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Grey Literature Compendium GreyNet: Grey Literature Network Service International Journal of Grey Literature


NewsBriefNews
 NewsBriefNews 

 Introduction

 No 3; 2000
 No 2; 2000
 No 1; 2000

 No 4, 1999
 No 3, 1999
 No 2, 1999
 No 1, 1999

 News Archive

 No 4, 1998
 No 3, 1998
 No 2, 1998
 No 1, 1998

 No 4, 1997
 No 3, 1997
 No 2, 1997
 No 1, 1997

 No 4, 1996
 No 3, 1996

Quarterly Newsletter
Vol. 6, No. 1, 1997
ISSN 0929-0923


GreyNet's Fifth Anniversary
From the Editors notebook
GL'97 Call for Papers
Program Committee to Meet in the Spring
GOGL, Two-day Workshop in The Hague
Review of Serials on Grey Literature


Annual Subscription: 20 Euros / 20 USDollars

Editorial Address


newMetropolis GreyNet's Fifth Anniversary

GreyNet's Fifth Anniversary in the New Dutch Science Center

GreyNet, Grey Literature Network Service, will celebrate this year its 5th Anniversary. In the Spring of '92, the groundwork was established for the First International Conference on Grey Literature. Five years later and after a number of national & international conferences and seminars, GreyNet has become a recognized information network service in more than 40 countries.

By compiling and synthesizing the information generated from these expert meetings, GreyNet has been able to build a referral base for the transfer of bibliographic, documentary, and factual information in this expanding field. GreyNet serves the interest of a wide range of information specialists and in so doing provides an international point of reference for grey literature.

In order to celebrate these accomplishments with the many who support its work, a special program and guided tour of the new Dutch Science Center, the newMetropolis, has been organised for June 27, 1997. This complex is prominently situated on the Amsterdam Harbour.

Welcome
Guest Speaker : Joaquim de Witte, Bureau EG Liaison - Senter
Grey Literature, its impact on the innovation process
GreyNet Speaker : Dominic J. Farace, Grey Literature Network Service
From an uncontrolled masse to meta-information for science, government, and technology
Lunch followed by a Tour of the "newMetropolis"
Farewell

In Order to Receive the Papers Presented at GreyNet's Lustrum,
Please Complete GreyNet's Publication Order Form

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From the Editors Notebook

Notebook on Grey Literature

Developments in the Production, Processing and Use of Grey Literature

More grey literature is being produced than ever before. The ratio is estimated at 3-4 times that of conventional/commercial literature 1. Individual authors, as well as, corporate authors have now come to view themselves as publishers. Due to the varied and different types of documents and producers of grey literature, the task of collection-forming for librarians has become a veritable challenge. The grey literature that they add to their collections is based on whether they have the budget and staff to process it 2. The information retrieval of grey literature cannot be limited to searching grey literature databases. Searches must also be conducted in databases where conventional literature is available 3. Search techniques for grey literature are comparable to those techniques used to search conventional/commercial literature, e.g. journal articles 2. There are well established centres and systems for the document delivery of grey literature. BLDSC (UK), INIST (FR), NTIS (USA), and JST (Japan) are fine examples. However, with the rapid increase of more electronic grey literature as seen on the Internet, the existence of the very source, at a given moment, is an even more preeminent problem then accessing a given document 4. Based on bibliometric studies, when we compare the number of grey literature references, citations, and loan requests with non-grey materials, we find a significant an increased use of grey literature. If we compare these same references, citations, and loan requests by age of the documents, we find a much less difference with commercial materials than led to be expected 5. Other studies show that the more empirical a subject of research, the more grey literature is used; while inversely, the more theoretical the subject investigated, the less communication there is among researchers, hence the less grey literature used and produced 1.

Developments and Challenges for Grey Literature brought on by Networked Environments

While the Internet and other network environments provide (corporate)authors with a new way of collaborating and exchanging ideas and information, not everything available on the Internet is grey. In much the same way that traditional grey literature is a product of joint/team effort 6, so is new grey literature. This collaboration often has an (inter)national character. These efforts are ongoing to the extent that a final version or end-product made never be completely available. While librarians are willing to utilize the Internet in the exercise of their duties, the explosive increase in electronic and printed grey literature makes it difficult for them to index and catalog much of it. Tools on the Internet such as WAIS and WWW are supporting them in this task. However, librarians should explore the possibility of creating formats, whereby the producer/author can document their own (electronic) publications. Information handling and access is replacing the traditional accent/policy of collection-forming in libraries. As such, information transfer or switching takes on a more central role for the librarian. This area is so technology driven that it is difficult to determine which medium: disc, CD-ROM, online, Internet, etc., is the most feasible and economical. In fact, to adequately meet all the needs of such a wide range of user groups, a combination of media and mediums for the transfer of grey literature is required. One cannot solely rely on the Internet for the transfer of electronic grey literature.

