{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,6]],"date-time":"2026-01-06T13:21:56Z","timestamp":1767705716687,"version":"3.41.2"},"reference-count":9,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2006,10,1]],"date-time":"2006-10-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1159660800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2006,10,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>This article was originally the keynote speech to the Bielefeld Conference. The article aims to explore the challenges facing libraries in the digital age and consider ways in which they need to reshape and rethink their services and skills to maintain their relevance and contribution.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>Provides a review of a wide range of recently published materials (2003\u20102006) and gives a broad perspective on the challenges facing libraries. These are then considered within the case study experience of the British Library to identify key themes for redefining the concept of \u201clibrary\u201d.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>This article gives a clear articulation of the challenges facing libraries. Through the case study the author identifies seven themes as central to redefining the library in the twenty\u2010first century: know your users and keep close to them; re\u2010think the physical spaces and create a desirable draw; integrate marketing into the organisation; open up legacy print collections to digital channels and through digitisation; reduce legacy costs and continue to improve productivity in traditional activities; invest more in innovation and digital activities; and develop our people and ensure the right mix of skills.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>A practical source of ideas for those seeking to develop their own library activities and a thought\u2010provoking analysis for anyone interested in the implications of the digital age.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>This paper gives an original view of changes within the library sector from one of the leaders in the field and is rooted in the practical and innovative approaches adopted by one of the world's great research libraries.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/07378830610715356","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2007,1,15]],"date-time":"2007-01-15T11:41:23Z","timestamp":1168861283000},"page":"484-495","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":22,"title":["Re\u2010defining the library"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"24","author":[{"given":"Lynne","family":"Brindley","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"key":"key2022022020101994900_b1","unstructured":"(The) British Library (2005), Redefining the Library: The British Library's Strategy 2005\u20102008, The British Library, London, available at: www.bl.uk\/about\/strategy.html (accessed 24 April 2006)."},{"key":"key2022022020101994900_b2","unstructured":"Chillingworth, M. (2006), \u201cThe stories that rocked your world in 2005\u201d, Information World Review, Vol. 220, pp. 9\u201010."},{"key":"key2022022020101994900_b3","unstructured":"Information World Review (2006), \u201cFlashback\u201d, Information World Review, Vol. 220, p. 32."},{"key":"key2022022020101994900_b4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lagoze, C., Krafft, D.B., Payette, S. and Jesuroga, S. (2005), \u201cWhat is a digital library anymore, anyway?\u201d, D\u2010Lib Magazine, Vol. 11 No. 11, available at: www.dlib.org\/dlib\/november05\/lagoze\/11lagoze.html (accessed 24 April 2006).","DOI":"10.1045\/november2005-lagoze"},{"key":"key2022022020101994900_b5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lynch, C. (2005), \u201cWhere do we go from here? The next decade for digital libraries\u201d, D\u2010Lib Magazine, Vol. 11 Nos 7\/8, available at: www.dlib.org\/dlib\/july05\/lynch\/07lynch (accessed 24 April 2006).","DOI":"10.1045\/july2005-lynch"},{"key":"key2022022020101994900_b6","unstructured":"McGahan, A.M. (2004), \u201cHow industries change\u201d, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 82 No. 10, pp. 87\u201094."},{"key":"key2022022020101994900_b7","unstructured":"Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) (2003a), OCLC Environmental Scan: Pattern Recognition, OCLC Inc., Dublin, OH, available at: www.oclc.org\/reports\/2003escan.htm (accessed 24 April 2006)."},{"key":"key2022022020101994900_b8","unstructured":"Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) (2003b), Libraries: How They Stack Up, OCLC Inc., Dublin, OH, available at: www.oclc.org\/reports\/2003libsstackup.htm (accessed 24 April 2006)."},{"key":"key2022022020101994900_b9","unstructured":"Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) (2005), Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources: A Report to the OCLC Membership, OCLC Inc., Dublin, OH, available at: www.oclc.org\/reports\/2005perceptions.htm (accessed 24 April 2006)."}],"container-title":["Library Hi Tech"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emeraldinsight.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1108\/07378830610715356","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/07378830610715356\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/07378830610715356\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,24]],"date-time":"2025-07-24T23:33:09Z","timestamp":1753399989000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/lht\/article\/24\/4\/484-495\/264383"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Norbert","family":"Lossau","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2006,10,1]]},"references-count":9,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2006,10,1]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/07378830610715356"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/07378830610715356","relation":{},"ISSN":["0737-8831"],"issn-type":[{"type":"print","value":"0737-8831"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2006,10,1]]}}}