This article is a brief account of the past, present and future of the International Nuclear Information System INIS. The INIS story is here given in terms of figures and data including the milestone of one million references reached in 1986. The present status of the system is described. Future trends of development are mentioned as well as the distribution of input (by Member State and literary indicator) and the scope of the system. Products and services are listed. The information system AGRIS in the field of agriculture and operated by the FAO is mentioned (a sister system). Data on AGRIS are given
