SLA 2004SLA 2004

Fishing in a Bucket: Gray Fishing in a Bucket: Gray Literature and the “What’s on Literature and the “What’s on

the Shelf” Syndromethe Shelf” Syndrome

Bonnie OsifBonnie OsifPenn StatePenn State

bao2@psu.edubao2@psu.edu

SLA 2004SLA 2004

It is saidIt is said

Give people a fish and you feed them Give people a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach people to fish and for a day. Teach people to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.you feed them for a lifetime.

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I sayI say

Give a person a resource and you Give a person a resource and you solve a problem. Give a person solve a problem. Give a person access to resources – the world of access to resources – the world of resources –resources –

(and teach them to use/evaluate (and teach them to use/evaluate them) them)

and you give them the and you give them the world.world.

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The Fishing in a Bucket The Fishing in a Bucket SyndromeSyndrome

• Use what is already Use what is already knownknown

• Use what is on the Use what is on the shelf in the officeshelf in the office

• Use what is in my Use what is in my colleague’s officecolleague’s office

• Use whatever is on Use whatever is on the webthe web

• Don’t use Don’t use resourcesresources

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The AlternativeThe Alternative

Fish the entire ocean of resources. This Fish the entire ocean of resources. This requires –requires –

• Knowledge that the ocean existsKnowledge that the ocean exists• Belief “other” information is valuable and Belief “other” information is valuable and

worth the time and effort to find and use itworth the time and effort to find and use it• Access to databases (& skills to use them)Access to databases (& skills to use them)• Access to resourcesAccess to resources

– In-house, on the web, or through ILLIn-house, on the web, or through ILL– Ability to translate, if necessaryAbility to translate, if necessary

• Expert guidanceExpert guidance

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OutlineOutline

No answers - some summary observations to No answers - some summary observations to provide discussion pointsprovide discussion points

• Quotes from recent documentsQuotes from recent documents• Statistical snapshotsStatistical snapshots

– Review of report bibliographiesReview of report bibliographies• Gray vs. non-grayGray vs. non-gray• Local vs. globalLocal vs. global• Comparison of 1998 study to 2004 studyComparison of 1998 study to 2004 study

– Dissertation glanceDissertation glance– ITRD holdings (LIST Committee study)ITRD holdings (LIST Committee study)

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““This study of technologies This study of technologies imported from non-English imported from non-English language sources has yielded language sources has yielded evidence that the limited evidence that the limited availability of translations of availability of translations of non-English documentation… non-English documentation… has delayed their adoption in has delayed their adoption in the United States.” the United States.” Computed savings of $5million/year (conservative)Computed savings of $5million/year (conservative)

Metcalf, Metcalf, Sci-Tech NewsSci-Tech News, Nov. 2003, Nov. 2003

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In fact, a vast amount of In fact, a vast amount of transportation related information transportation related information resources published by the U.S. resources published by the U.S. Department of Transportation Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), state departments of (U.S. DOT), state departments of transportation (DOTs), transportation (DOTs), professional associations, and professional associations, and other publishers is neither other publishers is neither collected nor made available for collected nor made available for use by others with any systematic use by others with any systematic process.process. Harder/Tucker Scoping Study for a National Harder/Tucker Scoping Study for a National Strategic Plan for Transportation Information Strategic Plan for Transportation Information Management (Draft final report, 2003)Management (Draft final report, 2003)

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Bibliography studies –Gray Bibliography studies –Gray literatureliterature

• TRIS 1995 TRIS 1995 73%73%

• TRANSPORT 1996TRANSPORT 1996 85%85%

• FHWA/TRB 1998FHWA/TRB 1998 86%86%

• International reports 1999International reports 1999 89%89%

• International reports 2004International reports 2004 49%49%

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Bibliography studies Bibliography studies

1998 1998 (percentage of gray literature)(percentage of gray literature)

• FinlandFinland 91%91%

• GermanyGermany 80%80%

• NetherlandsNetherlands 90%90%

• SwedenSweden 97%97%

• FHWAFHWA 86%86%

2004 2004 (percentage of gray literature)(percentage of gray literature)

