---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 24 Dec 1997 13:18:51 +0100 From: Dominic.Farace <Dominic.Farace@INTER.NL.NET> Subject: GreyNet Newsletter Vol.6, No.4, 1997 GREYNET'S NEWSLETTER ------------------------------------------------------ ~~~ B e s t W i s h e s f o r 1 9 9 8 ~~~ NewsBriefNews Quarterly Newsletter Vol. 6, No. 4, 1997 ISSN 0929-0923 (Email Version) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENT: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Luxembourg Convention . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Curriculum Development and Grey Literature . . . 2 NASA/LaRC Electronic Survey . . . . . . . . . . 3 Utility of GL in Security Studies . . . . . . 4 Coming Events '98 . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Questionnaire Results . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Closing Statement GL'97 . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Pre-Conference Announcement . . . . . . . . . . 8 Special Subscription Offer . . . . . . . . . . . 9 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- EDITORIAL ADDRESS: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRANSATLANTIC | GREYNET Grey Literature Network Service Koninginneweg 201, 1075 CR Amsterdam, The Netherlands Tel/Fax : 31-20-671.1818 - Email: GreyNet@inter.nl.net Internet: http://www.konbib.nl/infolev/greynet __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1 T H E L U X E M B O U R G C O N V E N T I O N Third International Conference on Grey Literature __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Third International Conference on Grey Literature referred to by many as "The Luxembourg Convention" has been evaluated by the delegates and participants from the 24 countries represented. The results of the questionnaire illustrated by the statistics demonstrate a very successful international S&T Event. An event that was hosted by the Commission of the European Communities. This conference was successful in redefining the term Grey Literature for the 21st Century "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". A definition that will also be remembered as the Luxembourg Convention. __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 C U R R I C U L U M D E V E L O P M E N T A N D G R E Y L I T E R A T U R E __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Library schools and colleges have and continue to neglect and underplay the significance of grey literature in their curricula. These schools maintain the status quo and remain snug in their programs geared to bookstores and commercial publishers. For these institutions grey literature remains a footnote in readers and text books along with other terms such as alternative press, alternative literature, report literature, unconventional and non-conventional literature, etc. The broader context in which curriculum development can be linked to grey literature spans from the production and use of grey literature by practitioners in various fields of science, government, and business. When the archaeologist deposits his/her field report as the only artifact of their work, when the journalist bases his/her article on sources, which they explicitly refer to as grey, when the economist produces his/her working paper or the policy maker publishes a green paper on patents and innovation, then the curriculum in library schools is already shown to be circumvented and passe. While this in itself is not a very flattering statement, it is not meant solely to criticize but instead to challenge the schools of library and information science into rethinking and hopefully reformulating their curricula as it applies to grey literature. The Editor, December 1997 __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 N A S A - L a R C E L E C T R O N I C S U R V E Y L e t t e r t o t h e E d i t o r __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear GreyNet, May I solicit your help in obtaining the cooperation and assistance of the Grey Literature community? The Langley Technical Report Server (LTRS) is an electronic report distribution system server that uses World Wide Web (WWW) protocols and contains NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC)-authored technical reports. Over 1200 technical reports are currently available to the world via desktop access. The URL is http://techreports.larc.nasa.gov/ltrs We have added an (electronic) survey on LTRS that is designed to provide us with user feedback (input) concerning the format of LaRC-authored technical reports. The survey takes an average of 22.3 minutes to complete. The e-mail addresses and locations of survey participants are confidential and are by design not known to us. The purpose of the survey is to determine the preferences of users such that we can design technical reports for use in an electronic format. Our goal is 200 completed by February 1998. Using your great offices, would it be possible to solicit the help of the Grey Literature community (worldwide) to find engineers and scientists who would take time from their workday to complete the survey? Your help in this endeavor would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Thom Pinelli, NASA-LaRC Educational Technology and Distance Learning Officer __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 T H E U T I L I T Y O F G R E Y L I T E R A T U R E I N S E C U R I T Y S T U D I E S __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Researchers can learn a great deal about a country's military agenda by tracking that nation's scientific, technological, and commercial programs. Analysts are finding that they can use company data to identify potential military developments. For example, Iraq obtained much of its weapons technology from companies in France, Switzerland, and Germany. By tracking the backgrounds of scientists employed in national laboratories a researcher may discover weapons programs under development. Scientist's backgrounds are often included in articles, which they have authored for technical journals. Grey Literature (GL), which comprises a significant part of open-source information, can answer many questions regarding security studies by providing valuable insights into national military programs. Grey Literature is one of the richest resources available for scientific, technological, and industrial information. Various types of GL documents include technical and economic field reports, working papers, roundtable discussions, unofficial government documents, proceedings, preprints, research studies, dissertations, theses, company