Paper presented at the Stellenbosch University Library 2010 Symposium / IFLA Presidential Meeting. Knowing is not enough: Engaging in the knowledge economy, 18 to 19 February 2010. From the World Summit of the Information Society to the development of a knowledge
economy, libraries are changing their image to take place in the heart of the information
society. Access to knowledge through libraries is a key element of the incredible development
of libraries all around the world and explains the role of libraries in a modern society. But
does it help during a time of economic crisis, when state budgets worldwide are used to
finance economic development instead of libraries? There are some examples that this
situation gives a chance to libraries with their potential of access to knowledge.