The information exchange groups experiment

Abstract

From 1961 through 1966, the National Institutes of Health operated a facility for the rapid distribution of unevaluated preprints to research workers—an obvious precursor of many of the activities taking place today on the Internet. The experiment began with 32 researchers in a single Information Exchange Group (IEG). It grew to seven IEGs with total membership over 3600. During 1966, more than 1.5 million copies of preprints were produced and distributed. Considerable enthusiasm was generated among researchers who valued the speed of dissemination. Critics charged that the quality of the average preprint deteriorated with increased participation. They also noted that the unplanned burdens on production had often delayed receipt of the preprints until after they had appeared as formally reviewed journal papers. During this period, the Atomic Energy Commission had mounted a similar experimental program of “written informal communications” that was limited to theoretical high energy physics.