TECHNICAL LITERATURE O F THE OFFICE O F TECHNICAL SERVICES (OTS) AND RELATED SERVICES* By JAMES KANEGIS, Chief Chemical Section, OTS, Department of Commerce, Washington 2 5 , D. C.
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which have r e a s o n a b l y qualified r e s e a r c h g r o u p s . Such r e s e a r c h is c a l l e d s p o n s o r e d . P r a c t i c a l l y a l l U.S. s p o n s o r e d r e s e a r c h is being c o v e r e d by r e p o r t s . Under p r e s e n t r e g u l a t i o n s , as t h e s e b e c o m e publicly available t h e y a r e m o v e d into t h e OTS collection. T h e r e they a r e o r g a n i z e d , catalogued, and publicized t h r o u g h t h e OTS monthly publication, the U.S. G o v e r n m e n t R e s e a r c h R e p o r t s (USGRR). The USGRR will be d i s c u s s e d i n m o r e d e t a i l l a t e r .
The Office of T e c h n i c a l S e r v i c e s (OTS), a p a r t of t h e B u s i n e s s and Defense S e r v i c e s Adm i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e D e p a r t m e n t of C o m m e r c e , w a s e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1945 as t h e Office of t h e P u b l i c a t i o n B o a r d . By executive o r d e r it t h e n w a s a s s i g n e d the t a s k of expediting the flow of g o v e r n m e n t s c i e n t i f i c and t e c h n i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e public. S h o r t l y t h e r e a f t e r , h o w e v e r , with the c l o s e of World W a r 11, it w a s a s s i g n e d a n o t h e r u r g e n t but c o r o l l a r y function of o b t a i n ing, p r o c e s s i n g ; , and d i s s e m i n a t i n g e n e m y developed s c i e n t i f i c and t e c h n i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n with all possib1.e s p e e d . T h i s w a s i t f o r m i d a b l e t a s k and OTS, with i t s l i m i t e d s t a f f , had t o c o n c e n t r a t e a l l i t s e n e r g i e s i n t h a t d i r e c t i o n . While m u c h of t h e p r o c e s s e d m a t e r i a l constituted in-file d o c u m e n t s and i n d u s t r i a l r e p o r t s which o u r i n v e s t i g a t o r s d e e m e d i m p o r t a n t enough t o a c q u i s i t i o n o r copy, a significant p e r c e n t a g e r e p r e s e n t e d s u r v e y s by tra:ined U.S. i n v e s t i g a t o r s and s c i e n t i s t s . T h e s e rlsports w e r e of s u b s t a n t i a l value t o A m e r i c a n s c i e n c e and i n d u s t r y and a r e s t i l l being o r d e r e d f r o m OTS. All t h i s t i m e it w a s r e c o g n i z e d t h a t t h e A m e r i c a n public w a s not benefitting sufficiently f r o m i t s own i n v e s t m e n t i n g o v e r n m e n t - s p o n s o r e d r e s e a r c h and d e v e l o p m e n t ( R & D ) . The r e p o r t s coveri:ng s u c h R&D needed m u c h g r e a t e r d i s s e m i n a t i o n ,than they w e r e having a t t h a t t i m e . M o r e and s p e e d i e r d e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n w a s being u r g e d and a g r e e d upon. OTS a l r e a d y had t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r i n i t i a t i n g , developing and i m p l e m e n t i n g a p r o g r a m which would f u r t h e r t h e s e o b j e c t i v e s . A c c o r d i n g l y , a s F e d e r a l r e s e a r c h expanded i n s c o p e and i m p o r t a n c e , and a s u s e f u l e n e m y r e s e a r c h findings dwindled, e m p h a s i s on OTS r e p o r t coverage correspondingly reoriented i t s e l f r a t h e r r a p i d l y and pointedly f r o m e n e m y s p o n s o r e d R&D t o o u r own, s o t h a t f o r s o m e y e a r s now t h i