Rohan Samarajiva
The suitability of print, microform, online, and CD-ROM technologies for providing access to scientific serials by Third World scientists was examined. The results of an investigation of the technological and institutional options available to Sri Lanka's scientific information system were reported. Online was found to be most appropriate because of the presence of a small number of scientists with a broad range of interests, which makes the fixed-price regimes of the other modes disadvantageous. One policy response would be setting up an online information bureau to gradually build up domestic and international communication levels to justify the introduction of internal and external data communication facilities. The recommendations stress the need for continuous monitoring of technological and market options and the flexibility of response from peripheral players in the information market.