SOME OBSERVATIONS ON The USE OF PUNCHED CARDS FOR A PERSONAL INFORMATION FILE

Although personal information files must seem small fry alongside the large information centres, the accumulated frustration and waste of time associated with them must, on account of their very great number, far outweigh that found in the larger centres. For this reason, it is suggested that greater attention might be given to the problems of the small file user by the professional information officer. With this in view it was thought desirable to give an account of one such small file, the problems associated with it and the attempts at solving these problems. The file to be described is one containing a very wide and diverse range of subjects—chemistry, physics, economics, mathematics, logic, etc.—such as is required for use by a worker in applied science. It is this very width of interest which creates the major problems in setting up and operating such a file.