s e m p h a s i s h a s b e e n a l m o s t e x c l u s i v e l y on U.S. G o v e r n m e n t - s p o n s o r e d r e p o r t liter atur e. The D e p a r t m e n t of D e f e n s e and i t s c o n t r a c t ing a g e n c i e s a r e now t u r n i n g out m a n y t h o u s a n d s of R&D u n c l a s s i f i e d r e p o r t s annually, while agencies such a s the Atomic Energy C o m m i s s i o n ( A E C ) , the National A e r o n a u t i c s and Space Agency (NASA), G.,a r e a l s o making i m p o r t a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n s T h e s e a g e n c i e s , while t h e y do s o m e r e s e a r c h . i n t h e i r own l a b o r a t o r i e s , depend l a r g e l y upon u n i v e r s i t i e s , i n d u s t r i a l and r e s e a r c h l a b o r a t o r i e s , and e v e n o t h e r c o u n t r i e s
TRANSLATIONS With t h e advent of t h e Soviet Union a s a n i m p o r t a n t c o n t r i b u t o r to t h e w o r l d ' s growing m a s s of s c i e n t i f i c knowledge, the p r o b l e m of d i s s e m i n a t i n g s u c h i n f o r m a t i o n t o U.S. s c i e n c e and i n d u s t r y a l s o h a s b e c o m e significantly a c u t e . T h e R u s s i a n language is not too w e l l known i n t h e United S t a t e s and R u s s i a n p e r i o d i c a l s t h e m s e l v e s do not r e c e i v e adequate circulation h e r e , In a n e f f o r t t o s o l v e s o m e of the m o r e c o m plex p r o b l e m s r e l a t i v e t o t h e d i s s e m i n a t i o n of Russian technical l i t e r a t u r e , a foreign technical i n f o r m a t i o n p r o g r a m w a s i n a u g u r a t e d in OTS i n J u l y , 1958. I t s a p p r o a c h , while s o m e w h a t related t o the e a r l i e r approach in disseminating G e r m a n technological i n f o r m a t i o n a f t e r World W a r 11, h a s a n u m b e r of significant diff e r e n c e s . T h e p r e s e n t p r o g r a m involves t h e c o l l e c t i o n , p r o c e s s i n g , and d i s s e m i n a t i o n of a b s t r a c t s and c o m p l e t e t r a n s l a t i o n s of R u s s i a n a n d , t o s o m e e x t e n t , t r a n s l a t i o n s of o t h e r f o r eign s c i e n t i f i c and t e c h n i c a l publications. H o w e v e r , j u s t a s with t h e G e r m a n language d o c u m e n t s of f o r m e r y e a r s , OTS d o e s not now a t t e m p t to t r a n s l a t e d o c u m e n t s on i t s own. Among t h e p r o g r a m ' s significant a c t i v i t i e s i s i t s publication p r o g r a m f o r t h e announcement and d i s s e m i n a t i o n of E n g l i s h a b s t r a c t s of a l l a r t i c l e s p r e s e n t l y a p p e a r i n g i n one h u n d r e d Soviet s c i e n t i f i c i o u r n a l s , t r a n s l a t e d s e c t i o n s of Referativnvv Z h u r n a l . the Soviet a b s t r a c t j o u r n a l , and S c i e n tific Information Report, a semimonthly review of s c i e n t i f i c , t e c h n o l o g i c a l , and m e d i c a l r e s e a r c h i n R u s s i a , H u n g a r y , C h i n a , and o t h e r Soviet Bloc c o u n t r i e s p r e p a r e d by the C e n t r a l Intelligence Agency. T h e a v a i l a b i l i t y of t r a n s l a t i o n s g e n e r a l l y i s announced i n t h e OTS s e m i m o n t h l y a b s t r a c t j o u r n a l , T e c h n i c a l T r a n s l a t i o n s ( T T ) which began publication with the J a n u a r y , 1959, i s s u e . T T i s p r e p a r e d ir. c o o p e r a t i o n with t h e Special L i b r a r i e s A s s o c i a t i o n T r a n s l a t i o n C e n t e r . It I
*Presented before the Division of Chemical Literature, ACS Cleveland Meeting, April 6, 1960.
