Transdisciplinarity refers to an approach that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries to create a holistic understanding and address complex community problems by integrating knowledge from various fields, as well as from outside academia (e.g. societal stakeholders). In the context of digital libraries, it signifies the synergistic fusion of library and information science, computer science and other relevant humanistic disciplines to build comprehensive and user-centric systems.
The evolution of digital libraries, particularly those centered on community needs, is a compelling narrative of transdisciplinary integration, marked by distinct phases.
1. Historical background and traditional silos
In the pre-digital library era, libraries operated within traditional silos, primarily focusing on cataloging, classification and the physical preservation of collections. Their core mission revolved around providing access to tangible resources. However, the rise of digital technologies underscored a critical shift. Suddenly, the efficient management of digital collections and the development of sophisticated digital systems necessitated a new set of skills, largely rooted in computer science. This marked the initial recognition of a need for librarian’s competencies beyond traditional librarianship.
2. Early collaboration and emergence of digital libraries
The formal introduction of computer science into the library landscape was pivotal. Computer scientists brought expertise in developing digital systems, automating cataloging processes and building robust databases. Yet, this early collaboration was not without its friction. Library information science, with its long-standing emphasis on human-centered information retrieval, often found its priorities at odds with computer science’s focus on technical efficiency. This created a discernible gap in methodologies, objectives and even professional lexicons. Initial digital library projects in the 1990s, such as the Digital Library Initiative in the USA, showcased a growing collaboration between computer scientists and information scientists. A paper by Borgman (1999) on “What are digital libraries? Competing visions” in which Borgman (1999) articulates how information scientists emphasized human-centered issues and usability, while computer scientists focused on scalable systems and retrieval algorithms, creating a clear divergence in priorities.
3. Differing objectives and the “boundary object” concept
As digital libraries began to take shape, they emerged as a fascinating “boundary object” – a concept that could potentially bridge the divide between library information science and computer science. Despite this potential, each discipline maintained distinct, and sometimes conflicting, goals. Early transdisciplinary projects, though demonstrating the promise of digital libraries as community-driven knowledge resources, consistently encountered barriers stemming from divergent vocabularies, methodologies and fundamental objectives. The vision was shared, but the paths to achieving it often diverged. For instance, the “Million Book Project” [1] aimed to digitize millions of books, a task heavily reliant on engineering solutions for scanning and storage. However, discussions about its long-term impact on information access and cultural preservation often highlighted the differing priorities between the technical feasibility (computer science) and the usability and societal impact (library information science), as documented in project reports and associated research papers.
4. Development of digital library as a community-centered concept
A significant turning point arrived with the growing traction of community-centered approaches. Digital libraries began to shift their focus from mere repositories to dynamic platforms designed to serve diverse user needs. This paradigm demanded a truly cross-disciplinary expertise, moving beyond simple information access to embrace initiatives that facilitated collaboration, knowledge sharing and profound community engagement. Projects emerged where both information scientists and computer scientists had to actively contribute their specialized knowledge to design libraries that were truly responsive to the communities they served. A prominent European example is Europeana [2], a platform that aggregates cultural heritage from thousands of institutions across Europe. Europeana serves as a prime illustration of a community-centered digital library, bringing together diverse cultural content for a broad public audience. Its success hinges on the transdisciplinary collaboration between librarians (for content curation, metadata standards and cultural context); computer scientists (for building scalable infrastructure, interoperability and search functionalities); and digital humanists (for enriching content with narratives and fostering user engagement). The platform’s commitment to open access and its initiatives for public participation demonstrate its user-centric model, requiring continuous collaboration across these distinct fields to ensure content discoverability, preservation and widespread community benefit.
5. Challenges of transdisciplinary integration
Despite the progress, the journey toward seamless transdisciplinary integration remained fraught with challenges. A persistent gap in understanding and education between library information science and computer science persisted, particularly evident in regions like Italy where academic structures traditionally maintained rigid disciplinary boundaries. Research on library education programs, particularly in Europe, often points to a lack of interdisciplinary curricula that truly bridge library information science and computer science. This highlighted a critical need for a new paradigm – one that could foster joint frameworks valuing both the technical infrastructure provided by computer science and the human-centered design principles championed by library information science. Especially in contexts where “iSchools” models (which typically integrate these fields) are not prevalent, this creates a workforce that might not be fully equipped for truly transdisciplinary digital library development. Without such a paradigm, achieving true integration proved difficult. A notable attempt to bridge this educational gap internationally was the Digital Library Learning International Master program. This joint master’s program, involving universities from Norway, Estonia and Italy, aimed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of digital libraries, combining theoretical knowledge from library information science with practical skills from computer science. Despite its innovative approach to fostering transdisciplinary learning, such initiatives remained relatively rare and highlighted the general difficulty in establishing truly integrated curricula across different national academic systems.
