Libraries have long been pivotal community institutions--public spaces where people can come together to learn, reflect, and interact. Today, information is rapidly spreading beyond books and journals to digital government archives, business databases, electronic sound and image collections, and the flow of electronic impulses over computer networks. Will libraries lose their role as lending institutions? What will happen to libraries as physical places where diverse people can gather to pursue knowledge individually and collectively? These research findings provide a theoretical underpinning and a practical guide for librarians, public officials, advocacy groups, community organizations, and others who seek to ensure a central role for libraries in the digital age. Section 1 describes the opportunities and challenges that new technologies present for libraries--including efforts by a wide range of organizations to help libraries fulfill their potential in the Information Age. The section also explores what steps are needed to ensure that libraries continue to serve their vital role in the new era. Section 2 presents eight detailed case studies which describe how libraries have adopted new technologies, and which can serve as models for other libraries. Section 3 presents a list of more than 100 additional resources on the role of libraries in the Information Age and samples of library programs that offer public access to new technologies. (SWC)