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l i s t s and a b s t r a c t s a l l t r a n s l a t i o n s of b o o k s , m o n o g r a p h s , scientific a r t i c l e s , and p e r i o d i c a l s which a r e a v a i l a b l e f r o m OTS, t h e Special L i b r a r i e s Association Translation Center, the L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s , c o o p e r a t i n g f o r e i g n governments, commercial translating agencies, o r other private s o u r c e s . TT also l i s t s t r a n s l a tions which a r e p r e s e n t l y i n p r o c e s s by G o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s , p r i v a t e o r g a n i z a t i o n s , and s o m e 75 f o r e i g n scientific p e r i o d i c a l s which a r e t r a n s l a t e d on a c o v e r - t o - c o v e r b a s i s , t o g e t h e r with the n a m e s and a d d r e s s e s of t h e t r a n s l a t o r s and t h e i r s u b s c r i p t i o n f e e s . E a c h i s s u e is i n dexed by a u t h o r , j o u r n a l , s u b j e c t , and t r a n s l a tion n u m b e r , Cumulative i n d e x e s a r e i s s u e d twice a y e a r . In its f i r s t full y e a r of o p e r a t i o n , 1959, T T l i s t e d about 10,000 c o m m e r c i a l and g o v e r n m e n t t r a n s l a t i o n s . The f i r s t t h r e e m o n t h s of 1960 have been m a r k e d by g r e a t e r c o v e r a g e of m a t e r i a l in TT than i n any p r e v i o u s t h r e e m o n t h total -- a s would be expected f r o m a r a p i d l y expanding activity. T T now c o v e r s roughly 600 r e p o r t s p e r i s s u e , o r 1200 p e r month. Subs c r i p t i o n s to T T a r e continuously i n c r e a s i n g and now total s o m e 2300, a s c o m p a r e d t o 5000 f o r t h e USGRR, t h e o t h e r r e g u l a r publication of OTS.
GOVERNMENT REPORTS-ACQUISITIONS Since 1945 OTS h a s c o l l e c t e d o v e r a q u a r t e r of a m i l l i o n r e p o r t s f o r i t s P B collection. T o g e t h e r with o t h e r c o l l e c t e d r e p o r t s d i s c u s s e d l a t e r this collection i s c o n s i d e r e d by m a n y t o be the w o r l d ' s l a r g e s t of non-confidential t e c h n i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n . It is now c o v e r i n g roughly 900 r e p o r t s p e r monthly i s s u e . G e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , t h e r e a r e two a c q u i sitioning p r o c e s s e s f o r t h e s e r e p o r t s . One i n volves a u t o m a t i c r e c e i p t of m a t e r i a l f r o m c o o p e r a t i n g g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s and t h e i r c o n t r a c t o r s ; t h e o t h e r involves e i t h e r r e c e i p t f r o m issuing agencies a t a specific request f r o m OTS which, i n t u r n , had b e e n a s k e d t o t a k e s u c h a c t i o n , o r f r o m s e l e c t i v e a p p r o a c h e s involving c u r r e n t o r d e r m e d i a which OTS s y s t e m a t i c a l l y scans for just this purpose. As for a u t o m a t i c r e c e i p t of r e p o r t s this accounts f o r m o s t OTS a c q u i s i t i o n s . We find t h a t i t t a k e s a p p r o x i m a t e l y six w e e k s f o r m a t e r i a l o r i g i n a l l y s u b m i t t e d t o OTS to be p r o c e s s e d and e n t e r e d into o u r USGRR a s P B r e p o r t s . As f o r o r d e r s f o r R&D r e p o r t s not presently P B reports most such requests, even though they be f o r d o c u m e n t s s e v e r a l y e a r s old, a r e scheduled f o r i m m e d i a t e o r d e r and a s signed P B n u m b e r s a s quickly a s p o s s i b l e a f t e r receipt In s e l e c t i n g r e p o r t s f r o m c u r r e n t o r d e r m e d i a , t h o s e not i n the OTS c o l l e c t i o n which
