CHEMICAL INDEXING: MANAGEMENT'S POINT OF VIEW* By HERMAN SKOLNIK Research Center, Hercules Powder Company, Wilmington, Delaware
Whether r e s e a r c h is b a s i c o r p r a c t i c a l , a c a d e m i c o r i n d u s t r i a l , involving individual o r t e a m effort, it r e q u i r e s a v a r i e t y of facilities and auxiliary s k i l l s in i t s v a r i o u s phases. F r o m the t i m e the objectives of a r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m a r e defined until the r e s u l t s a r e obtained t h e r e a r e many e x c u r s i o n s into a r e a s of a n a l y s i s , physical m e a s u r e m e n t , instrumentation, s p e c i a l a p p a r a t u s , and the l i t e r a t u r e . The s u c c e s s of a p r o g r a m often i s d e t e r m i n e d by the availability of the n e c e s s a r y facilities and the s p e c i a l ized s k i l l s r e q u i r e d by the r e s e a r c h e r . R e s e a r c h management in an i n d u s t r i a l o r ganization has the responsibility of maintaining a productive r e s e a r c h environment. Toward this end it t h e r e f o r e a i m s t o provide the f a c i l i t i e s and s k i l l s r e q u i r e d for successful attainment of the r e s e a r c h objectives. The availability of technical l i t e r a t u r e f r o m which a knowledge of the existing information in the field being i n vestigated m a y be obtained i s one of t h e s e e s s e n t i a l f a c i l i t i e s . Indexing of t h i s information is one of the s k i l l s which m a k e s possible effective utilization of t'his l i t e r a t u r e . Depending t o s o m e d e g r e e on the s i z e of the l a b o r a t o r y concerned, this s k i l l m a y be the responsibility of a s p e c i a l i s t o r m a y be sone of the s k i l l s of the individual r e s e a r c h man. Ultimately, however, e v e r y s c i e n t i s t m u s t obtain the information he needs i n his work. lndexing and l i t e r a t u r e s e a r c h e s m a y help him a g r e a t deal but the n e c e s s i t y f o r him t o do his own reading and s e a r c h i n g cannot be displaced completely. Chemical indexing is a s k i l l , and the c h e m i cal index a facility whose s o l e objective is t o provide a s s i s t a n c e i n the solving of r e s e a r c h p r o b l e m s . Published indexes, such a s Chemical A b s t r a c t s , Chemisches Zentralblatt, and "Beilstein," a r e vital t o a r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t o r engineer. This c l o s e relationship between c h e m i s t r y and the c h e m i c a l index h a s a r i s e n f r o m the c u m d a t i v e n a t u r e and growth of the chemical l i t e r a t u r e and f r o m the n a t u r a l i n c l i nation of a s c i e n t i s t t o put things in o r d e r . The stock in t r a d e of a r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t is t h e chemical l i t e r a t u r e and h i s a w a r e n e s s of it through h i s e x p e r i e n c e , reading, and study. R e s e a r c h c h e m i s t s disdain t o r e p e a t the p a s t through ignorance. To avoid t h i s pitfall they allocate a, s h a r e of t h e i r t i m e . t o the study of the l i t e r a t u r e and t o the u s e of available chemical indexes. It is not uncommon f o r r e s e a r c h chamis,ts t o supplement available i n dexes with p e r s o n a l c a r d files, and t o this extent they a r e chemical i n d e x e r s . Their c a r d f i l e s
a r e usually peculiarly t h e i r own, but neverthel e s s quite usable keys t o a s t o r e h o u s e of information. A r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t ' s information needs a r e governed by s e v e r a l f a c t o r s . If he has been working in the s a m e field for many y e a r s , he knows the l i t e r a t u r e and has little need f o r chemical indexes except t o r e f r e s h his m e m o r y o r to find specific data and s t a t i s t i c s . His g r e a t need, in this c a s e , i s t o keep a b r e a s t of c u r r e n t journal a r t i c l e s , t h e s e s , new books, and miscellaneous publications within his spe cia1 a r e a . On the o t h e r hand, when he e n t e r s into a new field, his f i r s t move i s t o gain a c c e s s by m e a n s of the standard a b s t r a c t s e r v i c e s and t o r e a d and study the original docum e n t s thus disclosed until the l i t e r a t u r e i s a p a r t of the scientific experience he b r i n g s to be'ar on the solving of the p r o b l e m s . These actions a r e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of the s c i e n t i s t and of the scientific method. In addition t o the published l i t e r a t u r e , the i n d u s t r i a l r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t m u s t have a c c e s s t o and be a w a r e of his organization's i n t e r n a l l i t e r a t u r e , such a s technical r e p o r t s and c o r respondence. This l i t e r a t u r e constitutes the who, what, when, how, and why of a company's p a s t , p r e s e n t , and future. The key to this int e r n a l