Quarterly Newsletter
Vol. 7, No. 3, 1998
ISSN 0929-0923
Parallel Publishing, A New Paradigm for Grey Literature
Observership on Grey Literature
New Publications on the topic of GL
Test GL*SSARY to appear on Website
Visitors from Turkey and the USA
Data Profiles on GreyNet
GL'99 Call for Papers
Annual Subscription: 20 Euros / 20 USDollars
Editorial Address
Parallel Publishing
A New Paradigm for Grey Literature
Parallel publishing is a term used to denote the relationship
that has developed between the authors and producers of grey and
commercial literature. A development that has been intensified
by the advance of electronic publishing and the Internet.
Until recent, commercial publishers had built a wall around their
publications to ward off the influx of grey literature.
Publications which to them were inferior, without peer-review,
that which was part of the obscure realm. Nevertheless, at times,
commercial publishers would venture out into this grey realm in
order to explore, identify, and capture material, which they
would transform into white or commercial literature.
With the rise of electronic publishing and the internet,
commercial publishers have had to rethink a new paradigm in which
to better understand and deal with grey literature.
No wall can be built high enough to ward-off the expanding
production of electronic grey literature.
What we are now witnessing is the recognition on the part of
commercial publishers that grey literature is also of value, that
most of the grey literature will remain in the grey circuit and
will not obscure their commercial endeavors. This new perspective
on grey literature has caused commercial publishers to go beyond
their periodic ventures into the grey realm, by actively linking
their peer reviewed and commercially published literature to
other sources responsible for their very creation and authorship.
As intermediary, GreyNet seeks to encourage and facilitate both
commercial publishers and corporate authors to identify and link
peripheral data and information -- such as preprints, research
and technical notes, as well as a host of other electronic,
digital, and multimedia grey literature -- to mainstream core
publications. Such endeavors would be widely applauded by the
producers and users of grey literature. Not to mention libraries
and information centers, who would readily tap such new and
innovative resources.
From the Editor
Dominic J. Farace
Observership Creates Better Perspective on Grey Literature
In most developing countries, grey literature as the term
applies, is still a grey area even though its existence is
voluminous, be it in the government, academic or private sector.
The Philippines for one, with its rich political and deeply
education-oriented culture has a vast collection of grey
literature, which is generated and stored. Much of it is in the
area of science and technology, where most results of research
and development and other related activities are not commercially
published and are therefore considered grey.
The Luxembourg conference with its title "Perspectives on the
Design and Transfer of Scientific and Technical Information"
offered a venue from which developing countries like the
Philippines gained insights on the extent of the collection and
use of GL in other developing countries. Specifically in the area
of science and technology, there are identified users mostly from
the science sector. In fact, many are using grey literature but
are not aware of it. Indeed, there was much to learn from the
experience of speakers coming from developed countries, who
shared their knowledge and expertise.
The conference was a very enlightening experience and was made
more interesting with my post-conference observership at two
large institutes in the Netherlands - the Royal Library in The
Hague and ECN Policy Studies in Petten. This observership was
facilitated by Dr. Dominic Farace, Head of GreyNet. The
purpose of the observership was to gain in-depth knowledge as
well as "hands-on" experience in the handling of grey literature
through information technology.
At the Netherlands Energy Research Foundation, ECN in Petten,
Mr. Hildebrand Verkroost showed the library holdings,
particularly on grey literature, which is an enormous collection
ranging from books to journals to microfiche. He explained how
they are stored, catalogued and accessed by users. An
interesting part was the "walk through" on their Energy Database.
The Database contains bibliographic references and abstracts of
technical reports, journal articles, conference papers, books,
patents, and other materials related to energy research,
technology and information in the basic sciences. Information
from the Energy Database is available through commercial online
hosts. Mr. Verkroost emphasized the importance of "information
sharing through the exchange of the full text of documents not
easily available elsewhere". In short, the non-conventional or
grey literature. Anyone would be awed by the extent of
information technology applied at ECN.
My experience at the Royal Library (KB) in The Hague, with Mr.
Van Lopik as my mentor was equally interesting. The Royal Library
is a national repository of information, the most updated and
complete library that I have seen. Mr. Lopik gave an overview of
the activities of the different divisions of the Royal Library (KB)
by virtually bringing the observer into his day to day activities -
particularly in the area of cataloguing and collection development.
The two-day observership proved to be an innovative approach in
achieving a better understanding and perspective in the specific
topics and discussions presented at the Luxembourg conference.
