Marketing CD-Rom Services at the UST Library, Kumasi (Ghana)

Abstract

Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) technology seems "custom-made” for the developing world because of its high-density storage medium, durability, low manufacturing cost and portability. A single disc can hold still images, motion, video, audio and digital data. Information services and products need to be marketed to ensure that potential as well as actual users are reached. CD-ROM services ought to be marketed all the more because the technology has been introduced to the developing world only in the early 1990's. Two bibliographic databases- the Compendix Engineering Index and ISI’s six Speciality Citation Indexes were used. The university community was introduced to the service in June 1993. As wide a publicity as possible was given to all the academic departments through notices and handbills. Promotion strategies used included student orientation sessions, presentations/talks at seminars, speaking to potential users, providing group and individual SDI, and specialized digests of citations and abstracts. The gains are many and are shared by both the provider of the service and the user.