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m e e t o u r c r i t e r i a f o r acquisitioning a r e i m m e d i a t e l y p l a c e d on o r d e r . Occasionally OTS staff m e m b e r s t h e m s e l v e s initiate r e q u e s t s f o r documents. We t r y t o have as c o m p l e t e c o v e r a g e on r e p o r t s a s is humanly p o s s i b l e -- d e s p i t e t h e g r e a t d i v e r s i t y of s o u r c e s f o r t h e s e r e p o r t s . At p r e s e n t we find that we a r e covering at l e a s t 8570 of all t h e s u i t a b l e r e p o r t s l i s t e d i n t h e A r m e d S e r v i c e s Technic a1 I n f o r m ation Agency's T e c h n i c a l Announcement Bulletin ( T A B ) , e v e n be f o r e o r d e r i n g m i s s i n g o n e s . We do not a t t e m p t 10070 c o v e r a g e , a s m a n y of t h e s e r e p o r t s a r e i n military science, non-technical p r o g r e s s reviews, etc. These, even under normal autom a t i c acquisitioning r o u t i n e s , would b e r e jected f o r P B coverage. R e p o r t s a r e s u b m i t t e d t o OTS e i t h e r a s s i n g l e o r as m u l t i p l e copies. Single copy d o c u m e n t s a r e s u b m i t t e d t o OTS t e c h n o l o g i s t s . They decide whether they may properly be entered into t h e OTS collection and, if s o , p r e p a r e a b s t r a c t s s u i t a b l e f o r u s e i n t h e USGRR. They a l s o will r e c o m m e n d f o r o r a g a i n s t p r i n t i n g a t OTS e x p e n s e . T h i s l a t t e r s t e p i s b a s e d upon what they conceive t o be a n t i c i p a t e d d e m a n d f o r t h e document i n q u e s t i o n ; f o r , i f t h e u l t i m a t e d e m a n d i s not l a r g e enough a l o s s r e s u l t s f o r OTS. C o n g r e s s i o n a l m a n d a t e i n s i s t s that OTS' p r i n t i n g o r t r u s t fund be s e l f - p e r p e t u a t i n g , one to be m a i n t a i n e d t h r o u g h s a l e of d o c u m e n t s i t h a s s e l z c t e d f o r p r i n t i n g . The c o s t of s u c h d o c u m e n t s i s kept at a m i n i m u m . About 1570 of all P B r e p o r t s a r e made available in printed f o r m f o r about a y e a r o r two a f t e r t h e y have been announced i n t h e USGRR. R e p o r t s not s e n t t o OTS i n m u l t i p l e s t o c k o r not finally p r i n t e d a r e s e n t t o t h e L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s w h e r e they m a y be o r d e r e d i n photocopy o r m i c r o f i l m f o r m f r o m t h e i r Photoduplication S e r v i c e at s t i p u l a t e d p r i c e s . T h e s e a r e c i t e d i n t h e USGRR along with t h e p r i n t e d r e p o r t s . All t h e r e p o r t s a r e s u i t a b l y c a t a l o g u e d , i n d e x e d , a b s t r a c t e d and p r i c e d . P r i n t e d r e p o r t s a r e o r d e r e d d i r e c t l y f r o m OTS. As f o r r e c e i p t of m u l t i p l e c o p i e s of a g e n c y r e p o r t s these usually a r e furnished f r o m an o v e r r u n of t h e o r i g i n a l p r i n t i n g by t h e o r i g i nating agency o r its c o n t r a c t o r . Of the p r i n t e d s t o c k s o l d by OTS, a p p r o x i m a t e l y 7570 i s o b t a i n e d i n t h i s way; t h e r e m a i n d e r a r e s e l e c t e d f o r p r i n t i n g by OTS.