While it is very enlightening to listen to the experts,
listening was enhanced, reinforced and concretized through the
observership. More importantly, it reaffirmed that the
collection, selection, storing and accessing of significant
information resources, should be maintained and developed in the
country of origin. There is a need for such activities in the
Philippines. A good program, based on the observations at ECN and
the KB, as well as from the conference, would first be to define,
identify, select and collect grey literature; and second to
develop a database using a cataloguing format standard in most
countries, so that the exchange of information will be
facilitated and access by local users encouraged. An
infrastructure for such a program should first be established,
where support from concerned agencies is manifest. Added to this,
The Philippines needs to establish links with organisations such
as eagle, crl and cordis that already have databases of grey
scientific and technical literature.
Report by Maria Elena T. Tabancura, PCIERD-DOST
Philippine Council for Industry and Energy
Email: lynn@sun1.dost.gov.ph
New Publications on the Topic of Grey Literature
PEER, Public Enterprise in Editing and Review, is a module used in the acquisition and compilation of information. Those who provide information
to GreyNet are recognized in this way for their contribution.
EVOLUTION OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION /
by Sandra L. Esler and Michael L. Nelson. - In: Journal of the
American Society for Information Science, vol 49 (1), 1998, p. 82-91.
ISSN 0002-8231
Abstract: WWW and related information technologies are
transforming the distribution of STI. This article examines 11
recent functioning digital libraries focusing on the distribution
of STI publications, including journal articles, conference
papers, and technical reports. Many digital library prototypes
merely automate existing publishing practices or focus solely on
the digitization of the publishing cycle, not sampling and
capturing the publishing cycle output. Still others do not
consider for distribution the large body of GL. We address these
deficiencies in the current model of STI exchange by suggesting
methods for expanding the scope and target of digital libraries.
| PEER | : A.V. Level |
| Keywords | : STI / Grey literature / Buckets / Digital libraries |
| Access | : American Society for Information Science, vol. 49 (1), 1998
: TransAtlantic Stock Catalog: GL.0097
|
GREY LITERATURE : A DEFINITION, TWO EDITORIALS, AND AN ESSAY /
ed. by Charles Willett. - In: Counterpoise, vol. 2, no. 1,
January 1998, p. 21-22.
Abstract: One of the results of the Third International Conference on Grey Literature, which was held at the European
Centre in Luxembourg, has been to redefine grey literature for the 21st Century. The accepted definition now reads: "that which is produced on all levels of government, academics, business and industry in print and electronic formats, but which is not
controlled by commercial publishers".
| PEER | : C. Willett |
| Keywords | : Grey Literature / Definition / GL'97 |
| Access | : TransAtlantic Stock Catalog: GL.0094
|
GREY MARKET SCIENCE : RESEARCH LIBRARIES, GREY LITERATURE, AND LEGITIMIZATION OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE IN THE INTERNET AGE / by
Julia Gelfand and John Leslie King. - Paper presented at the IEEE
Digital Library Workshop on the Socio-economic Dimensions of
Electronic Publishing held in Santa Barbara (CA), April 1998.
Abstract: The growth in the internet has spawned a trade of grey
market science. This has undermined the traditional system of
legitimization of scientific writing. This trend has significant
implications for the research library community and other users.
This paper explores how the control system has become endangered
and offers examples of how grey literature in the sciences has
become more mainstream. The implications of having access to this
grey literature are many. The chief concerns and challenges
remain in the socioeconomics of how to distribute the
information, to archive it, to provide reliable assistance in
using it, and to maintain authentication.
| PEER | : Authors |
| Keywords | : Grey market science / Examples of New Grey / Legitimization |
| Access | : Julia Gelfand, jgelfand@sun1.lib.uci.edu
: TransAtlantic Stock Catalog: GL.0096
|
PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION AND SEARCHES WITH LIMITED RESOURCES /
Lorna Cumming and Lynn Conway. -
In: Journal of Information Science, 24 (3) 1998, pp. 183-185
Abstract: Sharing information and databases with medical/ health
organisations has resulted in one small information unit being
able to provide more comprehensive service than would otherwise
have been possible. This service in Aberdeen performs literature
services using a wide range of databases. This article attempts
to show how the service meets the demand for information brought
on by the evolution of evidence-based medicine. It also
demonstrates the benefits of using less well-known sources like
SIGLE, in addition to those already established sources, such as
Medline and Embase.
| PEER | : R.H.A. Wessels |
| Keywords | : Information services / SIGLE / Evidence-based medicine / Grey Literature |
| Access | : Journal of Information Science, 24 (3) 1998
: TransAtlantic stock catalog: GL.0092
|
ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING TAKES JOURNALS INTO A NEW REALM : PUBLICATIONS SLIP OFF RESTRICTIONS OF PRINT WORLD AND
CARVE OUT A UNIQUE IDENTITY / Sophie L. Wilkinson. - In: Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN),
vol. 76, no. 20, pp. 10-18.
