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When I was first invited to give this paper it was suggested that it might be one of two or three papers dealing with a planned information service. The title has now been changed to ‘Information methods: adaptation to growth’, but I think this still implies there is a considerable amount of planning to do. However, after some weeks of unproductive thought upon this subect I stopped trying to think about planning the growth of an information service, and I started to think about why I couldn't think about the planning of the growth of an information service—quite a different matter.

The chemical industry has developed and used documentation services perhaps to a greater degree than any other industry. This has arisen because of the necessity for a progressive and research‐minded outlook in a very competitive industry where development of new and improved products is necessary for existence. Many firms have documentation centres of their own, collecting their information from sources both within the firm and outside, while those firms who do not have documentation centres of their own, for economic or other reasons, have available to them well‐organized documentation and information services from outside sources such as the research and trade associations.

It has often been said that a great part of the strength of Aslib lies in the fact that it brings together those whose experience has been gained in many widely differing fields but who have a common interest in the means by which information may be collected and disseminated to the greatest advantage. Lists of its members have, therefore, a more than ordinary value since they present, in miniature, a cross‐section of institutions and individuals who share this special interest.

Critical reference data may be defined as the critically evaluated measurements of basic properties of definable systems. Such data are selected after rejection of inaccurate or ill‐defined measurements or measurements which do not relate to definable properties and materials. The earlier collection and compilation of reference data was confined to areas where there were groups of scientists willing to undertake the compilation and where there was a clear interest in their use. Following the recognition that the task of critical data compilation, long left to individuals or groups, needed proper examination, co‐ordination and financing, some centres, a notable example being the National Bureau of Standards, United States, have undertaken a broad and systematic attack on the problem to identify and fill the gaps and to ensure a uniformly good quality of output. In June 1963 a National Standard Reference Data System was established within the administration of the National Bureau of Standards, the actual responsibility within the NBS being assigned to the Office of Standard Reference Data. The extent of the activities of the NSRDS at the present time is surveyed in NBS Technical Note 448 which lists in detail the data activities falling within the national data system.

Sir Raymond Streat, C.B.E., Director of The Cotton Board, Manchester, accompanied by Lady Streat. A Vice‐President: F. C. Francis, M.A., F.S.A., Keeper of the Department of Printed Books, British Museum. Honorary Treasurer: J. E. Wright, Institution of Electrical Engineers. Honorary Secretary: Mrs. J. Lancaster‐Jones, B.Sc., Science Librarian, British Council. Chairman of Council: Miss Barbara Kyle, Research Worker, Social Sciences Documentation. Director: Leslie Wilson, M.A.

The 28th annual conference of Aslib, held at Nottingham University from 11th to 14th September, 1953, proved to be the largest that Aslib has so far organized. A list of those present is printed on pp. 254–260. Yet again Aslib was glad to be able to welcome a number of overseas guests and members, including Dr. and Mrs. Lancour and their small daughter from the U.S.A., Drs. and Mrs. van Dijk and Miss Rom from the Netherlands, Mr. M. S. Dandekar and Mr. J. V. Karandikar from India, Miss D. M. Leach from Canada, and Mrs. T. Collin from Norway. Mr. Walter A. Southern, a Fulbright scholar from the U.S.A. affiliated to Aslib during his year's study in the United Kingdom, represented the Special Libraries Association, and Mr. J. E. Holmstrom attended as an observer on behalf of Unesco.

Sir Raymond Streat, C.B.E., Director of The Cotton Board, Manchester, accompanied by Lady Streat. A Vice‐President: F. C. Francis, M.A., F.S.A., Keeper of the Department of Printed Books, British Museum. Honorary Treasurer: J.E.Wright. Honorary Secretary: Mrs. J. Lancaster‐Jones, B.Sc., Science Librarian, British Council. Chairman of Council: Miss Barbara Kyle, Research Worker, Social Sciences Documentation. Director: Leslie Wilson, M.A.

PRESIDENT: F. C. Francis, M.A., F.S.A., British Museum. PAST PRESIDENTS SERVING ON COUNCIL: Dr. Barbara Wootton, University of London; Sir Raymond Streat, K.B.E., Cotton Board. VICE‐PRESIDENTS: Sir Andrew McCance, Colvilles Ltd.; Sir Alexander Todd, Cambridge University; Sir Ben Lockspeiser, K.C.B., Tube Investments Ltd.; Sir Wavell Wakefield, M.P. HONORARY TREASURER: J. E. Wright, Institution of Electrical Engineers. HONORARY SECRETARY: Mrs. Joyce Lancaster‐Jones, British Council.

WHhat records do we keep for business purposes? In my opinion, far too many. If we re‐phrase the question, what records should we keep for business purposes, I am confident that the answer is, or should be, as few as possible. Alas, this precept is not generally followed in industry, with the result that a great deal of space which could be more productively employed is wasted, and much unnecessary labour is expended on the maintenance of records which are not essential to business.

Aslib Annual Conference. Plans are now well advanced for the Annual Conference to be held at the Grand Hotel, Scarborough, from 20th to 22nd May. The Conference will begin with an informal dinner on Monday evening, followed by a Civic Reception and dancing generously provided by the Mayor and Corporation of Scarborough. The Conference Dinner will be on Tuesday.