To overcome growing requirements for additional space and for archival storage
of less used, old and important documents, libraries have been using compact or
dormitory storage and microfilming techniques. Of late, information technologies
have come to their rescue. Many technologies-magnetic as well as optical have
been tried for the past many years for mass storage of information. While magnetic
drum and tape are, heading towards obsolescence, optical' technologies with their
enormous storage capacities are trying to fill the gap.
This paper overviews the various 'technologies available for mass storage in the
library environment. The paper covers the magnetic storage devices including
magnetic tape, magnetic disc, cartridge tape and digital audio tape. The optical disc
storage technologies including read-only, write once read many and erasable/rewritable
media have been described. The role of optical discs in making electronic
publishing a popular technology has also been described. Future trends in the mass
storage technologies like volume holographic technology, electronic trap and
proximal probe technologies, and fluorescent multi-layered technology which are
under various stages of development have also been briefly discussed. Applications
of these technologies in library and information centres. have been listed