ISSN 0009-2347
Abstract: Contains an insert dealing with the new role of
librarians forced on them by Grey Literature.
| PEER | : J. Gelfand |
| Keywords | : Added value / Archiving / Publisher value |
| Access | : C&EN, vol. 76, no. 20
: TransAtlantic Stock Catalog: GL.0095
|
GREY LITERATURE / edited by Walter Beach. - In: Change, May/June 1998, p. 11.
Abstract: A review article of the Summer '97 issue of Publishing
Research Quarterly (PRQ) on Grey Literature.
| PEER | : A. Henderson |
| Keywords | : Grey Literature / SLAC / CERN |
| Access | : TransAtlantic Stock Catalog: GL.0093
|
TEST GLOSSARY
to appear on GreyNet's Web site
The Glossary of terms used in Grey Literature is an ongoing
project first implemented within the GL'97 conference structure.
The work of selecting, compiling, and editing the records is well
under way. The next stage in the GL*SSARY-project will be to
mount a test version on GreyNet's Website in order to solicit
comments and recommendations from those who provided information
for this new resource, as well as, from potential users.
GL*SSARY will be made available both in print and electronic
formats and is intended to demonstrate what the key terms are in
the field of grey literature, who uses these terms, and how they
are used.
Juan Tobar Alvarez
, a student from the Faculty of Economics and
Information at the College of Amsterdam, will actively
participate in the final stage of the GL*SSARY-project. Juan
began his field placement with GreyNet in September 1998. The
completion of his field placement in January 1999 will coincide
with the completion of the GL*SSARY-project.
EXAMPLES OF TERMS FROM THE GLOSSARY
acquisition, censorship, citation analysis,
collections, costs, duplication,
exchange agreement, feedback, government,
indigenous knowledge, legal deposit, primary sources,
public asset, translations
| ACQUISITION : In his work was with Japanese government documents,
he came to understand that the acquisition of grey literature
requires somebody close to the source. |
AUT: Wattenberg, U. (Germany)
SRC: GL93, p. 370 |
| ACQUISITION : Acquisition of grey literature in developing countries takes
place by way of agents, exchange programs, and donations.
|
AUT : Otike, J. (Kenya)
SRC : GL93, p. 236 |
| ACQUISITION : | The acquisition source performance index =
Sales dollars per title acquired from source X
-- divided by --
Average sales dollars per title from other sources
|
AUT : Freeman, R. (USA)
SRC : FAW93, p. 152 |
|
Back to the List of Examples from the GLOSSARY
| CENSORSHIP : In Latin America and other developing countries,
some topics/subjects are never published as primary sources due
to censorship, but rather only as grey literature.
|
AUT : Johnson, P.T. (USA)
SRC : FAW93, p. 116 |
|
Back to the List of Examples from the GLOSSARY
| CITATION ANALYSIS : Analysis of grey literature citations carried
out by date of publication, language, country of origin (or
international organisation).
|
AUT : Alberani, V. and P. De Castro Pietrangeli (Italy)
SRC : GL93, p. 57 |
|
Back to the List of Examples from the GLOSSARY
| COLLECTIONS : A collection of grey literature is most effective
in organisations having a special commitment to a particular
subject area.
|
AUT : Sturges, P. (UK)
SRC : GL93, p. 355 |
|
Back to the List of Examples from the GLOSSARY
| COSTS : Buying costs of grey literature are not expensive, rather
the associated costs of cataloging and storing this material are.
|
AUT : Gelfand, J. (USA)
SRC : GL93, p. 135 |
| COSTS : Economic considerations are the guidelines of applying
standards or even omitting grey literature into databases. For
the librarian, grey literature means more work, more details, and
more needed monies.
|
AUT : Keil, U. & I. Lankenau (Germany)
SRC : GL93, p. 142 |
|
Back to the List of Examples from the GLOSSARY
| DUPLICATION : The real problem is not that of duplication, but
instead that some reports are not taken up into one or the other
centres databases; and thus their existence is overlooked.
|
AUT : Buffet, P. (France)
SRC : GL93, p. 120 |
|
Back to the List of Examples from the GLOSSARY
| EXCHANGE AGREEMENT : Exchange agreement is the method used to
acquire grey literature in the earth sciences.
|
AUT : Liszewski, E. (USA)
SRC : FAW93, p. 70 |
|
Back to the List of Examples from the GLOSSARY
| FEEDBACK : The idea that GL is a preliminary to published work
is based on a "normative", idealized prescription not on reality.
