An image retrieval system has been developed using CD -ROM ( Compact Disc -Read Only Memory ). The images such as documents, drawings, etc., are distributed in the CD -ROM disk and user can retrieve, see on CRT, and make hardcopies of them.The main features of the system are 4s follows: 1) A high data reliability which guarantee an error rate of less than 10 -IL is achieved with newly developed ECC LSI for CIRC and decoding software for Layered ECC adopted in the CD -ROM data format. 2) Using an image compression technique based on the G4 facsimile format, more than 5000 letter sized documents can be stored in a disk. 3) The system can display images on a high resolutional (200 TPI) CRT and print hardcopy by a 400 TPI laser beam printer. 4) The system can be operated by common 16 bit personal computers.The several applications of this system are also discussed.