compiling book publishing statistics (Z39.18), and a standard on compiling library statistics (Z39.7).

Approval of the standards by Committee Z39 and transmission of these standards to USASI virtually assure their adoption.

General Dynamics Sets Up Data Subsidiary

To expand its activity in a growing market for information processing systems that rapidly and economically convert computer data into readable form, General Dynamics has established a subsidiary, Stromberg Datagraphics, Inc. Previously known as the Data Products Division of Stromberg-Carlson Corporation, the San Diego-based operation now is itself a separate corporate entity within General Dynamics' electronics group. Carl V. Shannon, who has managed the San Diego operation since 1965, is president of the new subsidiary.

Information Company of America Set Up

The formation of a new company in the rapidly expanding, computer-based information-retrieval industry has been announced. Called the Information Company of America (ICA), it will operate in three major areas:

(a) developing an array of saleable information services;

(b) contracting to operate information systems, centers, and publications; and

(c) consulting for private and public organizations and conducting research projects.

With headquarters in Philadelphia, ICA is headed by Arthur W. Elias, editor of American Documentation, the official journal of the American Society for Information Science. Other key executives include Irving H. Sher as director of research and development and Marvin Riesenbach as director of administration and finance.

For further information write to the Information Company of America, 1011 Lewis Tower, 225 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; or call (215) 735-2700.

PHS and NBS Cooperate to Plan Health Communications Network

Someday the nation's hospitals and other medical facilities will communicate with each other on a real-time basis over a vast computer network, according to the Public Health Service (PHS). PHS has undertaken a study to establish guidelines and develop standards criteria to insure the ability for intercommunication among health facilities regardless of the type of internal computer system they may have.

The long-range project is a joint effort of the PHS Division of Hospital and Medical Facilities and the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). During the first phase the two agencies will delineate present problems, identify and classify the kinds of information to be communicated, study the types of equipment and development effort being applied in this area, and become familiar with past and present research activity. Particular attention will be given to privacy of data, validation of patient data, message formats, and communications protocol. The subject of error recovery and control procedures will also be investigated during the study. This ground-laying work, underwritten by the Division at a cost of $95,000, will cover a nine-month period.

Gerald S. Lang, chief of the Automation Section of the Division, is project officer for the intercommunications study. Project director is Paul Meissner, NBS Center for Computer Sciences and Technology.

Retrieval System for LC Cataloguing Info

A new microfiche retrieval system for simplifying and expediting library handling of Library of Congress cataloguing information is available from Information Dynamics Corporation, Reading, Massachusetts. The Micrographic Catalogue Retrieval System provides a microfiche file with a quick-access capability, a desk-top reader-printer, and a computer-produced index which keys to the microfiche file. Subscribers to the new system receive weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual compilations of Library of Congress cataloguing output on microfiche plus an updated index.

Study of Safeguards for Privacy in Use of Information Systems

Safeguards will be sought to assure the privacy of individuals on whom data are acquired for community health information systems. The Public Health Service is sponsoring a study which will attempt to devise such safeguards.

The study is being conducted as part of an over-all contract to develop a model metropolitan-area health-information system for the greater Boston area. The Joint Center for Urban Studies of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University at Cambridge, Massachusetts, will carry out the contract tasks under the supervision of urbanologist Daniel P. Moynihan, director of the Center.

The segment of the contract dealing with the protection of data was recently expanded because of mounting concern over the privacy of the individual in the increasing use of information systems.

The $92,430 contract was awarded to the Joint Center by the Division of Medical Care Administration's Community Profile Data Center. Among other things, the contract calls for a detailed report on the question of privacy, confidentiality of data, and necessary legal and mechanical safeguards which may be used to assure the protection of privacy. To date there has been little definitive work on the subject of privacy and the protection of data within community health-information systems.

which include French, German, Russian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Japanese, Polish, Italian, Dutch, and English.

The material will be published in the Bibliography of Agriculture and included in an information storage and retrieval system of the USDA.

ISA Becomes Member of EJC

Increased activity in the information field is anticipated by the Instrument Society of America (ISA) as a result of its recent election to full-status membership in the Engineers Joint Council (EJC). ISA will work to improve the communication of technological knowledge on an international scale, foster common terminology through projects such as that resulting in the EJC Thesaurus, and participate in engineering surveys conducted by the Engineering Manpower Commission.

EJC is a federation of engineering societies that acts as an advisory and coordinating agency to advance the art and science of engineering, strengthen the engineering community, and further the general welfare of mankind. ISA had heretofore been an associate member of EJC.

