[Literature searching on CD-ROM disks]

Area of Science:

• Information Science
• Medical Librarianship
• Database Management

Background:

• The integration of digital resources into libraries presents new opportunities for information access.
• Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) technology emerged as a hybrid solution, combining aspects of both print and online information retrieval.
• Evaluating the adoption and impact of new technologies is crucial for library services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utilization, user experience, and overall effectiveness of CD-ROM databases in a medical library setting.
• To understand the costs associated with implementing and maintaining CD-ROM services.
• To gauge user satisfaction and identify barriers or facilitators to adoption.

Main Methods:

• A study was conducted at the Medical Library in Trondheim following the installation of the Medline database on CD-ROM.
• Data collection involved 651 questionnaires administered to 185 distinct library users over the initial six months of subscription.
• User interactions, including the number of subjects searched (over 1,200), were recorded.

Main Results:

• All surveyed users reported that the CD-ROM system was easy to learn and operate.
• Ease of use was consistent across users, including the 50% who had no prior personal computer (PC) experience.
• The system facilitated efficient information retrieval for a wide range of subjects.

Conclusions:

• CD-ROM databases represent an accessible and well-received medium for literature access in libraries.
• The technology simplifies the process of staying current within specific academic or professional domains.
• User-friendliness and popularity suggest CD-ROMs are a valuable tool for enhancing library services and user education.