Compares database characteristics, access, display, editing, new records, hard copy products, hardware, and price of CD-ROM catalog production products from seven vendors: Gaylord Information Systems; General Research Corporation; The Library Corporation; OCLC; Solinet; Utlas; and the Western Library Network. (MES)

Provides detailed instructions for setting up general purpose CD-ROM workstations using IBM compatible microcomputers and tells how to make CD-ROM disks available to the general user. Use of standardized hardware and software, utility programs, DOS batch files, a shell program, and a hypertext program at the University of Idaho Library are…

Discussion of factors to consider in purchasing a personal computer covers present and future needs, computing environments, memory, processing performance, disk size, and display quality. Issues such as bundled systems, where and when to purchase, and vendor support are addressed; and an annotated bibliography of 28 recent articles is included.…

Describes the Eastern Oregon Information Network (EOIN) that was developed to provide off-campus students with dial-in remote access to CD-ROM indexes, an interlibrary loan network module, and an electronic mail system. A sidebar, "Making Remote Access Happen--A Developer's View" (Kenneth Girrard) is included. (EAM)

Provides an overview of the IRIS (Intelligent Reference Information System) project at the University of Houston (Texas) libraries; describes CD-ROM database performance tests, user reactions to the CD-ROM network, and a survey of users of an expert system to recommend reference sources; and reports on current activities and future plans.…