With the advent of new technologies for creating, maintaining, and disseminating information comes a changing role for libraries and archives. Research has been conducted that explores the economics of mechanisms for information dissemination. For example, Kingma (1994) presents an economic model to analyze the cost-efficiency of three alternatives to access to journal articles. The three alternatives discussed are journal subscriptions, consortium membership, and commercial document delivery. The results of the analysis indicate that cost efficiency is based upon such factors as the value of future journal use, the value of time to patrons, and the costs of delivery and subscriptions. Kingma and Eppard (1992) discuss the escalation of journal prices in terms of equilibrium between the library market and the market for individual subscriptions. They argue that the availability of high quality photocopying has increased individuals’ reliance on library subscriptions and propose that a socially responsible solution to the problem of journal price escalation is to increase the cost of photocopying and restrict journal use to within the library. Kingma (1996) analyzes the economic efficiency of library consortia in the provision of journal articles by way of journal subscriptions versus interlibrary loan through the development of a cost matrix that includes variables for: the fixed costs of journal subscriptions, the marginal costs of lending, access, and borrowing; as well as three different opportunity costs of patrons in terms of time, money and other factors.

Also of importance is the development of mechanisms to support the archival preservation of digital records. Hedstrom and Kowlowitz (1988) report on a project conducted by the New York State Archives and Records Administration that identified measures required to improve the management and preservation of machine readable records. They describe the scope and nature of computer use in New York State, and provide criteria for, and the process associated with, the selection of records for permanent preservation. They further describe methods for developing working relationships between archivists and staff of government agencies that produce records. Hedstrom (1993) reports on a needs assessment focused on training archivists about electronic records and automated techniques.

Boettcher and Kingma (1994) discuss four purchasing options for telephone directories, one of the most highly used sources of information in a library’s reference collection. They indicate that telephone directories are a stable reference tool with a strong history of use, they are familiar to most users, and that resources such as the community and yellow pages are widely used. The future of an all-print telephone directory collection in libraries is questioned in terms of the availability of CD-ROM technology and the cost of printed directories. They provide a framework for cost analysis for the following four telephone directory purchasing options: printed directories, directory assistance, phone-fiche, and CD-ROMs.

As the role of libraries changes, the role of librarians must also change substantially. Librarians and archivists are required to deal with records in an increasing number of forms and formats. Critical to this shift is the identification and delivery of educational programs that prepare librarians and archivists for their new role. Lenk (1987) describes the future role of libraries in terms of the public objective of the provision of technical information. McClure (1995) discusses the gap between the communications technologies available to the public and the public’s level of ability to use them. He discusses the federal government’s policy on universal access, factors that negatively affect public library involvement in Internet access, and elements associated with the clarification of the role of public libraries. McClure et al. (1996) contend that, with a decreasing federal emphasis on the role that libraries will play in the NII, public libraries must proactively develop their own presence or role. They examine current federal policies and new roles for libraries in ensuring connectivity and offer recommendations for the implementation of both federal policy and connectivity. Additionally, they discuss strategies and policy initiatives for federal, state, and local governments, as well as for librarians and vendors.