RESPONDING TO RESEARCHERS AND FACULTY USE PATTERNS AND PERCEPTIONS OFCDROM SERVICES

This paper provides a brief report on a study of faculty and researche rs' use patterns and perceptions of CDROM services at King Fahd Univer sity of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) Library in Saudi Arabia, as backg round information to measures taken as a result of the study. The main objectives of the study were to ascertain use patterns and perception s of CDROM services: another objective was to elicit comments which wo uld be used in developing a planning strategy to expand and enhance CD ROM services. Two main methods were used in the study: CDROM search fo rms and a questionnaire survey. The results of the study revealed that the majority of the faculty had used CDROM services, they felt satisf ied with the service but also felt that there was a strong need for us er training. Several problematic areas have been identified including need for new vision CDROM hardware and software systems, publicity, us er training and document delivery. The report then considers measures that have been taken to address the problematic areas and discusses ho w effective those remedial actions have been. The paper concludes that the KFUPM Library planned and developed user-oriented services in res ponse to the findings of the study, but still faces further challenges in developing a CDROM service that is fully integrated with other ele ctronic resources and services.