“ World Brain ” or “ Memex ? ” Mechanical and Intellectual Requirements for Universal Bibliographic Control

When Mr. Bergen asked me to speak on the “Design of Bibliographic Systems,” he suggested that I discuss the experiences of the Institute for Scientific Information in using and compiling citation indexes. I shall not take advantage of Mr. Bergen’s mandate simply to repeat to this audience the mechanics and philosophy of the Science Citation Index system. Naturally it is impossible to avoid some repetition of ideas I have expressed elsewhere. However, in this paper, I have attempted a synthesis of conventional word indexing systems as well as citation indexing systems. I shall summarize our plans and accomplishments and indicate the factors to be considered in designing a system of universal bibliographical control.