Challenges in Developing Digital Library Services and Strategies for Sustaining Physical Libraries at the South Solok Regency Library and Archives Agency

Abstract

Regional public libraries face the dual challenge of expanding digital services while sustaining the accessibility and relevance of their physical collections. This study identifies systemic and technical barriers to digital library development, analyzes factors affecting digital service utilization and internal management, examines how collection classification inaccuracies affect information retrieval, and formulates an integrated strategy for sustaining physical library services. A descriptive qualitative approach with a single holistic case study design was employed at the Department of Library and Archives of South Solok Regency. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation and analyzed thematically. The findings indicate that digital service development is constrained by unstable internet connectivity, server and system disruptions, limited budgets, inadequate human resources, the absence of accessible Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) facilities, and insufficient user education. The sustainability of physical services is similarly affected by limited professional staffing and inaccurate collection classification and shelving, which impede information retrieval and reduce user convenience. These findings demonstrate that digital transformation cannot be separated from improvements in physical collection management and institutional capacity. The study contributes an integrated perspective that positions digital and physical services as complementary components of a hybrid library model. Practically, regional library planning should prioritize reliable infrastructure, staff capacity development, accurate collection organization, accessible discovery systems, and targeted service promotion according to institutional resources and user needs.