brochures, trade literature, market surveys, and newsletters. GL may be academic, scientific, and commercial in nature. It may be written to prove theories, illustrate facts, or report activities. In the case of company brochures, it is meant to market or promote business activities. There are several unique qualities that make Grey Literature significant as a source for security studies. First, it is not distributed through normal publication channels and, therefore, is hard to identify and difficult to access. Second, GL is usually uncensored and more directly relevant than many other sources of information. Third, it often cuts across a variety of disciplines to provide an overview of any given situation. Finally, GL can communicate results, market products, and promote discussions among professionals. This is quite different from national statements that convey official positions, promote policies, and define export practices. Some uses for GL in security studies include the capability to corroborate or refute, to identify or discover, and to predict. Grey Literature can corroborate or refute statements and theories by providing the underlying facts of a situation. Recently, while discussing transfers of their dual-use items to a country, a government official dismissed the utility of the items as minimal. Later, at a technical conference, a scientist from the receiving country explained how they had used the transferred items to develop new weapons systems. Thus, he inadvertently refuted the statement of the government official and confirmed the suspicions of intelligence analysts. Grey Literature can identify national military capabilities and their related threats. Quite often company brochures or annual reports will expose new R&D, technological advancements, mergers, office expansions, and strategic alliances. These publications may define the dual-use nature of these activities or products and thus will exhibit the potential military capability of a nation. Additionally, Grey Literature can uncover technical experts and academic links, tell stories about the type of expertise being used in the research, and bring national research projects into perspective. The normal practice for authors is to give a brief biography at the end of a presented paper. These biographies describe the universities attended, subjects studied, and professors that they studied under, which may point to their involvement in weapons development programs. Using Grey Literature, researchers can predict a country's current military capability and gauge their ability to build new weapons systems. Company brochures or national program guides may be intended to lure potential investors to contribute to the development of their programs. However, these studies on systems and proposed acquisitions may bring to light significant details on the uses of seemingly unimportant products such as machine tools, trailers, or aircraft engines. The researcher can then piece together the dual-use attributes of systems that can be adapted for military use. A researcher may also begin to see the development of a company and predict that it may move into vertical markets such as full weapons systems. Just as Grey Literature can help predict military capabilities, it can also forecast the military intentions of a nation. Some activities, procedures, research, professions, or systems can only be used for the purpose of developing weapons systems. For instance, a scientist mentions in his paper presented at an environmental conference that he also conducted research on cultivating a certain bacteria. When it is known that such bacteria only have use in a biological weapon, then an analyst may reasonably conclude that the home nation of the researcher may have a biological weapons program. By nature, Grey Literature is an open, transparent, yet elusive means of revealing national military attributes and intentions. It supports theories, forecasts intentions, and assists policy makers to view nations without the biases inherent in official government documents. GL identifies the new projects, technological developments, and scientific research, which are critical to the military capabilities of nations. Finally, Grey Literature supports the researcher's objectivity, because it is not sensitized, and provides the facts, not the party line. The Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to tracking the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. CNS has developed a system identifying and acquiring Grey Literature by networking with other researchers, attending trade shows and conferences, and monitoring information services (both government and commercial) that indicate research in progress to point to useful GL as it is produced. As a part of its acquisition project, CNS has contacted GreyNet, Grey Literature Network Service. ~~ This contact will hopefully lead to the mobilization of ~~ a group of organizations involved in the area of security studies, where access to grey literature is part of their research. ~~ ~~ CNS envisions developing a regime that would provide a means of posting new literature for exchange or use by other members. As a part of this project, Jack Boureston at CNS would appreciate your comments, suggestions, and welcome your participation in any capacity. Article by Jack Boureston Information Collections Manager Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Tel: +1-408-647-3599, Fax: +1-408-647-6522, E-mail jboureston@miis.edu __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 C O M I N G E V E N T S '9 8 T r a n s A t l a n t i c - G r e y N e t __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALA'98 American Library Association, MidWinter Convention GreyNet exhibit at Press Table: T1437 Ernest Morial Convention Center New Orleans, Louisiana, USA January 10-12, 1998 GOGL'98 Workshop on Grey Literature Dutch Foundation for Joint Training Courses The Hague, The Netherlands February 4 & 11, 1998 IFLA'98 Workshop on Electronic Grey Literature International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions RAI Convention Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands August 1998 F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N C O N T A C T: TRANSATLANTIC | GREYNET Grey Literature Network Service Koninginneweg 201, 1075 CR Amsterdam, The Netherlands Tel/Fax : 31-20-671.1818 - Email: GreyNet@inter.nl.net Internet: http://www.konbib.nl/infolev/greynet __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6 Q U E S T I O N N A I R E R E S U L T S Third International Conference on Grey Literature __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the open-ended part of the Conference Questionnaire, 57% of the presentations were mentioned one or more times as being the "Best Presentation at GL'97". The three presentations most often cited were that of: (1.) Thomas Pinelli and Vicki Golich (United States); NASA/LaRC and California State University (2.) Paul Sturges (United Kingdom); Loughborough University (3.) John Mackenzie Owen (The Netherlands); University of Amsterdam and Tilburg Innovation Centre for Electronic Resources A C C O R D I N G T O T H E R E S P O N D E N T S: The information found in the conference materials (Announcements, Call for Papers, Pre-Program, Conference Updates, Newsletters, etc.) was: 72% | | | | | | 28% | | | | | | | | 0% 0% | | | | | | | | 1. 