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USGFtFt- COVERAGE F o r s o m e t i m e now a s e p a r a t e s e c t i o n of USGRR h a s b e e n devoted t o u n c l a s s i f i e d AEC r e p o r t s which OTS began a c q u i r i n g and s e l l i n g in 1950. The A E C collection p r e s e n t l y c o n s i s t s of a p p r o x i m a t e l y 27,000 r e s e a r c h r e p o r t s . Although l i s t e d only by t i t l e i n USGRR, all t h e i r
TECHNICAL LITERATURE O F OTS
r e p o r t s a r e a b s t r a c t e d and indexed i n AEC's s e m i m o n t h l y a b s t r a c t j o u r n a l , Nuclear S c i e n c e Abstracts. In addition to AEC and the D e p a r t m e n t of Defense r e p o r t s OTS h a s i n c r e a s e d its c o v e r age of o t h e r a g e n c i e s c o n s i d e r a b l y i n t h e p a s t y e a r or two. It is now citing r e s e a r c h r e p o r t s of c i v i l i a n a g e n c i e s s u c h a s t h e NASA, the F e d e r a l Aviation Agency, the Office of Saline W a t e r , the National B u r e a u of S t a n d a r d s , The d e g r e e of i n t e r e s t i n P B and AEC r e p o r t s m a y b e gleaned f r o m t h e f a c t t h a t the n u m b e r purcha.sed i n 1955 w a s about 9 0 , 0 0 0 . At p r e s e n t t h i s ha.s been i n c r e a s e d t o s o m e 300,000 a y e a r . T h i s r e p r e s e n t s a s a l e value well o v e r a half m i l l i o n d o l l a r s . It m u s t b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t AEC and P B d o c u m e n t s c o v e r s e v e r a l b i l l i o n d o l l a r s of g o v e r n m e n t R&D annually, and t h e r e f o r e they r e p r e s e n t a v e r y h a n d s o m e d i v i dend t o the public f o r t h i s t r e m e n d o u s investment. The USGRR now i n c o r p o r a t e s m a n y m o r e i n d e x e s p e r i s s u e than it did p r e v i o u s l y . P r e s e n t l y , i t contains a t a b l e of contents c o v e r i n g s o m e twenty c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s , a s h o r t l i s t of p r i n t e d r e p o r t s sold d i r e c t l y by OTS, a s y s t e m a t i z e d l i s t of all. t h e P B r e p o r t s , and a s i m i l a r breakdown of t h e AEC r e p o r t s , a s o u r c e index l i s t i n g t h e r e s e a r c h g r o u p s involved, a s u b j e c t index and a n u m b e r index. T h i s l a t t e r c o v e r s n u m e r i c a l coding of the d o c u m e n t s by agency a s well a s by P B n u m b e r . A c u m u l a t i v e index which p r o v i d e s consolidations of a l l P B i n d e x e s t h a t have a p p e a r e d i n t h e s e p a r a t e i s s u e s i s p u b lished e v e r y six months.
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PUBLICITY AND CIRCULATION While USGRR and T T a r e e x c e l l e n t m e d i a f o r announcing new OTS a c q u i s i t i o n s and t r a n s l a t i o n s , OTS u s e s o t h e r m e d i a a s w e l l . F o r e x a m p l e , i t turns; out about 400 p r e s s r e l e a s e s p e r y e a r c o v e r i n g t h e OTS r e p o r t s . T h e s e a r e s e n t s e l e c t i v e l y t o :some 1200 c l i e n t s , including the t r a d e and t e c h n i c a l p r e s s , b u s i n e s s e s , and a s s o c i a t i o n s . D i s t r i b u t i o n i s b a s e d on s o m e 50 subject catego.ries. OTS a l s o p u b l i s h e s a T e c h n i c a l R e p o r t N e w s l e t t e r , a imonthly d i g e s t of G o v e r n m e n t and o t h e r r e s e a r c h r e p o r t s containing t e c h n i c a l d e velopments for industry, p a r t i c u l a r l y s m a l i plants. Recently it n u m b e r of o r g a n i z a t i o n s and a b s t r a c t i n g j o u r n a l s have s t a r t e d c o v e r i n g P B r e p o r t s . We m a y m e n t i o n t h e National A s s o c i Biological Abation of C o r r o s i o n E n g i n e e r s , -______ s t r a c t s , and CIhemical A b s t r a c t s a s e x a m p l e s . C h e m i c a l A b s t r a c t s itself is s e l e c t i v e l y cosrering s u i t a b l e a r e a s by using a b s t r a c t s d i r e c t l y 2 s they a p p e a r in t h e USGRR, The a r e a s i r c l u d e b i o c h e m i c a l arid phj-sic.: b o r d e r l i n e s .
