Provides a technological overview of CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), an optically-based medium for data storage offering large storage capacity, computer-based delivery system, read-only medium, and economic mass production. CD-ROM database attributes appropriate for information delivery are also reviewed, including large database size,…

Describes compact disk technology in general and possible library applications, including cataloging, online bibliographic searching, and full text searching, and compares the purchase of optical disk packages to traditional online services. Guidelines are provided for evaluating optical disks which focus on the size of the database, updating…