The Evolution of Academic Libraries in the Digital Age

Dr. Mahadeva Prasad M S, Nirmala G

Abstract: The digital revolution has caused a significant shift in academic libraries, shifting their focus from physical collections to cloud-hosted digital repositories. In this study, which examined the consequences of digital transformation, the growing importance of ICT-based services-such as digital archives, online catalogs, and electronic publications-was described. Obstacles such as limited funding, poor employee training, and the longevity of print materials were also assessed. Libraries are essential for research, interactive education, and knowledge preservation. The new pandemic accelerated this shift by emphasizing how crucial it is to have continuous access to educational resources.

Keywords: Academic libraries, digital transformation, ICT in libraries, knowledge preservation, library automation, e-resources, emerging technologies, user experience, online databases, information access