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CDROM WHAT IS ITS FUTURE IN AFRICA

CDROM WHAT IS ITS FUTURE IN AFRICA TARGET 2000 CDROM — WHAT IS ITS FUTURE IN AFRICA? Tirong arap Tanui University Librarian, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya CDROM technology, though inherently part and parcel of CDROM is not the only electronic medium of relevance to computer technology, is considered separately in regard to African researchers. Anumber of institutions are nowpub- library/information automation in African libraries. Li­ lishing on floppy disks. For institutions that may not be brary automation is a much more complex and expensive able to acquire CDROM drives and discs, these products affair while the use of CDROM is a fairly straightforward could be extremely valuable additions to their libraries. I computer application to a library environment, hence its therefore wish to proceed and make my predictions on the popularity in many types of African libraries. CDROM can future of CDROM in Africa, with the proviso that their use be regarded as the fastest growing information technology is on the increase: (IT) in African libraries today, but what is its future there? • there will be other uses of CDROM, jus t as books and The future of CDROM technology in Africa looks journals, as well as the present catalogues for use bright but is dependent on whether information scien­ especially in libraries; tists/librarians in Africa plan to enter the next century by • Compact Disc Read and Write (CD-RAW) technology fully embracing IT in all its forms. The onus is on the infor­ may be developed for local use, though most CDs will mation professionals to appreciate the role of IT as a facil­ still be produced commercially; ity for development. The information professionals at pre­ • laptop CDROM hardware will be more popular, sent have a clear-cut choice — to stay traditional and remain backwards forever, never catching up with the rest • the monopoly of software production (search and data) of the developed world, or to strive to develop 'virtual li­ will be broken. Smaller commercial companies will braries' and move towards being part of information super­ also be able to produce CDROM products. highways currently under construction. The impact of CDROM continues to be Africa is presently a net importer of infor­ deep and wide-ranging, depending on the "CDROM can be mation, even that which is generated inter­ extent of use by the libraries concerned. It nally, and whether we want to remain so is regarded as the fastest definitely promotes the possible use of IT a different matter altogether. growing information in traditional libraries by introducing new In this regard, there is nothing wrong ideas and ways of handling information, technology in African with CDROM technology per se and and it will certainly — slowly and surely whether it survives or not is dependent on libraries today" — kill off certain aspects of traditional li­ the market economy. The more widely it is brarianship, especially in the storage and used, the less the cost of software and hard­ retrieval of data and information. ware. At present, lack of funds is the single prohibitive Networking of CDROM is another new dimension factor for African libraries in acquiring CDROM technol­ which is likely to develop gradually into the virtual library ogy. Persistent traditional librarianship concepts also can­ and information superhighway. Issues will inevitably crop not be ruled out as negative attitudes which prevent most up on how to conserve and preserve CDs as a method of African libraries from looking ahead. storing information. There is already a general conception that CDROM is a In summary, the future of CDROM use in African li­ technology for the developing world, as an acceptable al­ braries depends very much on what we would like it to be, ternative to subscribing to online databases, and to this I rather than the CDROM technology dictating or determin­ say, 'so be it'. However, it should be noted at this point that ing its own future. Tirong arap Tanui The author Tirong arap Tanui has twenty years of library experience. He is currently University Librarian at the Margaret Thatcher Li­ brary, Moi University, Kenya. His professional interests are cataloguing, library automation and library management. ONLINE & CDROM REVIEW, 1995, Vol. 19, No. 1 27 http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Online and CD-Rom Review Emerald Publishing

CDROM WHAT IS ITS FUTURE IN AFRICA

arap Tanui, Tirong
Online and CD-Rom Review , Volume 19 (1): 1 – Jan 1, 1995
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Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
ISSN
1353-2642
DOI
10.1108/eb024519
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Abstract

TARGET 2000 CDROM — WHAT IS ITS FUTURE IN AFRICA? Tirong arap Tanui University Librarian, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya CDROM technology, though inherently part and parcel of CDROM is not the only electronic medium of relevance to computer technology, is considered separately in regard to African researchers. Anumber of institutions are nowpub- library/information automation in African libraries. Li­ lishing on floppy disks. For institutions that may not be brary automation is a much more complex and expensive able to acquire CDROM drives and discs, these products affair while the use of CDROM is a fairly straightforward could be extremely valuable additions to their libraries. I computer application to a library environment, hence its therefore wish to proceed and make my predictions on the popularity in many types of African libraries. CDROM can future of CDROM in Africa, with the proviso that their use be regarded as the fastest growing information technology is on the increase: (IT) in African libraries today, but what is its future there? • there will be other uses of CDROM, jus t as books and The future of CDROM technology in Africa looks journals, as well as the present catalogues for use bright but is dependent on whether information scien­ especially in libraries; tists/librarians in Africa plan to enter the next century by • Compact Disc Read and Write (CD-RAW) technology fully embracing IT in all its forms. The onus is on the infor­ may be developed for local use, though most CDs will mation professionals to appreciate the role of IT as a facil­ still be produced commercially; ity for development. The information professionals at pre­ • laptop CDROM hardware will be more popular, sent have a clear-cut choice — to stay traditional and remain backwards forever, never catching up with the rest • the monopoly of software production (search and data) of the developed world, or to strive to develop 'virtual li­ will be broken. Smaller commercial companies will braries' and move towards being part of information super­ also be able to produce CDROM products. highways currently under construction. The impact of CDROM continues to be Africa is presently a net importer of infor­ deep and wide-ranging, depending on the "CDROM can be mation, even that which is generated inter­ extent of use by the libraries concerned. It nally, and whether we want to remain so is regarded as the fastest definitely promotes the possible use of IT a different matter altogether. growing information in traditional libraries by introducing new In this regard, there is nothing wrong ideas and ways of handling information, technology in African with CDROM technology per se and and it will certainly — slowly and surely whether it survives or not is dependent on libraries today" — kill off certain aspects of traditional li­ the market economy. The more widely it is brarianship, especially in the storage and used, the less the cost of software and hard­ retrieval of data and information. ware. At present, lack of funds is the single prohibitive Networking of CDROM is another new dimension factor for African libraries in acquiring CDROM technol­ which is likely to develop gradually into the virtual library ogy. Persistent traditional librarianship concepts also can­ and information superhighway. Issues will inevitably crop not be ruled out as negative attitudes which prevent most up on how to conserve and preserve CDs as a method of African libraries from looking ahead. storing information. There is already a general conception that CDROM is a In summary, the future of CDROM use in African li­ technology for the developing world, as an acceptable al­ braries depends very much on what we would like it to be, ternative to subscribing to online databases, and to this I rather than the CDROM technology dictating or determin­ say, 'so be it'. However, it should be noted at this point that ing its own future. Tirong arap Tanui The author Tirong arap Tanui has twenty years of library experience. He is currently University Librarian at the Margaret Thatcher Li­ brary, Moi University, Kenya. His professional interests are cataloguing, library automation and library management. ONLINE & CDROM REVIEW, 1995, Vol. 19, No. 1 27

Journal

Online and CD-Rom Review – Emerald Publishing

Published: Jan 1, 1995

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