Vincent F. Maturi, Samuel Liebman, William H. Fitspatrick and Frank J. Kreyra
Science Information Exchange Smithsonian Institution Woshington, D.C.
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Science Information Centers
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The tempo of modern research has produced such a complexity of abstracts, journals, and books that an individual scientist cannot keep up with all scientific literature relevant to his research interests. With increased emphasis on research, together with increased published scientific literature, the probability of unknowing duplication of research has increased quite markedly over that of two decades ago. In addition, an estimated prepublication gap of about one-tothree years further increases this probability. The Information Center
Many different information centers are available to the scientific public, and these may differ in one or more of their functions. Nevertheless, all serve the same purpose: to acquire, to store, and to disseminate information. Since the Government directly or indirectly supports about 70% of all research in the US., it has a definite interest and responsibility in the scientific information so necessary for its own research programs. One focus of this interest lies a t the executive level of government where The Office of Science and Technology relies on the Committee on Scientific and Technical Information (COSATI) to study and review the diversity and efficiency of both government and nongovernment information systems. The information problem is not unique to the US. Other countries face the same problem, and are attempting to establish information centers in accordance with their needs and capabilities. For example, in the USSR the entire Soviet scientificinformation network is staffed by more than 60,000 people who are employed at some 4000 specialized information centers. No single information center will ever be able to satisfy all requirements of all people. Furthermore, such a center would be economically unfeasible. The accompanying table gives the names and locations of four active information centers. Typical questions illustrate some of the different needs for information. With so much data available in this era of scientific specialization, it is natural to assume that the specialized information center devoted to state-of-the-art and critical compendia of specific subject specialities would come into existence. These centers have been established whenever there is sufficient need to know everything deemed most important and significant in a particular field. They were the subject for discussion in the report of the President's Science Advisory Committee, "Science, Government and Information" (1963). It is the growing volumes of research, the faster tempo, and above all, the spreading interdisciplinary ramifica-
tions of today's research that make assistance essential for the scientist who must read while he runs. Referral
The National Referral Center for Science and Teehnology, located at the National Library of Congress, makes available to the public many sources of information. Data obtained here permits one to make a systematic approach to other information centers where a problem may be solved. The service of the National Referral Center may be requested by any individual or organization working in any scientific or technologic field. This service is free, and assistance may be requested by telephone, correspondence, or personal visit. No special forms are required for written requests. However, a precise statement of the area of interest and the desired information, together with information sources already contacted, will be of assistance to the Center in fulfilling a requirement. The Center does not answer technical questions directly, nor does it provide bibliographies. It functions as an intermediary, directing those who need information to those who can provide it. Clearinghouse
The Clearinghouse for Scientific and Technical Information of the U.S. Department of Commerce provides a system for supplying the industrial and technical community with unclassified technical reports on government research and development in science and technology. The main services provided are: Research Reports. These consist of more than 50,000 technical reports and about 25,000 translations a year of foreign technical material. New documents are announced semimonthly in: U.S. Government Research and Development Reports (published by the Clearinghouse) ; Nuclear Science Abstracts (published by the AEC); Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports (published by NASA); and Technical translations (published by the Clearinghouse). The documents are available from the Superiutendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. The annual cost of these periodicals is $15, $30, $33, and $12 respectively. The Clearinghouse also offers a free "Fast Announcement Service" to announce by direct mail reports of special industrial significance. Literature-Searching Service. There are two parts to this service. First, lists of bibliographies in selected areas which can be purchased are prepared and distributed free. Second, special literature searches are made to order at an hourly fee of $11. Volume 43, Number 7 7 , November 7966
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Government-Wide Index. The Clearinghouse also publishes monthly a consolidated index containing subject, author, source, and report number indexes. I t permits scientists, engineers, and research managers to scan one publication in order to find literature in their field of interest. Referral Services. The Clearinghouse is setting up a master file of sources of information in the physical sciences and engineering in cooperation wit,h the National Referral Center. Regimal Dissemination. Technical information contained in selected government research reports is examined, reviewed, and packaged for industry's use.
may use the services of the Exchange without charge. At present, t,he Exchange answers about 40,000 questions a year. Adequate responses not only depend on scientific judgment in selecting material but also on the clear comprehension of the question as well as some insight into the nature of the research problem that prompted the question. To this end, SIE employs scientists and engineers conversant with most of the disciplines. About two million items of information about current research tasks are stored annually in a computer and can be retrieved in many combinations in whatever format is required.
Science Information Exchange
I n 1966 the Chemical Abstracts Service of the American Chemical Society will place approximately 100,000 titles on magnetic computer tapes. These tapes, which are made in the preparation of Chemical Titles, are available for searches that can be tailored to the needs of individuals, groups, and organizations. Searching is done on the basis of interest profiles submitted. Answers are in the form of author indexes, bibliographies, key-work-in-context indexes, or any combination of the three; a fee is charged for this service.
The Science Information Exchange is a type of specialized information center that focuses more on the problems of research management. It is one of the oldest information centers concerned with currently active research, having been founded 16 years ago by several government agencies. For several reasons the services it provides are unusual. (1) It is concerned only with current, unpublished research in order to bridge the one-to-three year prepublication gap and help avoid duplication of effort. (2) The Exchange indexes its technical material in detail to provide highly specific information. (3) By attention to interdisciplinary relationships, SIE supplements information from related fields of peripheral interest to those who focus their research efforts on a single field. (4) SIE provides information on who is doing the research and where, the title, a 200-word summary by the principal investigator, the period of operation, and the fiscal support (privileged information). The number of queries answered by the Exchange has been increasing as the scientific community becomes more concerned with the exchange of information and the ways in which it can be accomplished. Any investigator affiliated with a recognized research institution
Chemistry
Conclusion
In the immediate past there was a built-in "governor" that, to a degree, controlled the rate at which research could be done. This governor was the rate a t which new information could be acquired, digested, assimilated, and resynthesized into a meaningful segment in the mosaic of total knowledge. I n the future, technological advances will further increase the rate of acquisition and dissemination. Networks of information centers will evolve through necessity and will be strengthened by formal agreements. Meanwhile, the science educator must learn to use the resources of the information centers as they are, and increasingly make known the requirements necessary t,o fulfill any gaps in his knowledge.
Summary of Information Centers
Centers to which inqrdry should be directed
Typical questions
Service charge?
Who is researching nylon?
National Referral Center*
No
What testing stations have information on the tensile streneths of la+ tics? What published research is available on protein synthesis?
National Referral Center
No
Chemical Abstracts"
Yes
What technical trilnslations from the USSR are available in the field of the mathematical foundation of the information theory What governmen&sponsored research has been published on rubber technology? What bibliographies are available in the field of lasers? What current research is being s u p ported by U.S. funds but is being done in South America? What current research is being done on therapy of cancer of the CNS?
Clearinghouse.
Yes
Clearinghouse
Yes
Clearinghouse
Yes
Science Information Exchanged
No
Science Info. Exchange
No
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Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540
'r Service Box 1378, Columbus, Ohio 43216 US Dept. of Commerce, Springfield, Virginia 22151 d
1730 M St., N. W., Washington, D.C. 20036
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lournal of Chemical Education
Type of information supplied Names and locations of appropriate industrial concerns Names and locations of appropriate testing stations Author indexes, hibliographi~,KWIC indexes, or any combination of the three Any available printed translations of research work on the subject Printed pages or microfiche cards of com~letedU.S.-soonsored research in t& subject * Bibliographic material on the lasers, provided it is available Summaries of current research separated hv countries andlor fundina agencies Summaries of current research rela vant to the question
