Libraries have been valued over centuries for providing a record of civilization, for
preserving important collections, and for offering researchers and casual readers the most up-todate
resources necessary for their work and lifelong learning. For much of this time, print and
paper reigned as format and focus; it wasn’t until the early 1900s that this changed with the
advent and distribution of sound recordings. Now print no longer dominates as a preferred
format in many disciplines, as new options crowd the scholarly arena.