These notes are intended for working scientists who wish to set up and operate Specialized Information Centers to serve their own specialized areas of science. Their purpose is to set out the different tasks to be performed and the decisions that must be taken, to discuss the problems of Center operation and to suggest some of the solutions. This is not a 'how-to-do-it' guide; a Reading List is included at the end, to which reference should be made for fuller discussion of particular aspects of operations. It is not intended for, but may be of interest to, professional information workers. The statements made and the opinions expressed here are based on a study of several Specialized Information Centers, but the methods suggested here do not necessarily represent current practice in any particular Center. The study was funded by the Office for Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI). (Author/NH)