Unlocking the Value of Grey Literature: Voices from the Front Lines of Research – By Policy Commons Team 

Published in collaboration with Sabinet  

In an era of information overload, policy researchers, librarians, and academic institutions are increasingly looking for ways to surface critical insights buried in grey literature—those reports, working papers, white papers, and datasets often overlooked by traditional academic indexing. Policy Commons is meeting that need head-on, earning praise from global leaders in research services and information management. 

“It’s exceeded my expectations in many ways… A student was looking into preventative detention in the Rhodesian Civil War and found more in Policy Commons than in any other resource. It’s been helpful in every consultation he had this semester.” — Ryan Johnson, Head of Research Services, Georgetown University.

This kind of testimonial reflects a growing realisation: Access to high-quality, policy-relevant information isn’t just about quantity, it’s about discoverability and immediacy. That’s why Policy Commons is becoming a go-to platform for institutions committed to improving access to grey literature. 

“Policy Commons is brilliant. I love the idea of making so much grey literature findable. The cost of the product is nothing compared to what it uncovers. If you want your report to be read and used by others, make it discoverable through Policy Commons—because if it sits in your IR, no one will ever see it.” — Peter McCracken, Electronic Resources Librarian, Cornell University and Co-Founder of Serials Solutions.

Grey literature is often the first responder in the knowledge ecosystem, produced by NGOs, think tanks, governments, and independent researchers working on the ground. These materials offer crucial evidence, often months or years before traditional publications can respond. 

“Discoverability of critical NGO reports is a game changer… [Policy Commons] shifts evidence and knowledge production towards equitable access!” — Harsha Dayal, Director of Research and Knowledge Management, Government of South Africa 

For librarians and researchers, especially those outside elite academic publishing circuits, this shift is transformative. 

“Policy Commons provides access to things you can’t find out about, but need right now.” — John Wright, Business Librarian, University of Calgary 

Sabinet’s partnership with Coherent Digital offers Policy Commons to ensure that South African institutions can now surface global and regional policy documents that are often hidden in institutional repositories or lost in digital obscurity. 

“Grey literature is produced by organizations ‘on the ground’ without the delays and restrictions of journal and book publishing. For that reason, grey literature can be more current than literature in scholarly journals.” — Simon Fraser University Library 

For South African libraries, research centres, and government departments seeking to strengthen evidence-based decision-making, Sabinet’s offering of Policy Commons represents a major step forward in research equity and access. 

To learn more about how your institution can access Policy Commons through Sabinet, contact our team.