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One i m p o r t a n t m e a n s by which the USGRR, T T , i n d e x e s , and c e r t a i n r e p o r t s and t r a n s l a t i o n s a r e m a d e m o r e r e a d i l y available to the g e n e r a l public is t h r o u g h p l a c e m e n t i n d e p o s i t o r y l i b r a r i e s throughout the country. In a d d i tion t o t h e s e l i b r a r i e s the D e p a r t m e n t of C o m m e r c e h a s f i e l d offices in 3 3 c i t i e s . They c o v e r t h e s a m e m a t e r i a l and give r e a d y r e f e r e n c e and s e r v i c e t o the public. A listing of t h e s e offices m a y b e had on r e q u e s t .
SUBSCRIPTIONS The s u b s c r i p t i o n p r i c e t o USGRR i n c r e a s e d only slightly i n t h e y e a r s of its e x i s t e n c e d e s p i t e 'its v a s t l y i n c r e a s e d size- and s c o p e . The p r e s e n t p r i c e is $9.00 annually. T T i s $12.00 annually. Both a r e p u r c h a s e d through the Sup e r i n t e n d e n t of D o c u m e n t s , Government P r i n t ing Office, Washington 25, D. C., and not t h r o u g h OTS.
SERVICES An obvious OTS s e r v i c e c o n c e r n s identific a t i o n and citation of i t s r e p o r t s and t r a n s l a t i o n s . Requests for such s e r v i c e a r e v e r y numerous and v a r i e d . On t h e m o r e difficult ones OTS m a i n t a i n s a staff of s p e c i a l l y t r a i n e d technolog i s t s t o backstop t h e l i b r a r i a n s and s e a r c h e r s . OTS augments i t s r e f e r e n c i n g p r o g r a m by developing b i b l i o g r a p h i e s on i t s holdings and for a rather listings. These m a y be informal l i m i t e d o r s p e c i a l i z e d d e m a n d , o r f o r m a l -- f o r a m o r e g e n e r a l demand. These latter a r e p r i n t e d to s i m p l i f y and expedite p r o c e s s i n g of i n q u i r i e s . Thus f a r , s e v e r a l hundred p r i n t e d b i b l i o g r a p h i e s have been p r e p a r e d , of which s o m e hundred a r e still i n p r i n t . Those who w i s h to do the.ir own s e a r c h i n g a r e invited to v i s i t OTS and conduct s u c h s e a r c h e s through i t s c a r d i n d e x e s . P B r e p o r t s m a y be i n s p e c t e d without c h a r g e a t the L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s . With s u c h a v a s t s t o r e h o u s e of t e c h n i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n a t i t s c o m m a n d , i t was only n a t u r a l t h a t the agency r e s p o n s i b l e f o r c a r r y i n g out the G o v e r n m e n t ' s f o r e i g n p r o g r a m s , namely., the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Cooperation A d m i n i s t r a t i o n (ICA) would look toward GTS f o r backstopping. F o r t h e p a s t t e n y e a r s OTS has conducted a T e c h n i c a l Inquiry S e r v i c e u n d e r which it has p r o vided a n s w e r s t o o v e r 19,000 t e c h n i c a l inquir i e s f r o m o v e r s e a s . OTS a l s o p r e p a r e s and p u b l i s h e s for iCri z Technical Digest which p r e s e n t s a s e i e c t i m of condensed s u m m a r i e s f r o m t e c h n i c a l and t r a d e p e r i o d i c a i s , f r o m books, r e s e a r c r . r c u o r t s , and o t h e r m e d i a , a l l of wi-:ict, d e s c r i b e in d e t a i l w o r k m e t h o d s , m a n d a c t u r i n g p r r j c e s s e s , and biisiness and i n d ci s tr ial t e E hniqu = s .
