sist NEWSLETTER vol.1, no. 2 store, and distribute process-produced data in such a manner that the kinds of uses have not to be invented after completing all these tasks. In particular, the development of a "source criticism" for mass data, analogous to the development of the methodology of survey data, can only be achieved in an interdisciplinary way. Such efforts are necessary for the envisaged descriptors for machine-readable process-produced data. Similarly, cooperation with those people working on record-linkage prob- lems (e.g., Oxford Record-Linkage Study on medical record linkage) or with large-scale process-produced data (e.g. criminal statistics utili- zing court-records) should be initiated.... 1 .3 Quantities It is not possible to deal with these problems solely within the existing social science archiving movement which has so heavily concentrated on survey data. Other institutes must be brouaht into a network of archives and information centers in which coordination and a division of labor must be planned. (Examples of these include the "Sozialdatenbank" [Social-In- formation-System of the Departiflent of Labour and Social Affairs, West Ger- many], the proposed "Zentrum fur Aggregatdaten" [Centre for aggregate data of the German National Science Foundation], and the National Archives.") In Germany, the prospects for coordination are a little bit better because of the pioneering work being done within the Information- and Documentation Program of the Federal Government. BOOK N OT I C E S / Kathleen m. heim Introduction This column is a preliminary step in defining the literature of data ar- chiving. Those of us who have tried to assess the state of the art in order to formulate annual reports, write articles, or keep professionally informed have been frustrated by the lack of bibl iograohic control over our area of concern. Indexing and abstracting services such as Social Science Citation Index , Infor- mation Science Abstracts , Library Literature , Social Science Index and Resources in Education are unsystematic in their assignation of subject headings to pieces of literature related to data archives. The problem is further confounded by the fact that seminal information concerning the establishment of data archiving has often been distributed informally at conferences or in unpublished papers. When our numbers were small we could depend upon an invisible college network to disseminate important information. However, as our numbers grow and as new ar- chivists enter the field without access to the established network, it becomes mandatory that we define and organize the literature of our profession. sist NEWSLETTER vol.1, no. 2 Currently, a comprehensive annotated bibliography on data archiving is being compiled by Alice Robbin (lASSIST Newsletter editor) and Kathleen M. Heim ( News- letter , Book Notices). The methodology for identifying relevant literature has taken place in three modes: 1) conventional indexes and abstracts were searched both manually and by computerized bibliographic retrieval systems; 2) a call for relevant papers was made to lASSIST members; 3) all citations in papers identi- fied from methods 1) and 2) were traced. We have at this time identified almost 200 papers and, judging from the completeness of our files in relation to cita- tions, feel we are getting close to a total control over the articles relevant to the history and perspectives of social science data archiving. To insure comprehensiveness, however, we would like to request that you check your person- al files and to send us any citations you have for published or unpublished pieces of literature concerning data archives--both retrospective and current. Through a cooperative effort we hope to control this aspect of our literature. Please send citations as soon as possible to the lASSIST Newsletter editor. We are especially anxious for citations relating to data archiving outside the U.S. As a spin-off from compiling the bibliography we felt it would be stimula- ting to include reviews of data archiving literature as a regular feature in the lASSIST Newsletter . We will include a series of "retrospective" reviews high- lighting important early writing as well as current reviews reflecting recent publications. After the annotated bibliography is published, this column will function as an updating service to that volume. Suggestions for reviews are solicited and any ideas concerning better bib- liographic control of the data archiving literature would be appreciated; send them to lASSIST Newsletter , Book Notices, c/o Kathleen Heim, Data and Program Library Service, 4452 Social Science Building, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706. Nasatir, David. Data Archives for the Social Sciences: Purposes, Operations and Problems . UNESCO. Reports and Papers in the Social Sciences: SS/CH W. T973: ISBN-92-3-101052-2 (English edition) ISBN-92-3-201052-6 (French edition). Price: US $3, t 1; 12 F. Plus taxes, if applicable. U.S. dis- tributor: UNESCO Publications Center, P.O. Box 