Electronic networking and grey literature : the African context

Whilst the rest of the world is on the threshold of being an integral part of "Cyberspace" or on the net, most African countries are still trying to grapple with the more basic problem of implementing computer systems. Of course, not all of these countries are the same, with some, like South Africa, being more advanced. Africa also has a number of problems when it comes to the collection, processing and dissemination of grey literature. Add to this the fact that through the information retrieval facilities available on the Internet, more and more grey literature is being produced from diverse corners of the earth, then the problems are compounded further. This paper will briefly outline the situation of electronic networking in the African context. It will examine the implications of the myriad of information produced through the Internet and some of the electronic networks that currently exist in the continent for the collection and dissemination of grey literature. Finally, a look will be taken at how electronic networking can be utilised to improve access to and dissemination of grey literature - i.e., the potential of electronic networking in this regard.Includes: Conference preprint, Pratt student commentaryXAInternationa