Abstract
This paper first presents a brief description of the Institute of Paper Chemistry, and a more detailed account of three of its Information Services Division groups: Library, Editorial & Publications, Abstracting-Indexing. There follows a discussion of IPC's reasons for automating its abstracting–indexing operations. The remainder of the paper outlines the factors which have a bearing on the success—and even on the survival—of a small data base. One of these is size itself, since the larger producer can more easily adapt to changing circumstances. Quality, appropriate coverage and convenience are important properties of a file, certainly so far as users are concerned today. The authors list certain ‘negative influences’ against which a small data base must contend, and conclude with a presentation of the priorities enunciated by the recently formed Paperchem users' group.