knowledge and know-how can be provided only by the company i t s e l f . Thus, r e s e a r c h management i n making d e cisions on what information f a c i l i t i e s , t o o l s , and s k i l l s should be made available to i t s r e s e a r c h staff will c o n s i d e r , among other things, the kinds of information that m a y w a r r a n t the expense of chemical indexing. These consider ations and decisions will be conditioned by the r e s e a r c h objectives of the company and by the r e s e a r c h s t a f f ' s n a t u r a l and intuitive i n f o r m a tion needs. The usefulness and need f o r published i n d e x e s , such a s Chemical A b s t r a c t s , Chemisches Zentralblatt, Biological A b s t r a c t s , Information f o r Industry's patent index, and o t h e r s a r e quite obvious. Many a r e good buys and a r e indispensable tools of r e s e a r c h . R e s e a r c h m a n a g e m e n t ' s decision h e r e i s not only what a b s t r a c t s e r v i c e s but a l s o how many s u b s c r i p tions t o e a c h s e r v i c e a r e r e q u i r e d by the r e s e a r c h environment. This does not m e a n that i n d u s t r y is open g a m e for a b s t r a c t s e r v i c e s . E a c h is evaluated on i t s m e r i t s and on what it might contribute t o the r e s e a r c h effort. Indeed, many s u c h s e r v i c e s a r e found wanting within a
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*Presented before the Division of Chemical Literature, Symposium on Chemical Indexing, ACS Meeting, New York, N. Y., September 1 1 , 1957.
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given environment, some by inspection and o t h e r s after a s h o r t t r i a l . An a l e r t industrial r e s e a r c h environment does not wait for an a b s t r a c t s e r v i c e to appear to take c a r e of i t s information needs and p r o b l e m s . When t h e s e needs and problems a r e apparent and t h e i r solution can be realized within a reasonable budget, appropriate actions a r e taken. By the s a m e token, however, r e s e a r c h management does not expect i t s information groups to undertake or to continue an operation which i s handled b e t t e r , f a s t e r , and m o r e economically by someone e l s e , whether internally o r externally. Chemical Abstracts i s an outstanding e x ample of an a b s t r a c t s e r v i c e that successfully m e e t s many needs of r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t s . It was not designed to take c a r e of all needs f o r all people, and i t s l i m i t s have been well defined by D r . Crane and m e m b e r s of his staff in nul merous papers. N o other a b s t r a c t s e r v i c e i s available which even attempts to fill the a r e a s not included in Chemical A b s t r a c t s ' objectives for the journal l i t e r a t u r e . The pace and tempo of industrial r e s e a r c h and the information needs of many industrial r e s e a r c h environments have led a number of r e s e a r c h managements t o the decision to s e t up i n t e r n a l operations and s e r v i c e s to handle the c u r r e n t l i t e r a t u r e problem. Depending upon the scope of chemical products and the r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m of a chemical company, i t s r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t s and engineers will have a group need of fifty to about eight hundred periodicals. Most of the s c i e n t i s t s will want t o r e a d at t h e i r d e s k s o r at home five t o ten journals in t h e i r s p e cialty. They will know the l i t e r a t u r e in t h e s e journals well, but the need is no l e s s g r e a t f o r a r t i c l e s of i n t e r e s t appearing in the other j o u r nals which an individual does not r e a d regularly nor have t i m e t o r e a d . Management has one of s e v e r a l choices for bringing such a r t i c l e s to his attention:* (1) Set up a journal r e f e r e n c e bulletin and index, ( 2 ) l e t the s c i e n t i s t solve this problem on his own o r in a group effort, ( 3 ) participate i n a cooperative c u r r e n t l i t e r a t u r e s e r v i c e , such a s the petroleum companies do. The f i r s t solution is popular and i s used in some d e g r e e by m o s t of the medium and l a r g e sized chemical companies. This solution a s signs to a s p e c i a l i s t group the responsibility for examining the a r t i c l e s in e v e r y journal r e ceived by the r e s e a r c h l i b r a r y and for selecting those a r t i c l e s of i n t e r e s t t o the company's p r o d u c t s , p r o c e s s e s , and r e s e a r c h i n t e r e s t s . These a r t i c l e s a r e a b s t r a c t e d and the assembled a b s t r a c t s i s s u e d in a bulletin on a s e t publication schedule. The r e s e a r c h chemist will continue to r e a d his chosen five o r m o r e journals r e g u l a r l y , but with the knowledge that a r t i c l e s pertinent to his i n t e r e s t s and needs in the other journals will be brought to his attention by the bulletin.
