Computer-based Materials:
Computer-based materials are a recent development but have become very important to modern libraries of all types, specifically computerised bibliographic databases. Marketing of these products to libraries is accomplished largely by advertising these products at library and information science meetings and conferences. This is an expanding industry of increasing importance to libraries. Sources that provide these databases are:
Computer-Readable Databases. A Directory and Data Source-Book Chicago, American Library Association, 1978 - Irregular.
Database Directory. While Plains, Knowledge Industry Publications, 1984.
Equipment for Non-Print Materials:
Use of non-print information materials can be possible only if the library acquires the necessary and appropriate equipment. Selection of equipment also is as important as selecting and collection of non-print materials. This is being discussed at great length in Unit 7 of Block 2 of Course 6. Two important factors in the selection of equipment are 1) standardisation and 2) changing media field. These two factors combine to make equipment buying too hazardous to risk collection of non-print materials. However, this aspect is given the greatest attention by all concerned, nationally and internationally. Some of the tools that might help selection of equipment are listed below:
Audio Visual Market Place: A Multimedia Guide, New York R.R. Bowker.
It is a directory of manufacturers and distributors. Includes brief description of the types of equipment and the names and addresses of manufacturers and suppliers.
Library Technology Reports, Chicago, American Library Association.
This provides useful evaluations of equipment for the multimedia library of record players, filmstrip projectors, microform reader-printer, etc.