At present, the term `digital library' is being used with two distinctly different meanings.
Taken together,
the two definitions result in a tautology:
a digital library is an institution that provides digital libraries.
Both definitions are problematic because they confuse
the boundaries between electronic collections and institutions.
Underlying most of the research-oriented definitions is a constrained view
of the nature of libraries.
Yet using the term to imply the broader view favored
by librarians constrains the institution by the type of content it collects.
Neither community is likely to surrender the term in favor of another. Given this inherent
conflict of interest, people using the term need to define what they mean in context. The failure
to define terms slows the development of theory, research and practice. It also limits the ability
to communicate the scope of the area or the nature of the research and practice problems to
others. While all parties need not agree on one meaning, each can be more explicit in
explaining choices of terminology. Sometimes we simply may need to agree to disagree. Words
do matter and will influence the success of our ventures. I hope this article will stimulate
discussion of what digital libraries are and what they can be in the future.