Classic and Digital Libraries – the Foundation, Advanatages and Disadvantages

Background: During the last ten years, there has been a dysplosis in the development of digital libraries, which have taken precedence over classical libraries. Objective: With this article, we want to make a kind of comparison of classic and digital libraries, with a description of the pros and cons of both, so we can easily see their advantages and disadvantages. Methods: Authors used as source published papers deposited in indexed databases like PMC, MEDLINE, HINARI, etc. regardsing to appropriate facts about classic and digital libraries in Bosnia and Herzegovina and wordwide. Results and Discussion: Libraries, even a scientific one, must have professionally trained staff and an appropriate technological infrastructure, the main component of which is the Library Information System (BIS). It is a phrase that refers to an integrated library system, which consists of online databases, digital libraries, electronic books, magazines and various multimedia formats on which information sources are stored (hard disks, CDs, USB sticks, DVDs, etc.). In the past, libraries tended to develop means or instruments that would enable access to documentary resources on the spot, i.e. in the library itself - through the catalog. Later, a lot of effort was invested in the development of an automatic version of these local tools - by creating an online catalog for accessing data about library resources from a distance, such as, for example, (www.cobiss.ba) maintained by the National and University Library in Sarajevo (www.nub.ba) with members of the Virtual Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ViBBIH) consortium. Thanks to information technology, libraries were able to automate their many functions such as: acquisition, loan, material processing and other work procedures that were previously performed manually. The publishing production of databases has enabled libraries to offer users, through free access or licensing, access to the most diverse contents, Conclusion: Thus, digital libraries have numerous advantages, they are organizations that offer resources for use, include professional staff that select, organize, provide intellectual access, explain, distribute, preserve the integrity and ensure the durability of collections of digital works in such a way that they are ready and economically available for use by one or more communities. However, time steps on us every day, and so does technology, and new inventions, computers, cell phones, so I believe that we should not ignore the beauty when we pick up a book and read it. The historical value of books should not be neglected, both for our sake and for the sake of future generations.