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# What is a digital library?
- URL: https://www.lorcandempsey.net/what-is-a-digital-library/
- Published: 2004-07-18T22:37:58.000Z
- Updated: 2004-07-18T22:37:58.000Z
- Author: Lorcan Dempsey
- Tags: Institutions, Systems

There was a discussion on diglib a while ago about what is a digital library. This was more interesting than most, especially when it came to Eric Hellman’s question about whether particular services counted as digital libraries or not.

> A digital library is “Any collection of digital resources managed with the primary goal of maximizing the collection’s utility to a defined user community”. \[[diglib@infoserv.inist.fr](https://infoserv.inist.fr/wwsympa.fcgi/arc/diglib/2004-07/msg00011.html?ref=lorcandempsey.net)\]