National Information Centers, Facilities and Services for the Environmental Sciences

It is with some apprehension that I attempt to write a paper on this subject, mainly because the tremendous breadth of the subject defies adequate coverage. In addition, I am sure that even now another "information service" oriented to the needs of "environmentalists" scientists, engineers, researchers, teachers, students, or concerned citizens is being announced and .promoted. I will use the term "environmentalist" to cover the range of people involved in the theme of this Institute. To adequately cover this topic would have necessitated many months of extensive research and study. I will only cover the major or principal activities, and will limit myself to national, governmental and "not-for-profit" activities. Even with this limitation, it is a little like finding one end of a skein of yarn and not knowing where it goes or where it may end. Fortunately, others have done considerable work in the area and I will refer to them.published or submitted for publicatio