Argues that the quality of information provided to scholars by microform sets of manuscript collections, as compared to original manuscripts and critical editions, does not justify the expansion of research libraries' collection boundaries and fiscal responsibilities to include such materials. (CLB)

The primary emphasis of this study of the use of digital technology to preserve library materials was the capture of brittle books as digital images and the production of printed paper facsimiles. Of equal interest, however, was the role of digital technology in providing access to library resources, and preliminary work in this area has also been…

An attempt is made to relate technological potentials and limitations to some of the major current trends, problems, and objectives of the library. Attention is focused on the large, university, research-oriented library since it is here that one finds the most difficult resource access and bibliographic control problems. A synopsis is presented…