最近十年，圖書館員與資訊專業人員都在討論或擔憂，在廿一世紀數位時代的環境
下，圖書館將變成怎樣的形式和世人見面，以及為社會大眾所接受。本文作者試圖以廣域圖
書館(Metalibrary或Libraries at large)的名稱，為新世紀的圖書館命名，以解說在資訊技術、
服務政策、知識管理、和整理經濟效益各方情況下的新世紀圖書館發展背景與展望。

In recent decade, librarians and information professionals continually discuss and worry
about the influence of digitalization has changed the library management in general in the 21st
century. By defining the concept of new library form as metalibrary or the library at large, the
author tries to explain the comprehensive meaning of library in the new century, as well as the new
era's library developmental background & outlook in terms of information technology, service
policy, knowledge management and general economic effects, etc.