The diffusion of CD-ROM as a text information storage technology for libraries: A comparative study

Librarians have been offered a variety of materials for storing text, from papyrus to computer storage. A new text information storage technology has been presented to librarians for possible acceptance: Compact Disc-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM). Some reports have promised that CD-ROM will bring forth a new era as revolutionary as the post-Gutenberg era. Similar predictions were made when promoters were introducing microform into libraries. Yet, microform did not have the radical effect on libraries which was promised. Historians have evaluated the perceptions of microform in order to understand why the dream failed. The purpose of this study was to trace similarities and differences between librarians' experience with microform and the introduction of CD-ROM.;Comparative methodology was used for the present study. The CD-ROM literature from 1984-1987 was analyzed by using criteria (categories of data) based on the evaluation of microform. The criteria fell into three main areas: the technology, the marketing strategies of promoters, user acceptance and environmental influences. Nearly 200 articles and monographs were analyzed. The periodicals used were from library and information science journals (86%), computer journals (9%), business journals (2%) and general magazines (3%). Conference proceedings were an important resource, making up 13% of the citations.;The experience with microform seemed to establish appropriate criteria for tracing the diffusion of CD-ROM. The study found that the introduction of CD-ROM followed the same pattern as the diffusion of other innovations. Librarians should feel comfortable using the innovation-decision model when evaluating the success of a new technology as it is emerging.;The review of the literature revealed that there has been a large body of research relating to innovations. CD-ROM showed characteristics similar to other innovations. An innovation is diffused through a social system over time by the use of communication channels. The innovation decision process of diffusion begins with the awareness and knowledge of the innovation in a social system. Studies have shown that professional literature is an appropriate channel of communication for developing awareness and knowledge of an innovation. It has been shown that librarians, in particular, take advantage of books and journals when learning about a new technology.