New types of grey literature are emerging as a result of networked environments

Examples of which are eprints 7, grey files 8, and technical documentation 3 retrievable on the Web. Technical documentation must not be confused with technical reports. This new type of grey literature is characterized by the fact that it is in itself a combination of document types. It is also more comprehensive or full-text in nature. Hyperlinks make other new types of grey literature virtually limitless. Conscious efforts to classify 'new' grey from 'old' grey literature have relied upon analogies such as 'shades of grey'. Others have gone so far as to distinguish actual types of documents into rather rigid schemes ranging from dark-medium-light grey 5. While the final words have not been recorded on the pro's and con's of such endeavour, it is safe to say that new grey will not replace old grey modes/forms. For together they comprise the whole. Printed grey literature, much like electronic forms of grey literature, are becoming ever more visible. We are provided with recent examples: the archaeological field/site Reports, often the only artifact left behind by researchers (Major, Hawaii); Deposited Papers - DP, (Markusova, Russia); Green Papers (CORDIS, EU), etc.

Developments in the Standardization of Grey Literature

The similarities rather than the differences in the bibliographic control of printed and electronic grey literature compared with conventional literature deserve further consideration. More (inter)national standardization should be sought in cataloguing grey literature, whereby shared cataloguing and modifications in existing standards have preference over the creation of new standards.

Emphasis on the classification of GL by document type does not detract from the importance of its subject classification. With the trends in the internationalization of information and policies of open borders, subject classification and other forms of value-added information should not only focus on existing user groups, but should also lend itself to potential users outside geographic, institutional, and language boundaries.

The principle use of document numbers by end-users is not to distinguish grey literature from non-grey, but rather to facilitate them in their search and retrieval of full texts. If multiple document numbers are assigned to one document, for whatever reason, then it should be quite clear in the bibliographic record as to which number provides physical access to that document. The inclusion of abbreviated corporate author names, as part of the document number can serve both as a control mechanism, as well as a cryptic statement of the issuing body of its "seal of approval" of the document's content.

The standardization of the lay-out of the contents of a document, as well as the physical format of that particular item of grey literature enhances the value of this material for both librarian and user, alike. With the advancements in software for word-processors and DTP, great strides have already been accomplished. Bibliographic information and documentation that is compiled in the process of cataloguing and indexing grey literature should be included as a separate page in the document itself. This would appear in much the same way as a CIP or RDP, Report Documentation Page.

The standardization of electronic grey literature should take place according to international convention. This has much to do with the fact that new grey literature is not only transferred but is also created/produced in network environments. Even its cataloguing and indexing take place in these same network environments.

References

GL'93 Proceedings:
1. Artus, H. (Germany), 2. Gelfand, J. (USA)

GL'95 Proceedings:
3. Luzi, D. (Italy), 4. McDermott, J. (USA), 5. Di Cesare, R. - Sala, C. (Italy), 7. Kreitz, P. [et al.] (USA)

Other Sources:
6. Marsh, E., 1992 (UK), 8. Horck, A. van - Tuck, B., 1994 (Holland -UK)

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GL'97

GL'97 ~ Call For Papers

Third International Conference on Grey Literature
GL'97

Participants who wish to present a paper at GL'97 are invited to submit an English abstract not to exceed 250 words. The abstract should deal with the problem/hypothesis, the research method/procedure, and the (expected) results and conclusions of the research.

Accompanying the text of the abstract should be the full title of the paper, the author(s) name(s) and institution(s), and the complete address/phone/fax/email information. This data will be used to compile the GL'97 Information Products.

Session one
Grey Literature for Technology Transfer and Innovation:
The impact and use of grey literature for scientific and technical purposes

Session two
Redesigning & Evaluating Grey Literature Products and Services:
A management and organisational approach to new forms of grey literature in networked environments

Session three
Education and Training in the Deployment of Grey Literature:
The development of curriculum and instructional programs needed to interpret the knowledge-base in this expanding field of information and to provide direction for further research

Due Date & Format Used for Submission
The abstract must be submitted on or before the 1st of April 1997 either by electronic mail or on a disc in WordPerfect. Also include a copy in printed form. The author will receive written verification upon receipt of the abstract. The GL'97 Program Committee will use these abstracts in order to finalize the GL'97 Program and Agenda.

Please note that the speakers are not exempt from the registration fee.