• FinlandFinland 58%58%

• GermanyGermany 37%37%

• NetherlandsNetherlands 69%69%

• SwedenSweden 42%42%

• FHWAFHWA 17%17%

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Bibliography Study (2004) Gray Bibliography Study (2004) Gray Resources - Local vs. GlobalResources - Local vs. Global

• FinlandFinland 70%70%

• GermanyGermany 79%79%

• NetherlandsNetherlands 78%78%

• SwedenSweden 84%84%

• FHWAFHWA 50% 50%

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ITRD Series ReviewITRD Series Review

• 98% of the identifiable publishers are 98% of the identifiable publishers are graygray

• 42% are not held in the U.S. or 42% are not held in the U.S. or CanadaCanada

• 84% are not held or the coverage is 84% are not held or the coverage is “spotty” at best“spotty” at best

• Budgets are threatened, threatening Budgets are threatened, threatening the 16% holdingsthe 16% holdings

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Dissertation SnapshotDissertation Snapshot

• 19% of references to gray literature19% of references to gray literature

• <2% of references to non-PSU <2% of references to non-PSU resourcesresources

• 0% to international resources (except 0% to international resources (except ISO)ISO)

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ObservationsObservations

• Most commonly fished buckets areMost commonly fished buckets are– TRBTRB– USDOTUSDOT– International conferencesInternational conferences– Major transportation journalsMajor transportation journals– Local reportsLocal reports

• Numbers indicate the bucket may be Numbers indicate the bucket may be getting smaller!getting smaller!

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ObservationsObservations

Of the 17 reports used in the 2004 Of the 17 reports used in the 2004 bibliography scan, only 7 of the bibliography scan, only 7 of the authors were found in TRIS or authors were found in TRIS or Compendex.Compendex.

Not everything that is being reported Not everything that is being reported in the gray literature is being in the gray literature is being published elsewhere.published elsewhere.

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ObservationsObservations

• With access to TRIS, TRANSPORT, With access to TRIS, TRANSPORT, Compendex and NTIS, the Compendex and NTIS, the dissertations stilldissertations still– Used local materialUsed local material– Major journalsMajor journals– Gray literature from the U.S.Gray literature from the U.S.

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QuestionsQuestionsI have some questions.  How can we... I have some questions.  How can we... 1.1. work together to acquire, catalog, preserve, and ensure future work together to acquire, catalog, preserve, and ensure future

access to core transportation research? access to core transportation research? 2.2. form partnerships that facilitate access to all of our collections?form partnerships that facilitate access to all of our collections?3.3. leverage our participation in OCLC and the products and services leverage our participation in OCLC and the products and services

it offers? it offers? 4.4. get more of our holdings into OCLC? get more of our holdings into OCLC? 5.5. creative partnerships with all transportation information creative partnerships with all transportation information

collectors, not just DOT libraries? collectors, not just DOT libraries? 6.6. learn to overcome geographic boundaries? learn to overcome geographic boundaries? 7.7. encourage libraries with more resources to support, guide, encourage libraries with more resources to support, guide,

motivate and encourage those with less? motivate and encourage those with less? 8.8. find ways to quantify what we do to the people who fund us? find ways to quantify what we do to the people who fund us? 9.9. support each other in ways that ensure our mutual support each other in ways that ensure our mutual

survival and research success for our patronssurvival and research success for our patrons. . Used by permission from Ken Winter (email to Tranlib 5/28/04)Used by permission from Ken Winter (email to Tranlib 5/28/04)

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Editorial commentsEditorial comments

• The bucket is getting pretty dryThe bucket is getting pretty dry

• The fisher people are getting very The fisher people are getting very hungry, even if some don’t realize it!hungry, even if some don’t realize it!

• The ocean is lapping at our feetThe ocean is lapping at our feet

• The cost of ignoring that ocean could The cost of ignoring that ocean could be highbe high

• The crisis is real, known, and growingThe crisis is real, known, and growing

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It is time to fish or It is time to fish or cut bait!cut bait!