ABSTRACT
People have recorded information in many ways for many centuries. The media used for these activities have changed with social circumstances and technological developments, as have the opportunities and means to collect and organize recorded knowledge. As a result, libraries have taken many forms over time, moving most recently from primarily paper-based collections to collections that house a wide range of media and experiment with new technologies. Library services have evolved also, and they now engage multiple communities, including children, young adults, and a wide range of educational, governmental, and corporate organizations. Library missions, however, have remained relatively constant: identifying, collecting, organizing, and providing access to materials with personal or social value.
