[e-mail]: the opportunities and challenges of implementing a digital collection development strategy

In this paper I will describe the recent evolution of the British Library’s collection development strategy and policies, to show how one of the largest research library collections in the world is making the transition to digital collecting. I will discuss how we are changing what we collect in core areas such as commercial publishing, new web-based media and heritage collections. In doing so, I will consider how these changes are shaping our thinking about the future of services, and how they affect our approach to our key strategic partnerships. Finally, I will discuss how the move to digital leads to some fundamental changes in the knowledge and skills demanded of our staff.