UPPBYGGNADEN AV DET DIGITALA BIBLIOTEKET PÅ ISLAND

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Close to the city center of Reykjavik lies the combined national- and university library of Iceland. Usually, these two types of institutions are separated. The purpose of this essay is to investigate how the library in fact selects the new digital material to offer the users in Iceland, and if the combined mission creates any problems or conflicts. The investigation examines the planning and the content of the digital library, what user groups are addressed and how the organisation is held together despite the different missions. If cultural context in Iceland makes a difference for what is selected and offered to the users is also discussed. Six informants in strategic library positions dealing with the digital national- or university library, were interviewed. The answers have been analysed in light of the library&information literature on building and maintaining digital library collections and organizational and marketing theory. The main result of the study is that the informants do not see a conflict between the missions of the organisation, although traces of a struggle were found in some areas. The lack of conflict is due to the flat and not hierarchic organisation, and carefully established goals. Another reason is the lack of claims from the financing groups on the library how to use the money granted. The cultural context makes a difference, since it enables short distance communication, networking, and the national access to databases and scientific articles that would not be an option in a larger community. Due to the rapid development of digital resources offered and the increas...