Email: greynet@greynet.org
Other Address Information

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GL'97 GL'97 ~ Program Committee

Program Committee to Meet in the Spring
GL'97

On May 26th 1997, the GL'97 Program Committee will hold its first meeting at the European Centre in Luxembourg. Among those delegates who will attend include:

Irja Vounakis, CEC (Belgium)
Commission of the European
Communities, DG XIII/D-2

Donald Simpson, CRL (USA)
represented by Marjorie Bloss
The Center for Research Libraries

Robert Wessels, EAGLE (Holland)
European Association for
Grey Literature Exploitation

Martha Stone, FID (Canada)
International Federation for
Information and Documentation

Dominic Farace, GreyNet (Holland)
Grey Literature Network Service

Graham Cornish, IFLA (UK)
International Federation of
Library Associations and Institutions

Marie-Paule Viguier, INIST (France)
Institut de l'Information
Scientifique et Technique

Koji Tamura, JST (Japan)
Japan Science and Technology Corporation

If you attended one of the earlier conferences in this series, and wish to summit recommendations or suggestions to the GL'97 Program Committee, please forward them on or before March 31st to TransAtlantic, the Organizing Bureau.

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GO GL'98 ~ Grey Literature Workshop

Two-day Workshop in The Hague

GOGL

The Dutch Foundation for Community Education (Stichting GO) has organised a new Workshop on Grey Literature.

Owing to developments with the Internet and electronic publishing, grey literature has recaptured widespread attention. Problems not only with the acquisition and indexing but also with other related aspects of grey literature require specific knowledge and expertise. The Dutch Foundation for Community Education in The Hague, is organising a new, two-day Workshop on Grey Literature that will be held on the 15th and 22nd of April 1997.

This Workshop has been developed and will be carried out in close cooperation with GreyNet, Grey Literature Network Service. The Work-shop is geared to librarians, documentalists, information specialists, referral staff, and other such professionals. During this Workshop, the participants will receive instruction and training in the acquisition, exploitation, collection, literature search, and information referral services related to grey literature.

The program consists of the following modules:

  1. Introduction to Grey Literature
  2. Standardization of Grey Literature
  3. New Forms of Grey Literature
  4. Availability of Grey Literature

The main approach in this Workshop will be to carry out assignments, which will be followed by group discussion. These assignments will be geared to practical problems and situations facing those who collect and manage grey information.

Upon completion of the first day of the Workshop, the participants will also receive an assignment, which will be carried out during the interim period, prior to the second and final day of the Workshop.

Workshop Coordinator: Drs. T.J. Verbeij
Language: Dutch
Registration Fee 1997: NLG. 975

In order to receive a folder and registration form, contact:
Stichting GO, Celebesstraat 89, 2585 TG The Hague, The Netherlands
Tel: 31-70-351.2380, Fax: 31-70-354.9789

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Review of Serials on Grey Literature

Conference Programs on Grey Literature : GL-conference series / compiled by D.J. Farace ; GreyNet, Grey Literature Network Service. - Amsterdam : TransAtlantic. -

ISSN 1385-2308

Abstract:
Contains the schedule of the plenary, Satellite, and Market Sessions, as well as the names and organisations of the authors/speakers with abstracts of their papers.

No. 1: GL'93 Program. - 46 p. - 1993 ISBN 90-74854-04-4 : NLG.30
No. 2: GL'95 Program. - 38 p. - 1995 ISBN 90-74854-09-5 : NLG.30

Conference Proceedings on Grey Literature : GL-conference series / compiled by D.J. Farace ; GreyNet, Grey Literature Network Service. - Amsterdam : TransAtlantic. -

ISSN 1385-2316

Abstract:
Contains the full text of the papers presented during the Inaugural, Plenary, and Satellite Sessions.

No. 1: GL'93 Proceedings. - 416 p. - 1994. - ISBN 90-74854-03-6 : NLG. 95
No. 2: GL'95 Proceedings. - 265 p. - 1996. - ISBN 90-74854-08-7 : NLG. 95

NLGL-handelingen : een series rapporten, lezingen en naslagwerken over grijze literatuur / redactie D.J. Farace ; GreyNet, Grey Literature Network Service. - Amsterdam : TransAtlantic. - ISSN 1385-4577

Nr. 1: Handelingen van het Tweede Nederlandse Symposium over Grijze Literatuur : Grijze Literatuur in een Netwerk-omgeving. - 42 p. -1996.

ISBN 90-74854-13-3 : NLG. 40

Nr. 2: Handboek over grijze literatuur : een systematische benadering van grijze literatuur in gedrukte en elektronische vorm. - 144 p. - 1997.

ISBN 90-74854-14-1 : NLG. 75

NewsBriefNews : A Quarterly Newsletter / compiled by D.J. Farace ; GreyNet, Grey Literature Network Service. - Amsterdam : TransAtlantic. -

ISSN 0929-0923 : NLG. 40

Abstract:
This newsletter appears in both printed and electronic formats. It is geared to serve the information needs of authors, librarians, teachers, researchers, publishers, database producers, information brokers, and end-users.

Vol. 1, No. 1 1992

Vol. 2, No. 1-4 1993

Vol. 3, No. 1-4 1994

Vol. 4, No. 1-4 1995

Vol. 5, No. 1-4 1996

Vol. 6, No. 1-... 1997

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