DIGITAL LIBRARIES AND HIGHER EDUCATION: CONTRIBUTIONS TO ACCESSING KNOWLEDGE IN THE INFORMATION SOCIETY

Abstract

Technological transformations over recent decades have significantly impacted the production, organization, and dissemination of knowledge, particularly within higher education. In this context, digital libraries have emerged as important instruments for democratizing access to scientific information, expanding opportunities for teaching, research, and extension activities in academic institutions. This study aims to analyze the contributions of digital libraries to knowledge access in higher education, discussing their development, impacts, and the challenges associated with their consolidation within the information society. Methodologically, this is a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study developed through a bibliographic review. The theoretical framework is based on authors who examine the relationship between information, technology, and education, including Pierre Lévy, Manuel Castells, Murilo Bastos da Cunha, Boaventura de Sousa Santos, and Sayão. The findings indicate that digital libraries have significantly expanded access to information resources, reduced geographical and temporal barriers, and strengthened the circulation of scientific knowledge on a global scale. Furthermore, they contribute to the preservation of institutional memory, the visibility of academic production, and the enhancement of teaching and research activities. However, challenges related to digital preservation, copyright issues, technological inclusion, and information literacy development remain. It is concluded that digital libraries constitute an essential infrastructure for contemporary higher education, playing a strategic role in the democratization of knowledge and in the development of more accessible, collaborative, and innovative academic environments.