Scientific and technical information in the United Kingdom

Abstract

The paper gives an overall picture about the structure of the present information system, as well as about the scope of activity of national and governmental bodies. Special emphasis is laid on the role and activity of OSTI (Office of Scientific and Technical Information).
The following are stressed as the main components of information transfer:
-primary sourcese (publications);
-secondary sources (there are almost 400 highly specialized systems in Great-Britain, while systems covering a whole branch of science or larger scientific fields are working in cooperation with the United States);
-general reference and lending libraries;
-special libraries, information and documentation centres (nearly 3000 operating);
-factographic activities as regards the properties of materials used in industry, scientific and engineering data and the related facts and figures;
-special services: establishing industrial relations, agricultural advisory services, training information specialists, theoretical and practical advisory and consultation services in information work.
Ministries and other state agencies are, in their respective fields, responsible for information work: OSTI is in charge of coordinating work aimed at the modernization of scientific and technical information; it also encourages the related educational and research work, thus facilitating the efficient appropriation of the vast financial resources necessary to this work.
The activities of OSTI are motivated by two major tasks:
-investigations into the applicabillty of computer;
-involvement of active specialists in information work.
OSTI has considerable funds amounting to 1.530.000 annually. Its own research group is engaged in the application of computer techniques in the information field, otherwise its actitivities are concentrated on financing or supporting extramural researches, in accordance with its co-ordinating and encouraging role.
The percentage distribution of funds spent on various projects in 1969-70 is as follows:
-computer-based information experiments: 30 per cent;
-specialized information and data centres: 20 per cent;
-background research: 20 per cent;
-library and museum research: 20 per cent;
-other projects: 10 per cent.