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I intend in this paper to describe the methods we are evolving to deal with information problems in the building industry. But first I must say something of the industry itself. Not only is it a very large industry but it is fragmented in organization. The most common process involved in building is that the client who pays for the building initiates it by calling upon an architect to investigate his building needs in detail and to prepare designs. The architect is invariably advised by an independent quantity surveyor about likely costs, who, after approval of the designs, prepares specifications and bills of quantities. These documents, together with detailed working drawings, are used to invite tenders from general contractors. The successful general contractor enters into a contract with the client and then constructs the building. Construction is a process involving the identification and transport of large numbers and quantities of building products and their co‐ordinated assembly on site, following the instructions in the contract documents which are in the form of drawings, specifications, and bills of quantities. The building products, such as cement and blocks, and equipment such as boilers are ordered by the general contractor from manufacturers, merchants or specialist contractors to the specification of the architect. The architect is aided in design and specification by specialist technologists and consulting engineers.

The Chairman said that he was present that afternoon like a god out of a machine, but not claiming divinity. He had spent the morning at an engineering firm and, because of economic matters, he regretted he had been unable to hear the words of wisdom and disagreement that had been expressed at the morning session. Somehow, he had to sum them up at a quarter past four, but he would be guided for the next hour and a half or so by the questions and answers flying to and fro like sparks amongst the stubble. To steer both the questions and the repartee there could be no better person than Miss Barbara Kyle, who was to be the Panel Master or Question Master. He proposed to hand over to her now, and she would carry on until he himself took over again at the end.

September TUE.8. Aslib Chemical Group/Technical Translation Group Joint Evening Meeting. ‘Technical translations: meeting the need’, by Paul H. Scott (BP Research). Aslib. 5 for 5.30 p.m.

To what extent do special librarians and information workers read the literature of their own profession? What use do they make of it? Which journals do they read? Which books do they consult?

The next Aslib winter meeting will be held on Monday 22nd October, when Mr Norman R. Hood will be the speaker. Dr H. F. Rance, Technical Director of Wiggins Teape Research & Development Limited, will be in the chair. Other details were announced in the September issue of Aslib Proceedings.

Two factors combined in the United Kingdom to make improved communications a more important subject than had been the case previously. On the one hand the building industry is fragmented, in that design and construction are usually undertaken separately, the former by firms of professional architects, quantity surveyors and engineers usually working independently, the latter by contractors supported by a large number of specialist subcontractors. Conventionally, the design professions produce a complete and fully detailed design supported by specifications and bills of quantities, although usually some details are available only after work on site has commenced. On the basis of these documents contractors tender competitively, most contractors undertaking only a proportion of the total work, the remainder being undertaken by specialist subcontractors, some of whom are appointed directly by the client and others who work directly to the main contractors. Hence, at the tender stage in particular, there is need for clear and complete information. Additionally during design and construction there is a continuing requirement for information to be passed quickly and reliably between organizations. The basic system (Figure 1) only hints at the number of organizations involved in design and construction and the complex flow of information. Hence the importance, and growing importance, of a reliable, universal and efficient flow of information.