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James Kanegis
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OTS n a t u r a l l y is i n t e r e s t e d i n improving i t s s e r v i c e t o the public w h e r e p o s s i b l e . It i s p r e s e n t l y investigating t h e feasibility of f u r nishing a t a nominal f e e a m o r e detailed bibliog r a p h i c s e r v i c e on a l l its r e p o r t s . This would be over and beyond the p r e s e n t type of s e a r c h and would involve detailed and authoritative s e a r c h of P B r e p o r t s , U.S. owned p a t e n t s , and t r a n s l a t i o n s l i s t e d in T T .
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NATIONAL INVENTOXS COUNCIL OTS m a i n t a i n s another division c o n c e r n e d with inventions, t h e National Inventors Council. The Council is a civilian agency c h a r g e d with the t a s k of bringing t o t h e attention of the milit a r y any inventive i d e a s of potential value t o national d e f e n s e . It a l s o r e f e r s t o o t h e r Gove r n m e n t d e p a r t m e n t s o r a g e n c i e s any invention which might contribute t o t h e national w e l f a r e . The Council w a s o r i g i n a l l y e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1940 i n the belief t h a t m a n y firms and individuals with c r e a t i v e i d e a s did not know how t o a p p r o a c h the Government with t h e i r i d e a s . As a r e s u l t , t h e Council h a s p r o c e s s e d m a n y inventions which have contributed g r e a t l y t o the development of m i l i t a r y equipment. C u r r e n t m e m b e r s h i p of the Council includes m o r e than a s c o r e of d i s tinguished A m e r i c a n i n v e n t o r s and s c i e n t i s t s d r a w n f r o m many d i v e r s e f i e l d s . All m e m b e r s s e r v e without pay. While the Council d o e s not l i m i t i t s f i e l d s of i n t e r e s t , it d o e s p e r i o d i c a l l y i s s u e l i s t s of Inventions Wanted by the A r m e d F o r c e s . I t s l a t e s t l i s t , d a t e d N o v e m b e r , 1959, contains 320 new p r o b l e m s and n o t e s cancellations of 135 o t h e r s . In r e l e a s i n g new p r o b l e m s p e r i o d i c a l l y i t hopes t o l e a r n of new l e a d s and d e v e l o p m e n t s which m a y not be known t o m i l i t a r y r e s e a r c h e r s . It strongly e n c o u r a g e s f r e s h a p p r o a c h e s , i d e a s , and techniques.
GOVERNMENT-OWNED PATENTS OTS a l s o is r e s p o n s i b l e f o r publicizing the availability of government-owned p a t e n t s , whether g e n e r a t e d through civilian o r d e f e n s e agency a c t i v i t i e s . T h i s i t d o e s through i t s P a t e n t A b s t r a c t S e r i e s . E a c h a b s t r a c t published i n this s e r i e s c o v e r s the e s s e n t i a l s of one s u c h patent. O v e r 12,000 a r e p r e s e n t l y i n the OTS collection. If a p e r s o n is i n t e r e s t e d in one of the p a t e n t s he can obtain a copy f r o m the C o m m i s s i o n e r of P a t e n t s f o r 25{. If he w a n t s a l i c e n s e t o u s e the patent he a d d r e s s e s a r e q u e s t t o the Government agency a d m i n i s t e r i n g t h e patent as shown in the P a t e n t A b s t r a c t S e r i e s . Many f i r m s a r e s u c c e s s f u l l y manufacturing p r o d u c t s using p r o c e s s e s b a s e d on t h e s e p a t e n t s . A g r e a t m a n y m o r e , of c o u r s e , have been aided c o n s i d e r a b l y i n t h e i r own r e s e a r c h objectives by having knowledge of t h e s e p a t e n t s .
