The OSTI-SEA (Sociology of Education Abstracts) project was conceived as a result of the awareness that the task of SEA as a service was steadily increasing in complexity and size. A three-year project was initiated to develop a system to meet information needs, patterns of inquiry and preferences as to type of service of its users. The study covered the selection process and present use of the literature, document description which dealt with SEA abstracts, and users and user needs. Suggestions are presented which represent a reasonable compromise between the "best" view of experts and the majority view. SEA is a service for specialists and although there is a feeling of obligation to meet the needs of a wider clientele, the service to specialists is of higher priority. (AB)