圖書館環境的改變是多元的，資訊技術的進步代表正面的改變，經費的衰 減及操作成本的升高則代表反面的影響。這種正面和反面影響的結合，考驗著 圖書館員以智慧去面對這種挑戰和機會。網路技術和網際網路帶來了大量正式 和非正式電子資源，沒有網際網路許多新的電子期刊將不會產生出來，許多線 上論壇、討論群及會議的文獻也不會產生出來。科技的發展爲圖書館館藏發展 提供了助力，使得館藏的形式豐富化，並且增加採購的效率。雖然藍開斯特曾 言二十世紀將是「無紙社會」，亦曾説過圖書館選擇、採訪工作在無紙社會將 不再具重要性；目前雖然電子形式之資料已廣泛的充斥於市場及網路中，但是 館藏發展的功能並未因而衰減，未來館藏發展仍將具有相當之重要性，同時館 藏發展也將會因應時代環境的改變而有所調整。

Change in the library environment is multidimensional. Information technology represents the high points of this change, while the deterioration of funding and the rising costs of operation clearly represent the low points. It is a combination of positive and negative elements in the present climate of change that compels libraries to study the challenges and opportunities presented by interior and exterior forces and to explore strategies to cope with them. Network technology and the Internet have brought about the recent proliferation of formal and informal electronic journals. Without the Internet, the electronic journals would not have been created, nor would a large body of literature from numerous online forums, listservs，and confer-ences. Librarians currently working in collection development must acquire new skills in the electronic environment and integrate them with their tradi-tional strengths of subject expertise and their ability to function as user liaisons. This change will not eliminate their role as information selectors but rather empower them to navigate an ocean of information.