Library 3.0 – where are we heading? Directions of libraries development in the 21st century

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to identify and discuss the key development directions for modern libraries and the accompanying technology, the so-called Library 3.0. The first section presents the historical background of the rapid technological progress in the last few decades. It also briefly demonstrates the changes that have taken place in scientific libraries in the past decades. However, that part mainly describes and analyses the elements and processes that will make up the third-generation library. The next fragment refers to the current status and shows the latest technological and organizational solutions in libraries around the world. The last part of the publication is dedicated to the possible development paths of libraries in the 21st century – it presents the challenges and problems they will probably have to face in the future.