Databases on CD‐ROM: comparative factors for purchase

CD‐ROM databases are offered by publishers with enhancements over their print and online alternatives to induce librarians among other end‐users to subscribe to them in this format. This format for databases enables users to do unlimited searching at a fixed cost among other enhancements. Additionally, compact disc offers downloading facilities for personal computer use with such features as word‐processing, spreadsheets and electronic notepads which mimic outliner programs to assist subscribers in using databases in this format. Databases embedded in compact disc technology are becoming accepted as an alternative dissemination format to those embedded in other media for end‐user searching in libraries. The librarian should serve as an effective conduit in calling such products to the attention of users needing information placed in CD‐ROM media format. This article will examine some factors comparing CD‐ROM databases with their print and online analogues.