EnergyFiles
Collection Development Criteria
DRAFT
December 1997
 

Purpose

The EnergyFiles Collection Development Criteria states the principles and guidelines that address the selection and inclusion of information collections, databases, materials, software tools and other resources for the Department of Energy's EnergyFiles Virtual Library Environment. This document both defines the scope of current resources and serves as a planning document for future development and growth of EnergyFiles. In addition, the document provides an avenue of communication regarding appropriate resources between EnergyFiles developers, information owners and users. These criteria will be revised and updated as necessary.
 

Mission / Objectives of EnergyFiles

EnergyFiles is a Web-based, dynamic, organized source of energy scientific and technical information and related information available to the Department of Energy (DOE) and its other customer segments. It includes a virtual workspace of tools and capabilities to support analysis and application of the information and to facilitate increased collaboration among DOE's research community. With these resources and tools, EnergyFiles enables DOE and non-DOE collaborators to leverage collections and capabilities and to maximize use of energy-related scientific and technical information. Users can effectively interact with information to gain knowledge in a manner that maximizes return on intellectual investment, time and effort.
 

Definition of Scientific and Technical Information (STI)

Scientific and Technical Information (STI) is defined as information in any format or medium which is derived from scientific and technical studies, work or investigations pertaining to research, development, demonstration, and other related specialized areas.
 

Audience

The targeted audience for EnergyFiles is end users and organizations having a need for energy-related scientific and technical information. Anticipated primary users include researchers, scientists, project managers, program managers, academia (educators and students), and associated information professionals.

Selection Guidelines

• All resources, including reference materials and software tools, must support research in one of the energy-related disciplinary areas defined in this collection criteria document and must demonstrate value to the primary user community.
• Full text data, or complete numeric or other data where applicable, is preferred where available. If the information is not available in full text, then alternate forms will be considered.
• The reputation of the information owner or originating site as a recognized source in the disciplinary area will be considered.
• Resources and software tools must be maintained on a regular basis by the source or originating site and sites must show a demonstrated commitment to making the information or tools available long term.
• New resources or tools should have limited redundancy with resources and tools already contained in EnergyFiles.
• A willingness on the part of the information owners to participate in distributed searching and other collaborative efforts, where applicable, is desired.
• Resources and tools in English are preferred; information in other languages will be considered if a demonstrated need is evident.
• Emphasis is on current and recent information; however, legacy resources will be added as needed to meet the needs of the user community.
• Accuracy of the information as well as the quality of the writing and presentation format will be considered.

Subject Areas

EnergyFiles will contain resources in the following disciplinary areas. Priorities and future enhancements will be based on user needs and feedback. The organization of EnergyFiles into a subject-based Web site will enable users to locate information within a specific discipline easily and effectively. Specific resources will be included in multiple disciplinary areas where applicable.
 

Biomedical Sciences

The biomedical sciences subject area is intended to provide information to assist researchers in basic or applied biomedical research sponsored or performed by energy research organizations. Generally, this includes aspects of the biomedical sciences that are related to the energy cycle. Examples of the types of research performed in this area include studies of radiation effects on biochemicals, microorganisms, plants and animals; the thermal effects of energy-related activities on living organisms; the metabolism and toxicology of chemicals associated with an energy cycle; the use of radioisotopes in medicine and as tracer techniques; the Human Genome Project; microbial genome research; and molecular and cellular biology.

Chemistry

Chemical information useful to researchers in an energy-related area of analytical and separations chemistry; inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry; electrochemistry; photochemistry; radiation chemistry; radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry; and combustion, pyrolysis and high-temperature chemistry is provided in this subject area. Both basic and applied areas of energy-related chemistry are included. Research in chemistry performed or sponsored by energy research organizations is primarily geared towards providing the knowledge required to develop energy technologies that are efficient, environmentally safe, and that protect human health and the conservation of resources.

Energy Storage, Conversion, Utilization and Policy

This area contains information resources to support research on equipment and methods to reduce energy consumption, increase energy efficiency, and enable the substitution of more plentiful or environmentally favorable energy sources. Examples of research supported include mechanical, chemical, electromagnetic and thermal methods for storing energy; methods of converting heat into direct electrical energy; design and development of advanced propulsion systems for land, sea and air vehicles; and energy conservation within buildings, transportation, industry and agriculture, and within municipalities and communities.

