Criteria for the Selection of Databases on CD-ROM 

The following criteria may be observed for the selection of databases on CD-ROM. 

i)  Database Contents: Coverage and illustrations and other details are included in a full-text database. 

ii)  Currency: The period covered by the database and the up-to-dateness of the information contained in it. In other words, how frequently are the updates issued?

iii)  Backfiles: Large databases may occupy a number of CD-ROM discs It is necessary to ensure whether all the backfiles have been received.   

iv)  Retrieval Software and Indexing: Retrieval software must be user-friendly, efficient and effective. It must offer a full range of retrieval facilities. 

v)  User Interface: One of the important aspects of retrieval software is user interface. The dialogue design must assist all categories of users and there must be provision for an adequate help system. 

vi)  Facilities must be available for printing and integrating the processed and downloaded information with other sources. 

vii)  Standardization: The CD-ROMs must be of standard make and must be compatible so as to work with other components satisfactorily. 

viii) Costs: There are differential pricing strategies for CD-ROM. They are designed to reflect the extent of use of the database. There are different prices for stand-alone users, single network users and other user, groups and site licenses.