Every few decades, audio formats change, and libraries rebuild their music collections. We’ve gone from 78s to LPs, then from LPs to CDs. While CDs stand to be produced for quite some time, it’s not clear how long large library CD collections—with many recordings going back to the mid-1980s—will last. Today, the format shift is on again as librarians attempt to offer patrons what they really want: online audio.
His Master's Voice
The Promise of Online Music
By John Anderies [Library Journal, 1 June 05]
Both library and commercial initiatives are opening up music in new ways
Every few decades, audio formats change, and libraries rebuild their music collections. We've gone from 78s to LPs, then from LPs to CDs. While CDs stand to be produced for quite some time, it's not clear how long large library CD collections--with many recordings going back to the mid-1980s--will last. Today, the format shift is on again as librarians attempt to offer patrons what they really want: online audio.