THE INDEXING AND FILING OF CORRESPONDENCE IN THE LABORATORIES OF J. LYONS & CO. LTD.

In a technical or research department of a large organization extremely important information is often contained in the correspondence, whether this is in the form of interdepartmental memoranda or of letters from out side firms or organizations. It is essential to be able to find a document at a moment's notice from the time it enters the building and is in circulation among the staff, to the time when it is filed, and the contents must be indexed in such a way that the information is always immediately available. In our laboratories the correspondence section is considered to be as much a part of the information service as the library, and is in fact under the supervision of the Librarian. It is found that the work of the two sections overlaps to some extent, and a sight of the correspondence which has led up to a library query is often an invaluable aid to supplying the information required. It is recognized that every organization has its own peculiar problems and difficulties, and that no one system will suit everybody, but it is hoped that this brief description of the system which we use will assist others with similar problems.