Application of CDROM technology in the multimedia library of La Villette Centre for Science and Industry Available to Purchase

The Centre for Science and Industry in Paris, which is one of the most attractive high‐tech science museums in Europe, hosts a unique multimedia library holding some 330 000 documents in scientific and technological fields (books, periodicals, films, educational software, cassettes and CDROMs) with an average of 4000 users per day. Ever since its opening to the public in 1986, the library has been fully automated with an integrated system and presently it operates under GEAC GLIS (running on a GEAC 9000 computer) for acquisition, cataloguing, OPAC and circulation. The OPAC is also available on videotex (French Minitel). After a brief review of the background of CDROM installation in French public libraries, the particular case of the use of CDROMs at La Villette Library is discussed. CDROMs made available to the public are differentiated from those used by the staff, mainly for cataloguing and reference purposes. Other than cost, problems related to the design of hardware and software configuration, as well as the importance of testing pilot products, are analysed. Finally, future developments including the replacement of the existing hardware, upgrading of the software and the necessity of systematic evaluation of CDROM usage by patrons are discussed.