2. 3. 4. ---------------------------------------------- 1. Quite satisfactory 3. Unsatisfactory 2. Satisfactory 4. No response The administration of GL'97 including the pre-registration, the correspondence, the registration desk, etc. was: 78% | | | | | | 22% | | | | | | | | 0% 0% | | | | | | | | 1. 2. 3. 4. ---------------------------------------------- 1. Quite satisfactory 3. Unsatisfactory 2. Satisfactory 4. No response The facilities and services at the conference centre (catering, seating arrangements, technical equipment, etc.) were: 69% | | | | 31% | | | | | | | | 0% 0% | | | | | | | | 1. 2. 3. 4. ---------------------------------------------- 1. Quite satisfactory 3. Unsatisfactory 2. Satisfactory 4. No response The content and quality of the Authors' presentations were: 61% | | | | | | 17% | | 11% 11% | | | | | | | | 1. 2. 3. 4. ---------------------------------------------- 1. Quite satisfactory 3. Unsatisfactory 2. Satisfactory 4. No response Finally, based on comments and recommendations recorded in the Questionnaire and from Position Statements made by Spokesmen from the various Working Groups, the GL'99 Program has been further drafted (see below). __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7 C L O S I N G S T A T E M E N T - GL'97 T h e C e n t e r f o r R e s e a r c h L i b r a r i e s __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is the second International Grey Literature Conference in which I have participated. I have been most impressed with the abilities of Dominic Farace to identify the significant issues affecting grey literature and to organize conferences in such a way that they are truly international in scope and audience participation. While they provide us with a wonderful opportunity to come together, discuss the issues, and learn from each other, these conferences are equally valuable in that they anticipate trends in grey literature. Thus we are able to envision situations in our own institutions in advance and prepare for them accordingly. Based on my enthusiasm for the International Grey Literature Conferences and the fact the my own organization, the Center for Research Libraries, is so heavily involved in collecting grey literature, I would like to announce that the Center has agreed to act as the main sponsor for the fourth International Grey Literature Conference. This conference will be held in Chicago, Illinois USA in October 1999, and is entitled "New Frontiers in Grey Literature: The Geographic Approach". The focus will, of course, be on grey literature in specific geographic areas or countries of the world, as well as on specific topical subjects important to special interest groups. The Commission of the European Communities, and our personal hosts Mario Bellardinelli and Irja Vounakis, and Luxembourg itself have set a standard for us to follow regarding site facilities and a conference venue. I believe Chicago and the Center for Research Libraries are equal to the task. I, therefore, cordially invite you to Chicago and CRL to attend the Fourth International Grey Literature Conference in 1999. Don Simpson, President The Center for Research Libraries Your Branch Library in Chicago Preserving the Past While Inventing the Future http://wwwcrl.uchicago.edu __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8 P R E - C O N F E R E N C E A N N O U N C E M E N T Draft Program, Host and Main Sponsor __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Center for Research Libraries (CRL) has agreed to act as Host and Main Sponsor of the Fourth International Conference on Grey Literature entitled "New Frontiers in Grey Literature: the Geographic Approach". This event will take place in October 1999 in Chicago, USA. D R A F T P R O G R A M SESSION 1: Global Assessment of Grey Literature: A brave new world of topics, formats, and uses SESSION 2: Archiving Electronic Grey Literature: >>From bibliographic retrieval to full-text storage and distribution SESSION 3: Copyright and Grey Literature: Authorship, Ownership, and Property Rights P R O G R A M A N D O R G A N I S I N G B U R E A U: TransAtlantic| GreyNet Grey Literature Network Service Koninginneweg 201, 1075 CR Amsterdam, The Netherlands Tel/Fax: 31-20-671.1818 Email: GreyNet@inter.nl.net URL http://www.konbib.nl/infolev/greynet/home.html __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9 S P E C I A L S U B S C R I P T I O N O F F E R 1 9 9 8 G r e y N e t - Grey Literature Network Service __________________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For every new or renewed subscription for 1998, the GreyNet Subscriber will receive "free-of-charge" the publication of choice. Indicate your choice of FREE publication and complete the form attached: [ ] Notebook on Grey Literature - 2nd Edition [ ] International Guide to Persons and Organisations in GL - 3rd Edition(*) [ ] Annotated Bibliography on the Topic of Grey Literature - 3rd Edition(*) (*) Available 1st Quarter 1998 WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR SUBSCRIBERS? 1. A flat 15% reduction on all conferences and seminars organized by TransAtlantic/GreyNet. 2. A flat 15% reduction on all information products published by TransAtlantic/GreyNet. 3 A flat 15% reduction on all printed advertisements and inserts, as well as electronic postings on GreyNet's Website. 4. A full subscription to NewsBriefNews, the quarterly newsletter published and edited by TransAtlantic/GreyNet. Delivery in both printed and electronic mail formats. 5. Unlimited login and information retrieval in the GreyNet WWW. 6. Guarantee that all of GreyNet's products and services in development and planning will be offered at set reduction rates. 7. 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