Opportunities for CD-ROM information services in Africa

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Compton, Anne W.^{; *}

Affiliations: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: A.W. Compton, Population Information Program, Center for Communication Programs, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA.

Abstract: In Africa, the primary audience for CD-ROM consists of the almost 1,000 national, higher education, and special libraries in the region. Several studies show that microcomputers already exist in many African libraries, with PC capability in the region growing very rapidly. A 1991 UNESCO survey reports 11% of African library respondents already have CD-ROM drives, an AAAS survey reports 15%, and the POPLINE project is currently supporting 71 organizations that have CD-ROM drives. CD-ROM alleviates many information transfer problems in Africa and has been accepted rapidly by information intermediaries, but producers/publishers should be aware of the unique marketing problems in the region.

DOI: 10.3233/ISU-1992-12310

Journal: Information Services & Use, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 283-290, 1992