Review by Booklist Review
Choosing optical information products for technical and public services is a new dilemma for librarians. This book outlines the considerations when purchasing these systems, though it does not discuss specific products in detail and is not intended to help librarians choose one product over another. After an explanation of the various types of optical media, library applications, and how the hardware and software work, implementation issues are discussed: staffing, location, scheduling, training, creating search aids, cost, etc. Nine case studies from public, school, and academic libraries demonstrate how the systems are being used. An appendix provides a list of producers and distributors of compact disc products. Clearly written for novices (though the text does assume some prior knowledge of online searching), this guide will also be helpful for librarians who have purchased optical products but have not yet solved all the problems of implementation. Bibliography; index. --Sandy Whiteley
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
