INDIVIDUAL ABSTRACTS VERSUS BULLETINS

I do not intend, in this paper, to confine my remarks to the narrow ground of abstracts versus bulletins. The two are complementary rather than in rivalry. It is almost impossible to compile a bulletin without recourse to ‘individual abstracts’ or titles, albeit temporarily. There is the added complication that probably the majority of library bulletins do not contain abstracts. I apologise for the fact that I have not prepared an O. & M. survey on the comparative economics of the two since any full discussion needs this. For those who are interested in an economic method of producing bulletins and abstracts, there is a recent article by Liebesny, which should be studied. In this paper I wish to examine, briefly, the use of abstracts and bulletins in laboratories and to suggest how, from the chemical library/information stand‐point, they could be improved. There is nothing original in what I have to say, but its restatement will not do any harm.