International Organization Information / Research: 1986

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Prepared for Union of International Associations (Executive Council, 25th April 1986)
See also searchable PDF version (original titles, sub-headings, order and typography); also reports 1959-2006

Organization profiles / networks

Yearbook of International Organizations: Since the last report in June 1985, the volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the 1985/86 edition have been produced. Volumes 1 and 2 were completed on schedule without the benefit of the new computer system which was in the process of being installed.

Volume 3 was delayed in the expectation that it could be produced on the new system. This proved impossible in the time available so a hybrid approach was used. This involved both the old system and the new system and permitted unwanted entries in Volume 3 (discussed during the last meeting) to be excluded with much greater facility.

Sales by Saur of the 3 volumes continue to be satisfactory from the publishers viewpoint. A reprint of 400 copies of Volume 1 was in fact required to satisfy orders early this year.

Editorial work on the 1986/87 edition of Volume 1 is nearly completed. It is being done entirely on the new computer system. This has created some problems and delays in adapting the flow of work whilst testing the new procedures but most problems seem to have been resolved satisfactorily. The final procedures have in fact been tested through the production of the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential (discussed below) .

It is expected that the editorial work on Volumes 2 and 3 will proceed according to the normal schedule with production of Volume 2 in June/July and Volume 3 in September/October. They will be entirely done using the new computer system.

The main modifications to the Yearbook series as a result of the switch to the new computer system are as follows:

(a) Entry numbers of organizations will in future be indicated by an additional letter in front of the current format A3375. The latter number will now appear as AA3375. Much thought was given to this change in order to reach a compromise between computer advantages, editorial continuity and user continuity. This appears to be the best solution. Its main advantage is that it enables each organization to carry a genuinely permanent number between editions (important for both physical files and computer files, as well as the link between organization and calendar files) as well as permitting the organizations to be switched between sections of the printed Yearbook if they become more or less international.

(b) In order to move further towards a computer-level link between the organization and calendar files, a cosmetic change will be made to the entries to introduce an "Events" paragraph which will permit information to be extracted from the entry and compared with meeting records.

(c) An automatic system of cross-checking of names of organizations cited in a given entry will be introduced. This will save both editorial time and reduce space requirements in the printed volume. ·

(d) The quality of address labels has now been considerably improved as may be seen from the attached example (Annex 1) • This is due to the use of the new laser printer.

The main issues confronting the continuing work on the Yearbook series are as follows:

(a) Space: It is now an established fact that a number of sections have to be excluded from the Volume 1 each time it is produced. Whilst this may be admissable for the minor sections, it severely affects the image of the Yearbook as supposedly covering the complete range of international bodies. The large section on internationallyoriented national organizations must continue to be omitted. With the 1600 page limit set by the publisher because of binding problems, any new information added must now be compensated by the removal of other information (or yet another section). Hopefully the publisher will accept the need to switch to a 2-volume version of Volume 1. This does however have major marketing implications because of the consequent increase in the cost of an already expensive publication. One temporary measure is to incorporate more of the information into Volume 3, the smallest of the 3 volumes. This is currently under discussion, but does of course have marketing implications.

(b) Cost: This question has been discussed a number of times. Clearly the current price represents a viable marketing formula. It is however also clear that the price renders the Yearbook series inaccessible to many. A reduced cost formula was implemented during a 1985 mailing to organizations. This will entitle certain organizations to acquire the Yearbook at a discount.

(c) Other directories: The only directory of similar scope to Volume 1 is the Gale Encyclopedia of Associations (vol.4) which is now produced on a regular annual basis, despite Saur's initial reassurances to the contrary. It is worth noting that Gale Research has recently been taken over by a conglomerate, Thompson International. It is not clear whether this will have implications for the future. Of particular interest in the case of the Gale directory is that it is also made available online through Lockheed Dialog.

(d) online access: The possibility of offering Yearbook information online has been discussed during past meetings. The decision was taken not to do so for the moment because of the dangers of copying. It is also true that with the new computer system it may be more appropriate to offer people a call-in or telex-in service. This possibility is under continual review. (e) Laser-disk: A possible alternative to online access is currently under investigation, namely distribution of laser disks containing the contents of the Yearbook for access using microcomputers. This is considered to be a major breakthrough in the distribution of directory-type information. The question of copying remains a problem however.

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