T h i s s e r i e s is composed of s e v e n books covering about eight wide i n d u s t r i a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s , and the s e r i e s i s p e r i o d i c a l l y supplem e n t e d . OTS is hoping t h e s e supplements c a n be m a d e into annual i s s u e s . The books and 5upp l e m e n t s have all been p r e p a r e d f o r OTS u n d e r c o n t r a c t . They a l l have P B n u m b e r s and a r e available a t a nominal f e e . C h e m i c a l products and p r o c e s s e s p r e s e n t l y a r e c o v e r e d by one book and two s u p p l e m e n t s . An o r i g i n a l book plus s u p p l e m e n t s a l s o e x i s t s on c e r a m i c s , p a p e r , r u b b e r , t e x t i l e s , wood, and o t h e r p r o d u c t s and p r o c e s s e s .
COMMODITY STANDARDS DIVISION Two s e r i e s of s t a n d a r d s a r e i s s u e d by OTS through i t s Commodity S t a n d a r d s Division. T h e s e a r e " C o m m e r c i a l S t a n d a r d s " and "Simplified P r a c t i c e Recommendations . I t They a r e established as a s e r v i c e to business, for gene r a l u s e by t h e public, and not f o r p u r p o s e s of g o v e r n m e n t regulation o r c o n t r o l . Commercial Standards w e r e undertaken in 1928 t o e s t a b l i s h definite quality l e v e l s f o r c e r t a i n c o m m e r c i a l p r o d u c t s so as to m a k e t h e m m o r e a c c e p t a b l e t o the t r a d e , and t o p r o m o t e sound c o m m e r c i a l p r a c t i c e s i n t h e i r m a n u f a c t u r e , m a r k e t i n g , and application. They a r e e s t a b l i s h e d i n joint cooperation of all i n t e r e s t e d s e g m e n t s of i n d u s t r y , d i s t r i b u t o r s and u s e r s , and a r e u n d e r t a k e n only through specific r e q u e s t by r e s p o n s i b l e g r o u p s . I n d u s t r y e n d o r s e m e n t is n e c e s s a r y and the u s e of the s t a n d a r d s i s volunt a r y . M o r e than 200 C o m m e r c i a l S t a n d a r d s have b e e n i s s u e d thus f a r . Simplified P r a c t i c e Recommendations s e t f o r t h the s i z e s , kinds and t y p e s of specific m a n u f a c t u r e d a r t i c l e s t h a t a r e in g r e a t e s t d e m a n d , a s one m e a n s of reducing the c o s t of production and d i s t r i b u t i o n . In s o m e c a s e s t h e s e r e c o m mendations a r e combined with c o m m e r c i a l s t a n d a r d s . In any c a s e , h o w e v e r , as with s t a n d a r d s , they a r e not e s t a b l i s h e d until a c cepted by r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n a l l b r a n c h e s of i n d u s t r y . M o r e than 250 p r o d u c t s a r e included i n t h e p r e s e n t l i s t of r e c o m m e n d a tions.
TRADE ASSOCIATION DIVISION AS the G o v e r n m e n t ' s c e n t e r of i n f o r m a t i o n on a l l t y p e s of non-profit b u s i n e s s o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t h i s Division f o r o v e r 40 y e a r s h a s been e n c o u r aging and aiding the growth of m u t u a l - a i d a s s o ciations of b u s i n e s s m e n . Thousands of new o r ganizations have been f o r m e d in r e c e n t y e a r s and the s c o p e of t h e i r s e r v i c e s t o m e m b e r s and the g e n e r a l public h a s widened t r e m e n d o u s l y . The l a r g e r ones provide f r o m 20 t o 30 types of s e r v i c e s , f r o m accounting and a d v e r t i s i n g to technical r e s e a r c h and t r a n s p o r t a t i o n p r o b l e m s .
The Division publishes p e r i o d i c a l l y an i m p o r tant d i r e c t o r y of s u c h t r a d e a s s o c i a t i o n s and professional societies.
