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by Prof. Irwin Weintraub
Introduction Grey Literature refers to publications issued by government, academia, business, and industry, in both print and electronic formats, but not controlled by commercial publishing interests, and where publishing is not the primary business activity of the organization. Scientific grey literature comprises newsletters, reports, working papers, theses, government documents, bulletins, fact sheets, conference proceedings and other publications distributed free, available by subscription, or for sale. The quest for scientific knowledge is an evolutionary process in which every increment of new knowledge adds to, modifies, refines, or refutes earlier findings (Subramanyan, 1981). Scholarly, peer reviewed journals are the major venue of communication for the science community to publish and present results of current research to colleagues. Since research tends to focus on specific areas of a discipline, readers often desire additional information to help place the research in a wider perspective. Auger (1989) pointed out that the advantages of grey literature over other means of dissemination are quick access, greater flexibility, and the opportunity to go into considerable detail when necessary. Thus, grey literature, covering nearly every aspect of the sciences, serves scholars and lay readers alike with research summaries, facts, statistics, and other data that offer a more comprehensive view of the topic of interest. Types of Grey Literature Grey literature is produced by government agencies, professional organizations, research centers, universities, public institutions, special interest groups, and associations and societies whose goal is to disseminate current information to a wide audience. Perhaps the most popular grey literature that most of us have had occasion to use are government publications issued by the United States Government Printing Office (GPO) for the past 140 years. The GPO is responsible for publishing and disseminating information for the entire Federal community comprising Congress and 130 Federal departments in a wide range of formats including printing, microfiche, CD-ROM, and online technology (Keeping America Informed, 1999). Professional organizations issue special publications, fact sheets, bulletins, and conference proceedings that summarize the results of research and contain supplementary information that enlarges the framework of knowledge. Non-profit organizations and interest groups keep their members informed via a myriad of newsletters and special publications that help shape public opinion. Grey literature in the biological sciences consists of book chapters, taxonomic keys, papers from meetings and symposia, and reports. Bulletins distributed by Agricultural Experiment Stations and the Cooperative Extension Service report on new innovations in agriculture and food research carried out at land grant colleges around the country. A common item of grey literature in medicine emanating from universities and teaching hospitals, is health and well being newsletters that inform the public about the changes taking place in conventional and alternative medicine. Environmental organizations distribute a wide range of publications and newsletters designed to garner public support for conservation of wildlife and natural resources and greater environmental awareness. Geological and geophysical surveys, maps, fossil records, and locations of minerals and ores are among the items of grey literature used by geologists to support their research. Grey literature in technological fields such as aeronautics and engineering may include contractor reports, technical reports and memoranda, product codes and standards, special publications, handbooks and patents. Faculty and students embarking on research projects rely upon grey literature to provide introductions and overviews of their areas of interest. We can all point to examples of grey literature that we read on a regular basis because it represents a point of view that we share, a cause we support, or an activity we are involved in. The pervasiveness of grey literature plays a major role in informing the public and providing the facts that citizens need in order to participate in government and institutions that are a part of their daily lives. Many databases consider grey literature an essential part of the body of literature for disciplines they serve and they cite relevant resources in addition to the conventional references. Some databases that cite reports issued by governments and international bodies, such as publications of UN agencies or US Federal and state agencies, are devoted strictly to grey literature that is usually not cited anywhere else. Electronic Grey Literature In today’s electronic information environment, the Internet has become a major source for dissemination and retrieval of grey literature and often serves as a user’s initial introduction to a topic area. Well designed Web sites give users access to a body of digitally produced grey literature that complements the existing body of print materials. It is a major source of information retrieval and dissemination and there is growing acceptance to include references to relevant Web sites in scholarly papers and journal articles. Scientific publishing on the World Wide Web makes it possible to disseminate new information to a global audience in a matter of minutes. Ease of access and the speed in which extensive amounts of information can be made available, will have implications for the formation of science policy and public attitudes in a more profound way than in the past. As Julia Gelfand (1998) pointed out in a paper presented at the International Conference on Grey Literature, science policy sites, scientific protocols, and scientific journalism are examples of grey literature available on the Web that are extremely valuable for communication among scientists. Imaging technologies that support medical, biological, archaeological, astrophysical, meteorological, and geological imaging quickly and with clear resolution, offer infinite possibilities for scientific publishing on the Web. The incorporation of video and sound into those sites enhances learning by giving users the opportunity to interact with others on a particular site and achieve a dialogue and exchange of ideas. On the other hand, it is necessary that users learn the skills for assessing the quality and credibility of a Web site in the same manner that they assess a scholarly article. An author’s background, institutional affiliation, research methods, data collection procedures, hypothesis testing, data collection, statement of findings, and source of a Web site must be evaluated by users in order to ascertain the credibility and the accuracy of the information presented. Future of Grey Literature Grey literature provides citizens with the information they require to make decisions about their lives and the societies in which they live. Whether individuals are taking a trip, conducting a study, buying an appliance, treating an illness, repairing machinery, joining an archaeological dig or a host of other activities that they experience as part of their daily lives, grey literature will continue to serve as a source of information that is consulted most often. Grey literature that is more desirable in print--such as handbooks, repair manuals, consumer product ratings, tourist guides, and other resources--that we usually take with us and consult on a regular basis, are likely to continue being issued in print format as long as the demand exists. But a large amount of grey literature will be made available in electronic format via the World Wide Web, CD-ROM, or other electronic gateways. A Web site called Grey Net: Grey Literature Network Service assists students, librarians, publishers, and researchers in the study, use, and production of grey literature. A new peer reviewed journal, the International Journal on Grey Literature has been launched to serve as a forum for discussions of all aspects of grey literature and its applications for academics and practitioners. Four international conferences on grey literature have been held since 1993 and the next conference is scheduled for the year 2001 (Grey Net: Grey Literature Conferences). In a world in which free trade and instantaneous communication have eliminated many of the barriers to information flow, grey literature is gaining greater importance as a source of information for much of the world’s population. It is an indispensable resource for an informed and enlightened public and will undoubtedly continue to serve as a necessary supplement to journal literature well into the future. References Auger, Charles P. 1989. Information Sources in Grey Literature. 2d.ed. London: Bowker-Saur. Gelfand, Julia. 1998. "Teaching and Exposing Grey Literature: What the Information Profession Needs to Know: Examples from the Sciences." Third International Conference on Grey Literature: GL ‘97 Conference Proceedings: Perspectives on the Design and Transfer of Scientific and Technical Information, November, 13-14, 1997. Amsterdam: TransAtlantic, 1998. p. 242-250. Grey Net: Grey Literature Conferences Grey Net: Grey Literature Network Service Grey Net: International Journal on Grey Literature Literature Subramanyam, Krishna. 1981. Scientific and Technical Information Resources. New York: Dekker. p.2-3. Addendum:
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