根據最近歐美的研究顯示，「數位圖書館」似乎成為比「虛擬」或「電子」圖書館更廣義的名詞。起源於美國的數位圖書館，因電腦及通信科技的進步，在近來加速地發展。本文將摘要敘述歐洲及美洲，各項數位化圖書館計劃的進步與發展，並探討數位化的一些重要課題，以提供國內圖書館進行數位化的參考。雖然，目前人類正進入一個前所未有的通訊民主時代中，然而我們也必需深思，如何在這具有創意的資訊自由，和智慧財產權的保護之間，得到一個合理的平衡點。今日的出版品的形式與科技，早已不同於自18世紀開始興盛、使知識大量普及的紙本印刷，因此，發展能夠符合現在及未來潮流的著作權法，是相當必需的。 本文也將對數位時代的著作權概念，做一基本探討。

　　According to recent studies, the term "digital library" seems to have become the encompassing term and broad definition for the "virtual" or the "electronic" library. Initiated in the United States, the Digital Library has been accelerated by the advancement in the computing and telecommunication technologies. This has a profound impact on conventional library services. This article presents the progress in the diverse implementation of digital library projects as well as explores some crucial issues on going dighital. While entering an era of unprecedented democratization in the means of communication, we should think hard about how to strike the balance between creative freedom and protection of intellectual property. Today, the technologies of publishing are vastly different from those of the early eighteenth century. A useful copyright law which can meet the current need is necessary. Therefore, some discussion will also be given on this issue.