CENDI
Encyclopedia
CENDI is an interagency group of senior Scientific and Technical Information (STI) managers from 14 United States federal
agencies. CENDI managers cooperate by exchanging information and ideas, collaborating to address common issues, and undertaking joint initiatives. CENDI's accomplishments range from impacting federal information policy to educating a broad spectrum of stakeholders on all aspects of federal STI systems, including its value to research and the taxpayer, and to operational improvements in agency and interagency STI operations.
The Working Groups and Task Groups that are currently operating are:
) to develop specialized topical portals, CENDI formed an alliance to develop an interagency website for access to STI. This website, called Science.gov
, is a one-stop source of STI, including both selected, authoritative government websites and deep Web
databases of technical reports, journal articles, conference proceedings, and other published materials. Through the volunteer efforts of members and involving over 100 staff, content and architecture is developed for the site. The Science.gov website is hosted by the Department of Energy
(DOE) Office of Scientific and Technical Information
(OSTI). The site was formally launched in December 2002. As a result of the success of Science.gov, under DOE leadership and in cooperation with the International Council of Scientific and Technical Information, a worldwide coordination across national portals called WorldWideScience
was launched in 2008.
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
agencies. CENDI managers cooperate by exchanging information and ideas, collaborating to address common issues, and undertaking joint initiatives. CENDI's accomplishments range from impacting federal information policy to educating a broad spectrum of stakeholders on all aspects of federal STI systems, including its value to research and the taxpayer, and to operational improvements in agency and interagency STI operations.
History
CENDI traces its roots to the Committee on Scientific and Technical Information (COSATI) of the Federal Council on Science and Techn and technology development. The scientific and lopment]] (R&D) agencies worked within COSATIMembership
New members from other federal R&D information organizations may be admitted by unanimous agreement of the members. However, it is the intent of the group that membership in CENDI should remain small and focus on organizations with STI or supporting responsibilities. Each agency provides funding to CENDI.Current members
The current members of CENDI are:- Defense Technical Information CenterDefense Technical Information CenterThe Defense Technical Information Center is the premier repository for research and engineering information for the United States Department of Defense. DTIC's Suite of Services is available to DoD personnel, defense contractors, potential defense contractors, federal government personnel and...
(United States Department of DefenseUnited States Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
) - Office of Research and Development and Office of Environmental Information (United States Environmental Protection AgencyUnited States Environmental Protection AgencyThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
) - Government Printing Office
- Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
- NASA Scientific and Technical Information ProgramNASA STI ProgramThe Scientific and Technical Information Program Office of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration collects, organizes, preserves, and releases the Agency's scientific and technical information . STI is derived from NASA's research and development efforts and NASA projects, programs,...
- National Agricultural Library (United States Department of AgricultureUnited States Department of AgricultureThe United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
) - National Archives and Records AdministrationNational Archives and Records AdministrationThe National Archives and Records Administration is an independent agency of the United States government charged with preserving and documenting government and historical records and with increasing public access to those documents, which comprise the National Archives...
- National Library of Education (United States Department of EducationUnited States Department of EducationThe United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
) - National Library of Medicine (United States Department of Health and Human ServicesUnited States Department of Health and Human ServicesThe United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
) - National Science FoundationNational Science FoundationThe National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
- National Technical Information ServiceNational Technical Information ServiceThe National Technical Information Service is an agency within the United States Department of Commerce that serves as the U.S. government repository for research and development results and for other information produced by and for the government as well as a variety of public and private sources...
(United States Department of CommerceUnited States Department of CommerceThe United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
) - National Transportation LibraryNational Transportation LibraryThe National Transportation Library maintains and facilitates access to information necessary for transportation decision-making in government and coordinates with public and private transportation libraries and information providers to improve information sharing among the transportation community...
(Department of TransportationDepartment of TransportationThe Department of Transportation is the most common name for a government agency in North America devoted to transportation. The largest is the United States Department of Transportation, which oversees interstate travel. All U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and many local agencies also have...
) - Office of Scientific and Technical InformationOffice of Scientific and Technical InformationThe Office of Scientific and Technical Information is a component of the Office of Science within the U.S. Department of Energy...
(United States Department of EnergyUnited States Department of EnergyThe United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
) - USGS/Biological Resources DisciplineBiological Resources DisciplineThe Biological Resources Discipline is a program of the United States Geological Survey . Its stated task is to work with other stakeholders to provide the scientific understanding and technologies needed to support the sound management and conservation of the United States' biological...
