A book captured by networks: the electronic book as a new social phenomenon of a global network society

This work describes the electronic book as a medium of the information age which fully corresponds to the requirements of effective dissemination of information in a global network infosphere. The first part of the thesis deals with definitions of basic terms. The second part outlines the position of the electronic book in the context of conflict between two environments - print and digital. An electronic book is presented as a product of social and technological changes. The new media's attributes of an electronic book are described. Problems emerging from the different nature of print and digital environments are highlighted, covering selected points of view of copyright problems in a digital world. The third part explains the problems of libraries in the network environment. Libraries are described as institutions in the process of adapting to the new forms of services including the provision of electronic books. The new role of libraries in the network environment is clarified as well as the reactions of the professional library community to the new challenges for libraries