The proceedings of a seminar on factual and numerical data banks are described. Seminar objectives were to: (1) make potential users aware of the value of data banks in their respective disciplines and inform them of the tools available; (2) identify national and regional data bank requirements; and (3) define a strategy for development in this field. In addition to a general report, this publication contains the reports of the life sciences and earth sciences working groups, and discussions of three general recommendations pertaining to the areas of education, creation of data banks, and development of a national network for the exchange of knowledge. Seven appendices include the seminar program; a list of seminar participants; the text of the opening address; and three working papers: "Seminar on Factual and Numerical Data Bases" (UNESCO); "Tentative Evaluation of Factual and Numerical Data Requirements and Services for Agricultural Researchers" (Institut National Agronomique et Veterinaire); and "Review of Economic Geology Data Banks in the Arab World" (Arab Organization for Mineral Resources). A summary of the presentations on data banks given at the seminar is the final appendix. (KM)