數位圖書館近幾年來已經從少數的實驗性計畫逐漸成為全世界的發展趨勢，它的經營所面臨的問題不只和技術有關，並且涉及經濟、社會和法律等各層面。其所引發的有關經費爭取、預算控制、成本效益觀念、資源保存、授權談判與合約簽訂、計價模式等經濟相關議題，需要圖書資訊界投入更多的心力研究探討，以謀求解決之道。 本文首先探討傳統圖書館及相關行業的經濟模式，分析數位圖書館的資訊成本結構，並對數位資訊提供利用所涉及的版權及保存維護等問題進行探討。最後，本文根據網路上常見的電子商務經營模式及概念，探討數位圖書館可行的經營模式。

In recent years, digital libraries have become a worldwide trend of development. Many of the challenges associated with building the digital libraries are economic, social or legal rather than technical. The economic issues involved include funding, budget control, cost-effectiveness concept, preservation, contracts and negotiating licenses, pricing models, etc. Much more research and experimentation are needed on building economic models for digital libraries. This article identifies the economic models of traditional libraries and related business in the information market; analyzes the cost structure of digital information; discusses some related issues, such as copyright and preservation; examines several business models for digital commerce; and finally explores the possible business models for digital libraries.