Engineering

This subject area encompasses general engineering information directly related to energy, including combustion systems; power cycles; facilities, equipment and techniques; materials testing; heat transfer and fluid flow; components, electron devices and circuits; mining and underground engineering; and marine engineering. Instrumentation associated with energy research, including instruments used in radiation, well logging, thermal, optical, geophysical and meteorological, and miscellaneous, is also covered in this area.

Environmental Sciences and Safety and Health

The environmental sciences subject area is defined as information on the effects of any energy-related activity on the environment, on methods for mitigating or eliminating adverse effects, and on technical aspects of ensuring that energy-related activities are environmentally safe and socially acceptable. This area covers all aspects of global climate change. Monitoring and transport of chemicals, radioactive materials and thermal effluents within the atmospheric, terrestrial and aquatic environs are covered, as is supporting materials which would aid a researcher in these disciplines. In addition to information on the environment, this area also includes information on the safety, health and protection of employees in energy-related areas and the associated public.

Fission and Nuclear Technologies

The Fission and Nuclear Technologies section is designed to provide information useful to researchers in the areas of nuclear fuels, nuclear power and reactors, and isotope and radiation source technology. Within the area of nuclear fuels, information to support research on mining, uranium enrichment, spent fuels, waste management, and safeguards and accountability is included. Research in the isotope and radiation source technologies includes isotope separation, radiation sources and isotopic power supplies. Various aspects of nuclear power reactors are covered, including the specific types of reactors, and associated technologies such as fuel elements, control systems and reactor safety.

Fossil Fuels

Information supporting research on coal, petroleum, natural gas and oil shales and tar sands is available here. As energy sources, research in these areas includes reserves and exploration; mining or drilling; processing; products and by-products resulting from processing; properties and combustion; waste management; and environmental aspects.

Geosciences

This area is limited to providing information to support research in geosciences where the context of the work is energy technology. Aspects of geology, seismology and geochemistry are covered when energy-related.

 Materials Science

The Materials Science subject area provides information to support materials research directly associated with energy production, conversion, or utilization or with studying radiation effects on materials. Energy-related applications of metals, alloys, ceramics, cermets, refractories, composites, polymers, plastics and other materials are covered.

Mathematics, Computing and Information Science

This section is intended to support research interests by energy organizations in the disciplines of mathematics, computing and information science. Research in these areas includes supercomputing, mathematical and computer modeling, computer programming, and information systems. Generally, this research supports some facet of energy technology.

Physics

The Physics section provides information to researchers in energy-related areas of physics and particle accelerators. Research in energy-related physics includes quantum mechanics, elementary particles, decay processes, nuclear structure and reactions, scattering, radiation physics, atomic and molecular physics, condensed matter, and solid-state plasma. Information to support the design, development, operation and components of particle accelerators used in energy research is also presented here.

Plasma Physics and Fusion

This subject area covers aspects of plasma physics and fusion including plasma production, kinetics, processes and confinement. Fusion technology, specifically fusion devices and systems, is also covered within this area.

Power Transmission, Distribution and Plants

Information supporting research and development in utility-size fossil-fuel power plants and the transmission and distribution of power is provided in this section. Research into new designs, developments and technologies for both the generation of power at the plants as well as power transmission and delivery are included.

Renewable Energy

The Renewable Energy subject area provides information that supports research and development in various renewable energy areas such as hydrogen, biomass fuels, synthetic fuels, hydro energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, tidal and wave power, and wind energy. Research in these areas include topics such as production, resources and availability, products and by-products, properties, combustion, environmental aspects, conversion, and related power plants.

Collection Maintenance and Evaluation

The EnergyFiles collection will undergo regular evaluation in order to meet and fulfill user needs. A variety of techniques; including user feedback, usage statistics, and resource evaluation; will be used to ensure that the EnergyFiles collection serves the changing, growing needs of its user community. Resources which no longer meet the selection guidelines, or are not being utilized or properly maintained by the originating site, will be removed from EnergyFiles. Sites are responsible for the maintenance and evaluation of their own collections.
 

Disclaimer
 
EnergyFiles is made available by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference or linkage to any specific company, organization, agency, institution, product, process, service or individual does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of originators expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.