PARTNERS IN DEVELOPING CD-ROM SERVICES FOR DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES

This article contends that although CD-ROM is probably the most approp riate media of access to information for developing countries at the m oment, the application of the CDROM technology in developing countries is fraught with many problems which may be overcome through joint ven tures of donor agencies, recipient local institutions and CDROM publis hers. It is argued that many CD-ROM products do not meet the informati on needs of the majority of the potential user population. Peasants an d workers who constitute the majority of the population are illiterate , or semiliterate, and lack computer literacy. Thus, they cannot effec tively use CD-ROM products. Nonetheless, the paper asserts that CD-ROM has many advantages over other media of information storage, distribu tion and access in developing countries. Some major shortcomings of CD -ROMs within the context of developing countries are discussed. It is contended that donor agencies, national institutions, and publishers c an cooperate in producing databases pertinent to the needs of developi ng countries. This may be accomplished through, among others, inter-do nor agency cooperation or cooperation with individual regional informa tion systems. Donor agencies may also cooperate with indigenous inform ation systems or information professionals.