Revising digital library content in response to user requests

The purpose of this article is to use real examples to show how issues such as authority, currency, preservation, sustainability and trust are interrelated and can be affected by user contributions to digital libraries.

Several specific user requests to change digital library content are summarised, along with the relevant responses, to illustrate issues of library management and policy.

The examples demonstrate the need to adopt consistent but flexible policies for content updating, so that conflicting principles or requests can be handled effectively.

The issues raised are likely to be relevant to anyone responsible for managing or updating digital library content.

By illustrating the relationship between specific small scale actions and significant long term issues, the paper highlights the need for digital libraries to follow a holistic approach to content management, and to think globally while acting locally.