well as for their creators and users. The critical, main issue is ensuring an effective and efficient flow of information from the generators to users of information in the digital environment, and by using electronic resources, services, and networks. This is a complex communication chain with libraries and information systems playing an important, even critical role. This role brings also a number of new requirements. Due to the complexity of these requirements it is no longer possible for librarians and information specialists to act without being continuously abreast of new methods and techniques and without being informed regularly about new trends and approaches. In other words, for librarians and information professionals the digital age also brings a need for a constant update of their professional knowledge and competencies. Orientation The course is oriented toward professionals and researchers in librarianship, information science, and informatics, as well as from other disciplines interested in this topic. In particular, the course will be useful for practicing librarians and information scientists, for students of library and information science, and for system administrators, system operators, web page managers, and related personnel in library and information systems. |
    
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Last revised: June 12th 2005. |