6. Current vision and opportunities for bridging gaps
The current vision of community-centered digital libraries embodies a truly transdisciplinary approach. It emphasizes a library that skillfully leverages both technical (computer science) and user-centric (library information science) methodologies to cultivate an interactive, participatory space. This phase marks a significant evolution toward a human-centered design, where the user and community needs are at the forefront of development.
Furthermore, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and other new technologies offers unprecedented opportunities for bridging the remaining gaps. AI tools provide novel avenues for collaboration, data analysis and user interaction, allowing for a more symbiotic relationship between the fields. Information professionals (librarians) are increasingly adapting their roles to incorporate technical skills, while computer scientists are adopting a more user-centric focus in their development efforts. This reciprocal evolution is critical, transforming digital libraries into vibrant, inclusive hubs that not only store information but actively empower and engage their communities through a truly integrated and human-centric design. Contemporary projects in digital libraries demonstrate this human-centered transdisciplinary approach.
Highlights from this issue
Here are the descriptions of the papers from this issue:
Ensuring security of personal data in library services platforms of academic libraries in the EU by Anita Katulić and Tihomir Katulić
This paper addresses the challenge of securing personal data in next-generation library services platforms (LSPs) used by academic libraries in the European Union. It aims to outline risks, examine legal obligations for data protection, suggest approaches for compliance and explore ways to ensure patrons’ data protection rights within LSPs.
Locked out! Exploring university library websites’ accessibility by students with visual disabilities by Patience Agabirwe, George W. Kiyingi and Elena Macevicute
This paper explores the experiences of students with visual disabilities in accessing university library websites for digital information resources, highlighting that inaccessibility remains a challenge.
Open access policies of Indian institutions: based on ROARMAP by Sudhakar Mishra and Archana Shukla
This paper analyzes the open access policies of Indian institutions registered in the Registry of Open Access Repositories Mandatory Archiving Policies (ROARMAP) to understand the open access policies they have adopted.
Organizational structure and representation in digital institutional repository collections by Timothy Provenzano
This study focuses on the “flat” structure model used to present digital archival materials in institutional repositories. It aims to identify the disadvantages of this model and propose an alternative that combines the benefits of both contemporary and traditional hierarchical presentation methods.
Users perception of social Q&A sites: an empirical study of information seeking and sharing behaviour in SCIS environments by Arshia Ayoub and Zahid Ashraf Wani
This paper aims to understand user perceptions of social Q&A (SQA) sites as alternatives to traditional library reference services. It seeks to provide insights into SQA sites and evaluate the motivations and expectations of users who seek and respond to information on these platforms.
A cloud-based adoption model for digital preservation services for university libraries by Hassan Mallam M. Ibrahim, Kamsuriah Ahmad and Hasimi Sallehudin
This paper examines factors influencing the successful adoption of cloud computing by university libraries for digital preservation in the context of 21st-century technological advancements.
A systematic review of digital curation services in academic libraries: navigating policies, skills and challenges by Muhammad Zareef and Munazza Jabeen
This review provides a detailed understanding of digital curation services (DCS) in academic libraries in developing countries, a field that requires resources for infrastructure, training and policy development.
An empirical assessment of digital preservation skills among university librarians in Pakistan by Rafiq Ahmad, Muhammad Rafiq, Muhammad Fahad Khalil and Muhammad Haris Khalil
This study assesses the digital preservation skills of university librarians in Pakistan, finding them to be at a moderate level among the surveyed librarians.
Facilitating conditions, performance expectancy and use of electronic devices by senior secondary school students in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria by Alice A. Bamigbola and Utibe Francis Udomah
This study investigates the facilitating conditions and performance expectancy factors that influence the use of electronic devices among students in private senior secondary schools in the Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Navigating the Artificial Intelligence frontier on cataloguing and metadata work in libraries by Getaneh Alemu interviewed by Anna Maria Tammaro
Getaneh Alemu was interviewed due to his proactive engagement with artificial intelligence (AI) in cataloging, which includes exploring, testing and evaluating AI tools, as well as discussing with colleagues to understand AI’s practical applications in metadata creation, enrichment and the enhancement of library catalogs and discovery systems.
