The chief educational information unit in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the focus for dissemination of information to various agencies is the Department of Educational Information of the Scientific Research Institute of General Sciences, Academy of Pedagogical Sciences (APS). The department services the whole of the USSR by collecting and preparing information on education in the USSR and abroad, organizing and coordinating all the units which comprise the educational information system in the USSR, developing and publishing educational information materials, automating information processes, and identifying and disseminating innovative pedagogical practices. Research reports are received from APS research institutes, ministries of education, and teacher training institutes throughout the USSR. Abstract bibliographies and interpretive materials are prepared based on user interests. Reports of promising educational practices are presented at a series of teacher conferences held first at the district level, then the republic, and finally at the All-Union level. The best teacher reports from each conference are presented at the next, and a few of these are chosen for publication and dissemination throughout the country. Overall the Soviets appear to be following the same developmental steps as United States in building a resource base and a system of access to the literature. (JY)