Information Interscience Inc. Wins
Bibliography Contract

A contract for indexing and bibliographic preparation of approximately 33,000 agricultural journal articles and books has been awarded to 3i Company (Information Interscience Incorporated) by the National Agricultural Library of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

3i Company will index and prepare materials in the areas of plant science, soils, forestry, animal industry, etimology, agricultural engineering, agricultural products, agricultural economics, food, human nutrition, and miscellaneous subjects. The materials will be in languages

Smithsonian Establishes Clearinghouse for Info on Short-Lived Phenomena

A Center for Short-Lived Phenomena has been established by the Smithsonian Institution. The purpose of the Center is to assist Smithsonian scientists in their investigation of short-lived phenomena and to provide a reporting and information service for use by the scientific community.

The Center is serving as a clearinghouse for the receipt and dissemination of information concerning rare natural events which might otherwise go unobserved or uninvestigated, such as remote volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, the birth of new islands, the fall of meteorites and large fireballs, and sudden changes in biological and ecological systems. The Smithsonian Institution aims to improve

opportunities for research by providing an organization to collect reports on short-lived events and to disseminate this information immediately to individual scientists and scientific organizations interested in investigating them.

Reports are received from a number of sources, including news media, private citizens, individual scientists, and scientific observatories. These reports are made available to scientists who become correspondents of the Center and indicate their desire to receive information. Reports are transmitted by cable, telephone, or air mail.

The Center is establishing communications with a network of people and organizations to be alerted when events occur. Contacts include mission-oriented groups with rapid response capabilities and individual scientists and organizations interested in developing portable instrument kits enabling teams to make measurements in event areas while environmental changes are occurring.

For further information contact the Center for Short-Lived Phenomena, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138; (617) 8647910.

The following grants and contracts were awarded by the National Science Foundation during April-May 1968 in support of improved dissemination of scientific information:

CHEMICAL INFORMATION

American Chemical Society, $152,000 for implementation of the role of the computer in scientific publication.

American Chemical Society/Chemical Abstracts Service, $233,700 for research and development related to the National Chemical Information Program.

John I. Thompson & Company, $45,000 contract for the producing of expository information on the discipline-oriented, computer-based Chemical Information System being developed primarily by the Chemical Abstracts Service of the American Chemical Society. University of Pennsylvania, $145,218 for a study of large scale chemical file organization and programs for display of structural formulas.

DOMESTIC SCIENCE INFORMATION

Association of American University Presses, Inc., $26,700 for conference on future documentation and information handling techniques.

National Academy of Sciences, $42,020 for support of the Office of Critical Tables for five months.

Wolfe Research & Development Corporation, $21,900 contract for survey of professional scientific societies. FOREIGN SCIENCE INFORMATION

American Fisheries Society, $8,071 for translation journal, Problems of Ichthyology, 1968 volume.

American Mathematical Society, $21,400 for translation journal, Chinese Mathematics—Acta, Vol. X. California Institute of International Studies, $200 for preparation of Science Information in Middle and South America.

The Ohio State University Research Foundation, $6,500 for preparation and translation of a volume of Readings in Soviet Economic Geography.

INFORMATION SERVICES

American Anthropological Association, $26,000 for publication of basic research documents and of book reviews in anthropology.

American Geographical Society, $38,700 for publication of American Activities in the Antarctic, 1775–1948 by Kenneth J. Bertrand.

American Mathematical Society, $76,800 for Mathematical Offprint Service.

American Psychological Association, $108,900 for preparation and publication of Psychological Abstracts for calendar year 1968.

Bernice P. Bishop Museum, $9,480 for publication. of three Pacific Insects Monographs.

The Center for Research Libraries, $50,000 for partial support of the Scientific Journals Center.

The Pennsylvania State University, $18,000 for preparation of a Critical Review on the Crystal Chemistry of Non-Metallic Materials. INFORMATION SYSTEMS

American Geological Institute, $15,000 for interorganizational liaison in micropaleontology.

Biological Abstracts, $46,000 for preparation of a Guide to the Vocabulary of Biological Information. Columbia University, $60,700 for support of collaborative program in library system development.

United Engineering Trustees, Inc. for preparation of an engineered plan for an engineering information and data system.

William Marsh Rice University, $119,250 for a science improvement program for the Gulf Coast Region.

RESEARCH AND STUDIES

Purdue Research Foundation, $88,700 for operational analysis of information systems. SPECIAL PROJECTS

Ohio State University Research Foundation, $365,800 for Computer and Information Science Research Center.

Stanford University, $274,600 for development of a physics information retrieval system.