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Although communication of c u r r e n t l i t e r a t u r e is the p r i m a r y objective of the journal bulletin, the need f o r finding r e f e r e n c e s may be sufficiently g r e a t t o w a r r a n t an index. The need f o r this index is m o s t acute during the i n t e r v a l between the publication of the journal a r t i c l e and the i s s u a n c e of the Chemical Abs t r a c t s "Annual Index" in which the a r t i c l e is indexed. It is not uncommon f o r this interval to span a period of two y e a r s . Another need for this index m a y be f o r selective o r g e n e r i c s u b j e c t s , such as a z e o t r o p e s , chlorination, a m i n e s , flotation agents, which a r e inclusive f o r a l l a r t i c l e s containing pertinent information. Whereas s e l e c t i v e o r g e n e r i c subjects m a y be important and economical in a limited index, they are f a r too costly and unwieldy for an a b s t r a c t s e r v i c e to include, except in the most general sense o r a s a c r o s s reference. A f u r t h e r need of a journal index m a y be f o r those subject a r e a s not included within the objectives of a b s t r a c t s e r v i c e s . Examples of t h e s e subject a r e a s a r e management, communication, documentation, l i b r a r y s c i e n c e , equipment, i n s t r u m e n t s , economics, production s t a t i s t i c s , and so on. A company j o u r n a l index should be d e signed f o r the r e s e a r c h staff and should m e e t the needs of p r a c t i c a l l y everyone in r e s e a r c h . It is d e s i r a b l e that this index be considered by the r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t s and engineers a s t h e i r personal index. This m e a n s then that the index m u s t be open and available f o r u s e by e v e r y one. Consequently, an index s y s t e m which m u s t be approached through consultation with a designated information s p e c i a l i s t or which r e q u i r e s special instructions does not conform with the objective of openness and availability. Alphabetical and f o r m u l a indexes m e e t the r e q u i r e m e n t s quite adequately. They a r e the c l o s e s t approximation t o the way the r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t o r engineer keeps his own file o r i n dex. It is economical t o maintain a c e n t r a l journal index, f o r if it m e e t s the needs of the r e s e a r c h e r s , the net indexing t i m e is c o n s i d e r ably l e s s than that which would be involved by everyone doing H i s own indexing and filing. A journal index which allows m o r e t i m e f o r r e s e a r c h and which helps i n the solving of r e s e a r c h p r o b l e m s is a n efficient r e s e a r c h facility. P a t e n t s , like j o u r n a l a r t i c l e s , constitute an information s o u r c e . T h e i r contents need t o be communicated t o the r e s e a r c h staff and m e a n s should be available t o r e s e a r c h f o r r e f e r r i n g t o patents on demand. The index s e r v i c e f o r United States chemical patents provided by Information f o r Industry is c o m prehensive, economical, and timely. Since the advent of this s e r v i c e , the need t o provide a patent index s i m i l a r t o the journal index has been l e s s e n e d considerably. The effect of this a b s t r a c t s e r v i c e on many company patent i n dexing operations i l l u s t r a t e s the statement
CHEMICAL INDEXING: MANAGEMENT'S POINT O F VIEW
made e a r l i e r t.hat information groups should not undertake o r continue an operation which is handled b e t t e r , f a s t e r , and m o r e economically by someone e l s e . It is p o s s i b l e , however, that the needs of thre environment may indicate a patent index which supplements and implements that which i s a.lready provided. In this event, the s a m e evaluation m u s t be made a s d e s c r i b e d f o r the journal. index. P a t e n t s , i f subject indexed, a r e filed num e r i c a l l y by country of i s s u a n c e . In the event that an organissation does not provide n o r subs c r i b e to a subject index, it m a y be convenient to file the patents according t o a classification s c h e m e , such a s that u s e d by the United States P a t e n t Office. Other l i b r a r y m a t e r i a l , such a s books, gove r n m e n t publications and specifications, t r a d e publications, house o r g a n s , a c a d e m i c t h e s e s , and p r e p r i n t s , a r e information s o u r c e s that r e q u i r e l i t t l e s p e c i a l t r e a t m e n t beyond that which a catalog l i b r a r i a n would n o r m a l l y do and i s t r a i n e d to do. The approach h e r e i s c l a s sification r a t h e r than chemical indexing. Re s e a r c h c h e m i s t s and e n g i n e e r s a r e quite a c c