A basic challenge of the Weinberg Report addressed the question of information overload. The Weinberg Panel was extremely concerned with the proliferation of scientific literature and the specific issue of how to sift through reams of data to find the "gems" of wisdom, or that which is truly new and useful. In the early 1960s when the report was being written, computers were not part of the information access and retrieval infrastructure. Writing twenty-five years later, in 1988, Dr. Weinberg recognized that the panel had not adequately taken into account the impact of the computer and the growth of the information industry. Today we have a new world of microcomputers and networked information which is fundamentally shifting the paradigm of scientific communication. We have new capabilities, including electronic publishing, visualization techniques, even virtual reality. Without getting into a great debate about the definition of "grey literature," the main characteristics have traditionally been described as: rapid publication, variable formats, no public peer review, and no commercial source of general availability. With networked information and multi-media technology, the new world of grey literature is emerging with an interesting set of new and revived challenges. This article looks at the most interesting characteristics, and based on them, presents the thesis that in the 1990s we are facing a new generation of "grey literature." Introduction T he basic challenge of the Weinberg Report, 1 for which this conference has been named, addressed the question of information overload. The U. S. Presidential Science Advisory Board (Weinberg Panel) was extremely concerned with the proliferation of scientific literature and the specific issue of how to sift through reams of data to find the "gem" of wisdom, or that which is truly new and useful. In the early 1960s, when the Weinberg Panel did its work, computers were not a regular part of the information access and retrieval infrastructure. Writing twenty-five years later, in 1988, Dr. Weinberg recognized that the Panel had not adequately taken into account the impact of the computer and the growth of the on-line information industry. 2 Today we have a new world of microcomputers and networked information which is fundamentally Bonnie C. Carroll is with the shifting the paradigm of scientific communication. With networked information and multi-media technology, the new world of grey literature is emerging with an interesting set of new and revived challenges. In this article, we will explore the new generation of grey literature that is resulting from the impact of modern information technology.It should be noted at the outset that many of the observations and data for this article have a scientific and technical information (STI) focus. It is also true that data from the United States played the key role in our observations and conclusions. We believe, however, that the results of our research have a broader applicability.A basic premise of this article is that, in ...

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ABSTRACT

Coordinated by the US Geological Survey, the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) is a Webbased system that provides increased access to data and information on the nation's biological resources. The NBII can be viewed from a variety of perspectives. This article ± an individual case study and not a broad survey with extensive references to the literature ± addresses the structure of the NBII related to thematic sections, infrastructure sections and place-based sections, and other topics such as the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (one of our more innovative tools) and the development of our controlled vocabulary.

In this article, we outline our projections for NASA scientific and technical information (STI) in the 1990s. NASA STI for the 1990s will maintain a quality bibliographic and full-text database, emphasizing electronic input and products supplemented by networked access to a wide variety of sources, particularly numeric databases.STI for the 1990s will build on the accomplishments of the 1980s. Although budgetary realities are a constraint, there is much we can accomplish by applying new technology creatively. The changes now in process will provide a springboard for further change. CHANGING REQUIREMENTS FOR MANAGING NASA STINASA is by concept and by practice an advanced-technology agency. The thrust of the 1990s will be toward a more comprehensive, systematic use of computer and communications technology for all phases of NASA STI.Computers for STI use in the 1960s and 1970s and continuing into the 1980s were tools to assist and, where possible, replace manual operations.STI managers hoped that computerization would prove cost-effective; this was not always so. However, many new capabilities were realized. NASA will strive in the 1990s to use technology to meet new demands of users in a more cost-effective manner. The reconditioned Scientific and Technical InformationModular System (STIMS) and reconditioned RECON command and access structure are expected to be completely installed and operational at the NASA STI Facility by June 1990. This will position NASA to take advantage of state-of-the-art technology for several years into the 1990s, to handle the expected volume of electronic input and output, and to network effectively. CURRENT AND FUTURE TECHNOLOGYAs the 1980s closed, neither scientist, engineer, nor STI professional had to be convinced