A CLASSIFICATION AND FILING SYSTEM FOR SCIENTIFIC REPRINTS AND REFERENCES E. IRENE PENTZ University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois RALPH BUSHEE Allerton Library, Monticello, Illinois
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care and classification of a collection of reprints present difficulties that are shared in common by all investigators. Disciplines that were considered to be clearly delimited are undergoing such changes that precedent, including standard systems of classification, e. g., that of the Library of Congress, cannot be relied upon to cope with some of the radically changing orientations. The novice who seeks advice from his more experienced colleagues usually finds one or the other of the following means of collection in operation: (1) Distantly related reprints are filed under arbitrary topical headings that are subject to the whims of the investigator; or (2) reprints are shoved "temporarily" into a large unlighted closet until the investigator, who has the best intentions, but no time, "can do something about them." Confronted with the problem of achieving and maintaining order in a collection of reprints that are pertinent to biochemistry, with emphasis on hormones and immunology, the authors have devised the system described in this report. The principles and method appear to be applicable to any body of scientific literature. Consideration of the material that was on hand and that which was likely to be added served as the ground-
work for a topical outline prepared on the basis of the primary dichotomy that Selye' has used so successfully. Accordingly, the literature was divided into two types; A . STATIC, and R. DYNAMIC. The primary categories were then subdivided into further breakdowns as shown in the example below. A. STATIC DATA 0 Methods
B. DYNAMIC D.4TA 1 Adsorption 2 Digestion 3 Metabolism .1 Carbohydrates
.1 analytical .2 sss8,vs .3 funitional .4 ststistical .5 technical
1 Carbohydrates .1 monosaccharides
.3 phosphosaecherides .4polysnceharides 2 Proteins .1 amino acids ( a e n . )
.2 1 6 o ~ r o t e i n ~ .3 peptides and polypeptides Etc.
.2 PGotiins 1 .amino acids (gen.) individual amino acids listed alphahet~crtllvhy initial letter 2 lipoproteins 3 n e ~ t i d e sand oolvpeptides Etc.
Suggestions for subtopics were obtained by reading 1 SELW. H.. "EncvcIo~edia of Endocrinology," A. W. T. Franks ~"blishingca"mp&, Montreal, 1943.
Losane, K. A,, Rens, W. J. B. #Arch. Biol. Chem., 174,97,1946
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T h e h e y a n d Distribution of a New Water Soluble Co-factor for Trypsin i n Soybean Meal. Trypsin Series I.
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Notes
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DECEMBER. 1955
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Logane, K. A,, Rens, W. J. B. #Amh. Biol. Chem... 174.97.1946 . .
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The Assay and Distribution of a New Water Soluble Co-factor for Trypsin in Soybean Meal. Trypsin Series I.
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A0.2 Log. Ass.
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the tables of contents of textbooks in biochemistry.
A conventional plan was chosen for the order of listing main headings, e. g., carbohydrates, proteins, etc. This type of listing seems to come readily to mind when a breakdown of main subject is attempted. I n addition, wherever possible, alphabetical order was also maintained. When such a subdivision as Metabolism was further subdivided, every effort was made to preserve the original numbering system (see example given above). These devices reduce the amount of memorization that is necessary for efficient use of the file. I t is true that the alphabetical listing will be disrupted as new substances are discovered and described, but these irregularities will not be overwhelming. Each reprint included in the file is represented by one primary classification card and may have one or several secondary cards. The primary classification is determined by asking: "What material in this paper is of most importance to me?" For example, the paper entitled "The assay and distribution of a new water soluble co-factor for trypsin in soybean meal" by K. A. Logane and W. J. B. Rens, Arch. Biol. Chem., 174,97 (1946), might be processed as follows: Because it describes the distribution of coenzymes, it is classified first as A, static data, and then as 8, the designation for coenzymes; hence it is AS. The secondary classification might be done thus: Since a method of assay is also described which may be of use a t some future date, a secondary card can be prepared for category A 0.2, the section that is devoted to methods of assay. The secondary card also bears the primary classification number which is an expression
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of the location of the reprint in the file. Another secondary classification might be under trypsin, indicating that evidence for a cofactor exists. The organizational arrangement that is given in the figures for the primary and secondary cards has been found to be both convenient and satisfactory. The primary classification number must appear on each of the secondary cards so that the reprint may be located in the file when only the secondary card is consulted. The upper left-hand corner of the reprint should bear the primary classification number and other designations exactly as they appear on the right-hand side of the primary card. The dimensions of the card will vary with individual preference. The authors found it 'advantageous to use 4- X 6-in. cards, which are large enough to permit notation. These are filed according t o the number on the right side in the order established by the original outline. The #symbol is used to indicate that a copy of the reprint is present in the collection. Such a key may save hours of searching for a reprint that is not present in the file. It was found expedient to save a desk drawer for reprints and cards that are withdrawn from the file, and to replace them all when there is a sizable accumulation. It is suggested, however, that the cards should not be removed unless absolutely necessary. The criteria and suggestions that have been described have been applied successfully to a collection of papers in biochemistry, and a complete copy of the classification outline is available upon request.