433, New York, N.Y. 10016. U.K. distributor: H.M. Stationery Office, P.O. Box 569, London SEl 9NH. French distributor: Librairie de I'Unesco, place de Fontenoy, 75 Paris -7 .CCP 12508-48. German (Fed. Rep) distributor: Verlag Dokumentation, Postfach 148, Jaiserstrasse 13, 8023, mUnCHEN-PULLACH. (For addresses of other National distributors see back of UNESCO Publications.) Under UNESCO resolution 3.221 the Director-General was mandated "to study the conditions required for the establishment within an international centre of card indexes of archives of investigations carried out in the domain of the social sciences." Dr. David Nasatir of the International Data Library and Ref- erence Service, Survey Research Center, University of California at Berkeley was contracted to carry out the feasibility study. This UNESCO Report is Dr. Nasatir's assessment of the purpose of data archives, operational considerations ^ and future recommendations for co-ordination of international data archive de- velopment. 22. sist NEWSLETTER vol.1, no. 2 The 126 page document provides the novice with a coherent introduction to the multi-dimensional problems of the field and the experienced data archivist with a thoughtful analysis of procedural considerations. The report is divided into three chapters and ten appendices. A brief recapitulation of these will give a clear idea of the scope of this important publication. An Overview of the Data Archive Movement The rationale for and a brief historical development of data archiving is pre- sented in this section. Nasatir treats the problems traditional librarians have had with understanding the archive movement and forsees that the U.S. Bureau of the Census interest in having libraries manage the summary tapes might well make librarians more cognizant of the use of archives. [Nasatir's prediction has been proven correct; traditional librarians are beginning to manifest a greater understanding of archives in their professional literature.] Funding strategies and location of archives also receive careful consideration by Nasatir who provides a flow chart of data from "input through archive status for distribution to users" as well as a copy of the [now defunct] U.S. Council of Social Science Data Archives "Check-List for Study Processing." Nasatir iden- tifies the greatest problem of data archives as achieving inter-archival coordin- ation. His treatment of the many sides of this problem bears special considera- tion by the lASSIST membership: notably, his account of data archive organiza- tions throughout the world. Operational Consideration of Archives In this section Nasatir outlines the technical problems faced by data archivists, such as acquisition, cleaning, inventorying, retrieving, diffusing and training. He considers staff requirements, space allocation, archival security and admini- stration. This is the only guide to the operations of archives that exists and though Nasatir is brief in his treatment of each point, he nevertheless takes into consideration the major aspects of daily archival work. Problems Remaining in the Creation of Data Library Infrastructure Nasatir identifies three major problems that must be overcome before it will be possible to create an infrastructure for the development and use of social science data archives: administration, technical and political. Under administrative problems he discusses 1) creating new archives; 2) recruiting personnel; and, 3) allocating priorities. Under technical problems: 1) data management; 2) data retrieval; 3) analysis; and, 4) inventories. Under political problems: location of long-term stable funding and the need for an international organization. [Ed. Note: David Nasatir is one of the founders of lASSIST. ] Appendices The appendices of the report draw together important data: 1) Sample Operating Budget; 2) List of Archives; 3) Codebook Standards; 4) Machine Readable Code- book; 5) Cleaning Notes; 6) Key Word Listing of Study Titles; 7) Analysis Request Forms; 8) Timing of Operations; 9) Standard Format; 10) Set-up Budget. 23. sist NEWSLETTER vol.1, no. 2 It is impossible within the scope of a brief review to do more than qive a cursory description of the wealth of material Nasatir has compiled. The recom- mendations in this report, many of which are already in the process of implemen- tation, will stand as a seminal document for the data archivist. In addition to the practical aspects of archiving its tone is thoughtful, provocative and will help archivists to reassess the role of their profession and its importance to scholarship. Recommended. An absolute necessity for every data archivist. iJyen, 0rjar. "Social Research and the Protection of Privacy: A Review of the Norwegian Development." Acta Sociologica : 19 (1976): 249-262. The concern about the individual's right to privacy has been the focus of legislation, conferences, and professional forums in nearly every Western nation. In his review of developments in Norway, 0r,iar 0yen comments on the universiality with which social science research policies seem to develop, "they appear in a number of different national settings almost simultaneously, in similar time se- quences, and with the thrust of largely identical kinds of rationale." 