圖書館環境的改變是多元的，資訊技術的進步代表正面的改變，經費的衰減及作業成本的升高則代表反面的影響。這種正面和反面影響的結合，考驗著圖書館員以智慧去面對這種挑戰和機會。網路技術和網際網路帶來了大量正式和非正式電子資源，沒有網際網路許多新的電子期刊將不會產生出來，許多線上論壇、討論群及會議的文獻也不會產生出來。科技的發展為圖書館館藏發展提供了助力，使得館藏的形式豐富化，並且增加採購的效率。雖然藍開斯特曾言二十世紀將是「無紙社會」，亦曾說過圖書館選擇、採訪工作在無紙社會將不再具重要性；目前雖然電子形式之資料已廣泛的充斥於市場及網路中，但是館藏發展的 功能並未因而衰減，未來館藏發展仍將具有相當之重要性，同時館藏發展也將會因應時代環境的改變而有所調整。

　　　　　Change in the library environment is multidimensional. Information technology represents the high points of this change, the deterioration of funding and the rising costs of operation clearly represent the low points. It is a combination of positive and negative elements in present climate of change that compels libraries to study the challenges and opportunities presented by interior and exterior forces and to explore strategies to cope with them. Network technology and the Internet that have brought about the recent proliferation of formal and informal electronic journals. Without the Internet, the electronic journals would not have been created, nor would a large body of literature from numerous online forums, listservs , and conferences. Librarians currently working in collection development must acquire new skills in the electronic environment and integrate them with their traditional strengths of subject expertise and their ability to function as user liaisons. The change will not eliminate their role as information selectors but rather empower them to navigate an ocean of information.