Problems of digital libraries in the age of electronic publications

Hadi Sharif Moghaddam and Ghasem Ali Ehsanian
Payame Noor University
Mashad, Iran

With advances in IT, a medium to expand and transmit information was established which at first was deemed to remove books from the planet. However, the research conducted demonstrates that the more the world leans towards using computers and their application (electronic sources), the more it emphasizes the use of printed books and documents. Nevertheless, information technology has paved the way for the removal of written and cultural misunderstandings, has contributed to delivering information by using the most modern methods, and has helped to a large extent to remove the obstacles which hindered the transfer of information through published sources.

Studies indicate that, with respect to advances in science and scientific documents production, electronic media can play an important role in promoting information, and, in fact, are a breakthrough. The co-existence of electronic documents and published documents, through promoting information better and more accurately, can cause the development of scientific communities.

This article considers many of the features of electronic publications, including the definition of electronic publishing, its advantages and disadvantages, and its standards and patterns.