Managing the development and delivery of electronic library services is one of the major current challenges for university library and information services. This article provides a brief overview of some of the key issues facing information professionals working in higher education institutions (HEIs). In doing so, it also picks up some of the real-world lessons which have emerged from the eLib (Electronic Libraries) programme now that it has come to a close. These lessons have been highlighted in a number of recent reports coming out of eLib, including the formal eLib programme evaluation .

The issues discussed here are grouped under the following headings:

* Electronic library economics
* Systems and technical issues
* Collection development
* New initiatives in scholarly communication
* User issues
* Organisational issues
* Staff and skills

This is a practical view of e-library issues. The term

Articles, Digital libraries
Collection development, current issues in UK, Electronic library economics, higher education institutions, Managing electronic library services, Managing the development and delivery of electronic library services, New initiatives in scholarly communication, Staff and skills, Systems and technical issues