@Edent Oh; I knew my reply was partially offtarget since it is not a narrative story, but does the memex fit the description: 'I don't mean some 1950's sci-fi with pan-Earth info system.'? If so, I missed that connection and should have not replied with the link I did.

@Edent I have only skimmed secondary info about memex and "As We May Think", but I should go back and sit down to read it. Seems like the kind of material that inspires reflection and writing upon serious contact.

@Edent More essay than plot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_We_May_Think