APPLICATION OF CDROM TECHNOLOGY IN THE MULTIMEDIA LIBRARY OF LA-VILLETTE-CENTER-FOR-SCIENCE-AND-INDUSTRY

The Centre for Science and Industry in Paris, which is one of the most attractive high-tech science museums in Europe, hosts a unique multim edia library holding som 330 000 documents in scientific and technolog ical fields (books, periodicals, films, educational software, cassette s and CDROMs), with an average of 4000 users per day. Ever since its o pening to the public in 1986, the library has been fully automated wit h an integrated system and presently it operates under GEAC GLIS (runn ing on a GEAC 9000 computer) for acquisition cataloguing, OPAC and cir culation. The OPAC is also available on videotex (French Minitel). Aft er a brief review of the background of CDROM installation in French pu blic libraries, the particular case of the use of CDROMs at La Villett e Library is discussed CDROMs made available to the public are differe ntiated from those used by the staff, mainly for cataloguing and refer ence purpose. Other than cost, problems related to the design of hardw are and software configuration as well as the importance of testing pi lot products, are analysed. Finally, future developments including the replacement of the existing hardware, upgrading of the software the n ecessity of systematic evaluation of CDROM usage by patrons are discus sed.