History of the CD Rom

History and creation of the CD-ROM
Psychology: IUPsyS Global Resource
(Editions 2000 to 2009)

Reprinted from Wedding, D., & Stevens, M. J. (Eds.). (2009). Psychology: IUPsyS Global Resource (Edition 2009) [CD-ROM]. International Journal of Psychology, 44(Suppl. 1).

The creation of a continuously updated and expanded Psychology: IUPsyS Global Resource CD-ROM helps fulfill a key responsibility of the International Union of Psychological Science, that of advancing psychology as an international discipline and ensuring that information about the profession and psychological knowledge are widely disseminated. The IUPsyS, editors of the CD-ROM, and Psychology Press are sensitive to the use of English and recognize this limits the audience of the CD-ROM.

This publication product follows the tradition of – yet extends in scope and media – the IUPsyS’s previous publication of the International Directory of Psychologists (editions published in 1958, 1966, 1980, 1985) and the The IUPsyS Directory (published in 1993).

The concept for Psychology: IUPsyS Global Resource as an electronic/CD-ROM product developed through intensive discussions in 1999 of the IUPsyS’s Committee on Publications and Communication (members at that time: K. Pawlik, Chairperson; J. Adair; M. Denis; H. Imada; L.-G. Nilsson; J.B. Overmier) and Psychology Press’s Michael Forster and Rohays Perry. The stimulus was recognition of the inherent slowness of production and the rigidity of print products in contrast to psychology’s urgent need for readily updated current information in the worldwide context of emerging electronic and desktop computer capabilities.

The editors wish to acknowledge:

  • The critical contributions of Psychology Press – especially the creative ideas of Rohays Perry and Paul Dukes.
  • The IUPsyS Committee on Publications and Communications.
  • (In 1999) President Géry d'Ydewalle and Secretary-General Pierre Ritchie, and the detailed contributions of Lin Gillan, Nan Nelson, and Sara Sass.
  • (In 2004) President Michel Denis and President-Elect Bruce Overmier.
  • The hard work and support of all the section editors, throughout the years.

This process continues through the support of the IUPsyS and the key persons at Psychology Press – Rohays Perry, Kate Moysen, Mark Fisher, and Sue Wickenden.

Every year, new material is added to the CD-ROM and existing sections updated and/or expanded. (For more information see the What's New page of the About Section of each successive Edition.) It is an integral part of an institutional subscription to the International Journal of Psychology and will be dispatched as soon as it is produced, whether that be with latest issue of the International Journal of Psychology or through a separate mailing.