0yen re- fers specifically to 1) an increase in the amount of government or political concern with and control of social science research and 2) a proliferation of efforts to regulate the social scientists' relations to issues of confidentiality, the protection of privacy, and the maintenance of the integrity of individuals. While 0yen's focus is on Norwegian developments his perceptions of the ram- ifications of these issues are valid to social scientists and data archivists throughout the world. He notes, "the joint operation of the increased control of social science research and the restrictions placed upon researchers' access to and utilization of data may have far-reaching consequences." After raising questions about the Norwegian Data Committee's proposal to institute a Data In- spection agency, 0yen comments upon the possible effects of such legislation on social science research. The effects on research include 1) access to personal data as a premise of social science; 2) failure of the Data Committee to recognize that the relation- ship between researchers and individuals furnishing data is different than that between individuals and public agencies; 3) social scientists' practice of not releasing data to public agencies; 4) social scientists' need for identifiable data for dynamic studies; 5) differential treatment of fund allocation; 6) possi- bility that Data Inspection will result in censorship of research; 7) possible shift of research from empirical to speculative; 8) augmentation of research pro- posals overemphasizing criteria of relevance and usefulness according to whatever goals the concession authority possesses; 9) rules governing privacy which might function as a mechanism for protection of the agency or bureaucracy claiming to be bound by such rules; 10). 1 imitations on the training of recruits and new re- searchers; and, 11) risk of an arbitrary definition of sensitivity. 24. sist NEWSLETTER vol.1, no. 2 While 0yen's discussion focuses on Norwegian developments, the reader will be able to draw parallels to his or her own national situation. 0yen's final caveat, "It would seem unfortunate if the increasinn need for social science research in the policy field, and the exoansion of public support and political control of social science developments, were to be linked to efforts to tie the hands of researchers through the introduction of rules which might give the social sciences a serious setback. In fact, such a development might be threatening another integrity requirement, namely, the right to understand." 0yen's review is an incisive look at the consequences of privacy protection legislation created without consideration of social science needs. It is a so- phisticated analysis of issues which will continue to command the attention of researchers and data archivists in the next decade. Recommended as essential reading--an insightful introduction to the problems of privacy protection for the social scientist and by extension, the data archivist. REPORT ON THE COMMITTEE OF EUROPEAN SOCIAL SCIENCE DATA ARCHIVES, JANUARY 22, 1977 Meeting of the Committee of European Social Science Data Archives, 22 January 1977 The Committee of European Social Science Archives was established at a I meeting in Amsterdam in June 1976 and held its second meeting in Paris on 22 January 1977. The meeting was attended by representatives of the seven member organizations: the ADPSS-Milan, the BASS-Louvain-la-Fleuve, the DDA-Cooenhagen, the NSD-Bergen, the SSRC-SA-Essex, the SA-Amsterdam and the ZA-Cologne. The meeting agreed to organize one conference a year and to encourage the establish- ment of a number of time-limited European Working Parties of 3-^ data organiza- tions each. ZA-Coloqne, offered to host the 1978 meeting: this will focus on Privacy Legislation . The Committee also instructed BASS to invite established, puhlic-service data organizations (archives and broader data services offering access for a range of universities, centres) all across the world to take part in the con- stituent meeting of an International Federation of Data Organizations. This meeting is scheduled for 21-22 Hay at Louvain-la-fleuve. The new body would be based exclusively on organizational membership and would commit its members to support concrete projects of co-operation. The Federation will, if established, serve to bring data archives, data services and data centres together as institutions and would offer a parallel structure to the individually-based lASSIST. There was full agreement that the two bodies should complement each other and help each other through joint activities. There was also agreement that the Statutes of IF-DO should give full recognition to IASSIST and commit the Federation to close co-oneration with the Association. For further information please write to Philippe Laurent at BASS. 25.