The feedback which scientists receive prior to formal publication
has little impact on their reworking of publications.
|
AUT : Artus, H. (Germany)
SRC : GL93, p. 301 |
|
Back to the List of Examples from the GLOSSARY
| GOVERNMENT : Government output belongs to GL. Government agencies
and public administration are seen as producers of grey
literature.
|
AUT : Alberani, V. (Italy)
SRC : GL93, p. 42
|
|
Back to the List of Examples from the GLOSSARY
| GOVERNMENT : Government output belongs to GL. Government agencies
and public administration are seen as producers of grey
literature.
|
AUT : Alberani, V. (Italy)
SRC : GL93, p. 42
|
|
Back to the List of Examples from the GLOSSARY
| INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE : There is a growing awareness both in
developing and developed countries that indigenous knowledge is
contained in grey literature.
|
AUT : Villars, J.A. (Ghana)
SRC : GL93, p. 257
|
|
Back to the List of Examples from the GLOSSARY
| LEGAL DEPOSIT : Grey literature defies legal deposit laws, which
apply more to commercial literature. In developing countries the
hoarding and exportation of grey literature presents also legal
problems that legal deposit would solve.
|
AUT : Moshoeshoe-Chadzingwa, M.M. (Lesotho)
SRC : GL93, p. 163
|
|
Back to the List of Examples from the GLOSSARY
| PRIMARY SOURCES : Grey literature comprises primary sources (e.g. raw data;
original data in unaltered form, unconventional literature),
while non-grey literature comprises secondary sources (e.g. books
and serials; the result of interpretation).
|
AUT : Kufa, J.C. (Botswana)
SRC : GL93, p. 403
|
|
Back to the List of Examples from the GLOSSARY
| PUBLIC ASSET : Grey literature is a costly public asset largely
going to waste. Such documents include feasibility studies,
survey results, consultancy reports, etc., which are vital to a
nation's socio-economic planning and development.
|
AUT : Kwafo-Akoto, K. and K.H. Moahi (Botswana)
SRC : GL93, p. 205
|
|
Back to the List of Examples from the GLOSSARY
| TRANSLATIONS : Ad hoc translations have advantages compared with
material published in periodicals (translation journals) because
they are more rapid and they contain greater detail.
|
AUT: Risseeuw, M. (Netherlands)
SRC: GL93, p. 108
|
|
Visitors to GreyNet from Turkey & the USA
Ankara, Turkey
Ms. Kubra Bahsisoglu visited GreyNet's office in Amsterdam on
August 24-25, 1998. She was in Amsterdam for the IFLA'98 Annual
Conference and took this opportunity to discuss her interests in
the field of grey literature. Until recently, Ms. Bahsisoglu was
employed with the Directorate General in Ankara. Her work within
the Office of Information and Documentation dealt with the Status
and Problems of Women in Turkey. Presently, she is employed as
a Systems Librarian at the Hacettepe University in Ankara, where
she is also a Ph.D Candidate in the Department of Library
Science. The topic of her thesis deals with the development of
a model for GL geared to the information infrastructure and culture in Turkey.
Ms. Hatice Kubra Bahsisoglu MLS, System Librarian,
Hacettepe University, Beytepe Library 06532 Beytepe Ankara - Turkey
Tel : 90-312-235.2500 / 1091
Fax : 90-312-299.2111
Eml : kubra@hun.edu.tr
Pennsylvania, The United States
Mrs. Bonnie Osif visited GreyNet's office in Amsterdam on August
19, 1998. She was on a preliminary tour of European organisations
in the field of transportation studies and research. Mrs. Osif
is currently employed at Penn State University in the Engineering
library. She has been granted a Sabbatical in order to carry out
a research project commencing in the Autumn of 1998. Her study
deals with the publication, dissemination and citation patterns
of transportation literature, and the role of the World Wide Web
as a tool in the transportation field. Mrs. Osif discussed the
role and importance of grey literature for her research.
Mrs. Bonnie Osif, Engineering Library
Pennsylvania Transportation Institute
Penn State University
325 Hammond Building University Park, PA 16854 - USA
TEL: 1-814-865.3697
EML: bao@psulias.psu.edu
Data Profiles on GreyNet
GreyNet Records Classified according to Sector or Branch of Information:
- 34% Academics
College and University Level
- 26% Business
From SMEs to Large Scale Industry
- 26% Government
Local, State, and National Level
- 14% Other
International Organisations, Research Centers, Associations, Foundations, Etc.
Development of Records in the GreyNet Database Containing: Email Address and URL (WWW)
Ranking Order of GreyNet Publications Sold:
- Proceedings of the GL-Conference Series
- Annotated Bibliography on Grey Literature
- International Guide to Persons and Organisations in GL
- Notebook on Grey Literature
(*) GreyNet's Newsletters and Conference Programs were not included in this ranking.
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