Library

 

A library is a collection of materials, books, or other forms of media that are readily available for use rather than merely for exhibition. It is in charge of storing up-to-date information to satisfy the demands of users daily. A library can be a real facility, a virtual environment, or both, and provides tangible or digital access to content. A library's collection can comprise printed books and other tangible resources in a variety of forms, including DVD, CD, and cassette, as well as access to information, music, and other content stored in bibliographic databases.

A public organisation, such as a government, an educational establishment, a company, or a private individual, may create and operate a library, which can range in size. Libraries also offer the services of librarians, who are trained and professionals in finding, selecting, circulating, and organising information, as well as interpreting information requirements, navigating, and analysing huge volumes of data using a range of resources.

Library buildings frequently feature peaceful and suitable study places, as well as common areas for group study and collaboration, and may also offer public access to its electronic resources, such as computers and Internet access. The library's clientele and, as a result, the services it provides vary depending on the type of library: customers of a public library, for example, have different demands than those of a special library. Libraries may also serve as community centres, where individuals can attend programmes and engage in lifelong learning. Modern libraries provide literature available via electronic methods, even from home via the Internet, extending their services beyond the physical boundaries of a building. As a result, maintaining information in an information world has become relatively simple, simply because information can be delivered or accessed digitally by individuals in remote areas and other locations away from the library.

Although different institutions and sources interpret such terms differently, the library's services are variably defined as library services, information services, or a mix of "library and information services."