International Journal of Educational Research and Library & Information Science

Digital libraries have become essential infrastructures for the creation, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge in contemporary information societies. As sociotechnical systems integrating digital repositories, metadata, and user-oriented services, digital libraries extend beyond traditional library boundaries and increasingly depend on complex information systems. This conceptual paper examines cyber security challenges in digital library environments by situating them within established theoretical frameworks of information security, governance, and risk management. Rather than relying on empirical data, the study adopts a qualitative and theory-driven approach to analyze how core security principles—confidentiality, integrity, availability, and provenance—apply to digital libraries operating in public, academic, and special contexts. The paper explores the evolving threat landscape, including unauthorized access, data manipulation, service disruption, and privacy risks, and discusses the implications of governance structures, policy frameworks, and stewardship responsibilities. Particular attention is given to privacy protection, trust, and equity of access, highlighting the inherent tension between open information values and stringent security controls. The study also conceptually evaluates the security implications of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and edge computing in digital library infrastructures. By synthesizing insights from library and information science and computer science literature, this paper contributes a coherent conceptual understanding of cyber security in digital libraries and offers a foundation for future theoretical development and policy-oriented research in this critical domain.