books, and other forms, all mechanized for storage and retrieval. A review and control office will label the incoming data as to relative quality and reliability. The SRD Center will classify the data into as many major and minor categories as are required by the needs of the data users.

OUTPUT: The output will take the form of a series of services aimed at different technical levels and tailored to the needs of various segments of industry. In general it will be oriented toward the application of the data rather than toward a field of science. According to present plans the output services will be provided by the SRD Center and will eventually include:

1. Periodical Service

designed to keep the user up to date on new data acquisitions in the SRD Center. It will provide information on the data available in the center (but will not provide the data themselves) by means of a monthly news letter and by annual and semiannual reviews of data acquisitions.

2. Subscription Service

in which the user pays to receive all available data on a specific subject on a continuing basis. These data packages will be designed to meet the needs of specific industries, industry groups, or Government research and developmen programs.

3. Referral Service

which will handle narrow, one-time requests for data by referral to the files of the SRD Center. In general, this service will take care of needs that are not met by the other output services. 4. Correlation and Prediction Service

for computing values where ever possible in areas where some data exist, but where requests come in for specific information not contained in the SRD Center. Values will be computed by making use of correlations based on molecular structure and the properties of related compounds.

5. Mathematical and Statistical Servicewhich will offer customers mathematical and computer techniques for evaluating new data for the files of the SRD

Center or for individual use. This service will also provide techniques to assist in the Prediction and Correlation service.

6. Aperiodical Products

including tabulations, review monographs, review papers, computer card decks, and computer tapes. These will constitute the formal end products of the SRD Center.

7. Summary Reviews

to provide a rapid assessment of the state-of-the-art in fields where there are few data but which must suddenly be explored because of scientific breakthroughs or crash programs.

In planning the details of the program, the needs of American industry, academic scientists, and Government laboratories must all be ascertained and taken into account. Undoubtedly limitations in funds and manpower will require establishment of a priority system of some kind. In choosing work to be undertaken from such a vast field, the Bureau will be assisted by the Advisory Board, interagency panels, expert consultants in the subject-matter areas, and working committees of the scientific and engineering societies and industry associations that are active in the field of critical data.

It is expected that ultimately a large fraction of the senior scientists at the Bureau will participate in the work. In addition, the Bureau plans to invite distinguished scientists to spend some months at the Bureau, using its technical, administrative, and information retrieval services for producing critical reviews and compliations.

RECENT ACTIONS OF THE FCST COMMITTEE ON SCIENTIFIC The Committee on ScienINFORMATION tific Information (COSI) was established by the Federal Council for Science and Technology as a permanent working committee to foster interagency coordination and the development of Government-wide standards and compatibility among information systems. Composed of senior Federal agency officials with responsibilities for scientific and technical information