Message-Id: <199706111526.IAA41568@dns.ccit.arizona.edu> Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 11:26:06 -0400 From: Judi Zidar <mailto:jzidar@NAL.USDA.GOV> Subject: Re: Microfilm CDROM copies To: mailto:IMAGELIB@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
My library has been putting info out on CDROM for several years, and we also use the writeable CD (CD-Recordable) technology for storing our own data.The ISO 9660 standard for CDROM, which is also the basis for CD-R, is *supposed* to make the data files accessible by all microcomputer operating systems. So you shouldn't need a front end just to distribute files. It would then be up to the users to be able to read the files, using their own text editor, browser, or image display software. It would be good, therefore, if you supplied the files in "standard" formats, such as ASCII text and TIFF images (or equivalent European versions), or HTML files and GIF images, which could be read by any web browser. You would also want to use a directory structure and file naming scheme that was somewhat intuitive, keeping within the 8-3 alphanumeric limitations.
It sounds like you want to go a step farther and supply the software for viewing your data files. Software is mostly operating-system-specific, and most of it requires a fee per use or per disc. This is a much more complicated undertaking than just copying the files to disc -- you would have to build a database. You mentioned Acrobat. The Acrobat Reader (the client software) can be distributed for free on your disc (as I understand it), and all you have to do is buy the database-building software (around $500 US). Acrobat uses PDF (portable document format), so you'd have to decide if you want your data in that format. I've never used it myself, but our Animal Welfare Information Center produced a disc with Acrobat that they were pretty pleased with. You can check out the Acrobat website at: http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/main.html
On my own group's CDROMs, we use Windows Personal Librarian, which is a fairly powerful retrieval software, and probably more than you'd want, but I'd be glad to give you more info on it.
--Judi Zidar
% Judith A. Zidar, Leader % Internet: mailto:jzidar@nal.usda.gov % % Imaging and Conversion Unit, ISD % Phone: (301) 504-5853 % % National Agricultural Library, USDA % Fax: (301) 504-7473 % % 10301 Baltimore Ave. - Rm. 013 % % % Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2351 USA % http://www.nal.usda.gov/ %
On Wed, 11 Jun 1997, John Fletcher wrote:
> Does anyone have experience and advice about producing writeable
> CDROMS? As part of the Library's copying service we produce
> duplicate film, and paper copies from 35mm microfilm. We are now
> looking at supplying CDROM copies via a Mekel digitiser. What we
> need is some sort of 'front end' which can be loaded onto the
> CDROMs and will ensure that the files can recognised and accessed
> by whatever machine the customer has. Also things like
> instructions, a copyright warning and maybe a bit of graphics
> need to be added.
>
> If we used someone elses software, Adobe Acrobat for example,
> would we have to pay a fee every time we sold a disk.
>
> John Fletcher - British Library - London
>