(United States Department of the InteriorUnited States Department of the InteriorThe United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
)
Mission and operation
CENDI's mission is to help improve the productivity of federal science- and technology-based programs through effective scientific, technical, and related information support systems. In fulfilling its mission, CENDI agencies play an important role in addressing science- and technology-based national priorities and strengthening U.S. competitiveness.Goals
- STI Coordination and Leadership: Provide coordination and leadership for information exchange on important STI policy issues.
- Improvement of STI Systems: Promote the development of improved STI systems through the productive interrelationship of content and technology.
- STI Understanding: Promote better understanding of STI and STI management.
Principals and Alternates
CENDI is made up of senior federal STI managers and each organization appoints a Principal representative. This person is the point of contact for that organization within CENDI. Each Principal has an Alternate. The Principals and Alternates comprise the main group that meets on a regular basis, usually every other month.Secretariat
A Tennessee-based information management company, -- Information International Associates, Inc., currently serves as the CENDI Secretariat. The Secretariat provides day-to-day operations to CENDI. The Secretariat prepares the necessary materials for the Principals' meetings, provides support for the working group and task group meetings, assists in developing papers, and maintains the CENDI files and outreach tools.Task Groups and Working Groups
The chair(s) of a working group is appointed by the Principals and has the overall responsibility for the group's activities. The Secretariat provides support at the request of the Working Group chair(s).The Working Groups and Task Groups that are currently operating are:
- Copyright and Intellectual Property Working Group
- Distribution Markings Task Group
- Digital Preservation Task Group
- Digitization Specifications Task Group
- Image Metadata Task Group
- Science.gov (see below)
- STI Policy Working Group
- Terminology Resources Task Group
Science.gov and Worldwidescience.org
In 2001, in response to the April 2001 workshop on "Strengthening the Public Information Infrastructure for Science", and taking into consideration a request from Firstgov (now USA.govUSA.gov
USA.gov is the official web portal of the United States government. It is designed to improve the public’s interaction with the U.S. government by quickly directing website visitors to the services or information they are seeking, and by inviting the public to share ideas to improve government...
) to develop specialized topical portals, CENDI formed an alliance to develop an interagency website for access to STI. This website, called Science.gov
Science.gov
Science.gov is a web portal and search engine . Using federated search technology, Science.gov serves as a gateway to U.S. government science information and research results...
, is a one-stop source of STI, including both selected, authoritative government websites and deep Web
Deep web
The Deep Web refers to World Wide Web content that is not part of the Surface Web, which is indexed by standard search engines....
databases of technical reports, journal articles, conference proceedings, and other published materials. Through the volunteer efforts of members and involving over 100 staff, content and architecture is developed for the site. The Science.gov website is hosted by the Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
(DOE) Office of Scientific and Technical Information
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
The Office of Scientific and Technical Information is a component of the Office of Science within the U.S. Department of Energy...
(OSTI). The site was formally launched in December 2002. As a result of the success of Science.gov, under DOE leadership and in cooperation with the International Council of Scientific and Technical Information, a worldwide coordination across national portals called WorldWideScience
WorldWideScience
WorldWideScience.org is a global science search engine designed to accelerate scientific discovery and progress by accelerating the sharing of scientific knowledge...
was launched in 2008.
Work with non-member organizations
CENDI works with several cooperating non-member organizations on a regular basis. These agencies are in academia, federal government, legal and policy analysis, international, non-governmental, and private organizations.External links
** Denotes CENDI Members- United States Department of Defense
- DoD Defense Technical Information Center **
- United States Environmental Protection Agency
- EPA Office of Research and Development **
- EPA Office of Environmental Information **
- Government Printing Office **
- Library of Congress **
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- NASA Scientific and Technical Information Program **
- United States Department of Agriculture
- National Agricultural Library **
- National Archives and Records Administration **
- United States Department of Education
- National Library of Education **
- United States Department of Health and Human Services
- National Library of Medicine **
- National Science Foundation **
- United States Department of Commerce
- DoC National Technical Information Service **
- United States Department of Energy
- DoE Office of Scientific and Technical Information **
- United States Department of the Interior
- DoI USGS/Biological Resources Discipline **
- Information International Associates, Inc.
- Science.gov