Google and other search engines have long worked to pull information scattered over the Internet together in a useful place when you need it. But of course, this doesn't do anything to guarantee the quality of information -- and it doesn't help you much if lots of other people aren't interested in the same thing you're looking for (Google's search system is based on linked pages).

The other way to go about it is to compile related information together, in the same place. PolicyArchive is in the process of doing this; it aims to be more or less a one-stop site that compiles public policy research from a wide range of sources (who must, themselves, opt in to upload their research).

The Center for Governmental Studies (CGS) and the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Library are building PolicyArchive, a comprehensive, searchable, open access, online archive of public policy research. PolicyArchive will create a permanent, digital repository that will preserve public policy research in a comprehensive range of areas, and make it available to researchers around the globe.

PolicyArchive will create an online resource for public policy publications, free to all research seekers and available for upload to all policy research publishers. PolicyArchive will contain summaries and full texts of policy research - academic, foundation-funded, government - in a range of subject areas.

Let's hope that PolicyArchive can institute some incentives to push a wide range of organizations to post their research. As of now, there are reportedly about ten thousand pieces of research in the PolicyArchive database. As this resource grows, it could be an important piece of connective tissue between foundations, government institutions and nonprofits -- all drawing from the same well.