u s tomed to l i b r a r y classification s y s t e m s . In g e n e r a l , they Icnow the contents of t h e books published in t h e i r specialty. Their need for classification i s such that the a r r a n g e m e n t of books should p e r m i t the maximum flexibility f o r browsing, p a r t i c u l a r l y in those c a t e g o r i e s beyond t h e i r specialty. The t r e a t m e n t of books m u s t be considered in a dual role. They will be on the shelves s t r i c t l y according to a c l a s s i fication s c h e m e , whether Dewey, L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s , o r one designed f o r the s p e c i a l needs of the environment. The book catalog, on the other hand, miiy be a s y s t e m a t i c o r classified catalog o r an alphabetical subject catalog. Both have advantages and disadvantages, although the alphabetical is; probably m o s t f a m i l i a r t o the r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t and engineer. In a s p e c i a l l i b r a r y using i i classification s y s t e m that m e e t s the need of i t s u s e r s , the subject approach in the book catalog a p p e a r s t o be the m o r e f e a s i ble. In a l l probability, however, the approach m a y be modified t o favor g e n e r i c over specific headings. Management's p r o b l e m in the r e a l m of the book catalog and classification i s t o e n s u r e that the effort expended is not g r e a t e r than that r e q u i r e d and that the r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t ' s needs and habits a r e known t o the catalog librarian. P a m p h l e t m a t e r i a l in the l i b r a r y , such a s government publications and specifications, cons t i t u t e s a r e a l p r o b l e m . This m a t e r i a l usually i s put i n v e r t i c a l files and m o r e often by agency than by subject classification. If it i s subject indexed i n the book catalog, the m e r e bulk in a special l i b r a r y will tend t o dilute the subject headings f o r books. In g e n e r a l , a c o m p r o m i s e of s o m e kind rnust be made f o r pamphlet m a t e r i a l s o i t s r e l a t i v e i m p o r t a n c e is maintained.
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Relative i m p o r t a n c e can be gauged only with r e s p e c t t o the r e s e a r c h needs. Management expects the l i b r a r i a n s t o be as a w a r e of t h e s e a s a r e the c h e m i s t s who index patents and j o u r nal a r t i c l e s . T r a d e l i t e r a t u r e and house o r g a n s are an important information s o u r c e i n a special lib r a r y . They do not p r e s e n t a problem, howe v e r , i n t e r m s of chemical indexing. House o r g a n s which a r e j o u r n a l s by all intents and p u r p o s e s and those which a r e no m o r e than a serial trade literature a r e treated a ~ c o r d i n g l y . ~ T r a d e l i t e r a t u r e , with few exceptions, d o e s not w a r r a n t indexing, because an adequate key is provided by existing s e r v i c e s , s u c h as Chemic a l Week's B u y e r s ' Guide, Thomas Register of A m e r i c a n M a n u f a c t u r e r s , and Oil, Paint and Drug R e p o r t e r ' s G r e e n Book. A company's r e s e a r c h r e p o r t s , l a b o r a t o r y r e c o r d books, and technical correspondence constitutes i t s unique and valuable information facility.4 These r e c o r d s of the who, what, when, how, and why of r e s e a r c h a r e the v e r y foundation of the company's patent s t r u c t u r e . They a r e the communications by which r e s e a r c h grows into a c o m m e r c i a l product. The m o s t b a s i c documents i n r e s e a r c h are the l a b o r a t o r y r e c o r d books. Whether o r not t h e s e a r e indexed in a c e n t r a l index would d e pend upon management's decision on a r e p o r t s y s t e m , and how it t i e s i n with the l a b o r a t o r y r e c o r d books. Actually the l a b o r a t o r y r e c o r d books a r e not p a r t i c u l a r l y amenable t o indexing in a c e n t r a l index. When p r o p e r l y kept, they c o r r e s p o n d t o a technical d i a r y o r j o u r n a l book and, by and l a r g e , the s t y l e of writing and p r e s e n t a t i o n would be as v a r i e d a s t h e r e are s c i e n t i s t s . T h e r e would be conformity, howe v e r , t o c e r t a i n r u l e s recommended by patent a t t o r n e y s . A f u r t h e r complication i n the indexing of l a b o r a t o r y r e c o r d books in a c e n t r a l index would be the indexer's backbreaking t a s k of reading c u r s i v e text. The n a t u r e of a l a b o r a t o r y r e c o r d book is s u c h that its many exp e r i m e n t s and r e s u l t s a r e not continuous n o r do they constitute a p i c t u r e until the r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t u n d e r t a k e s t o i n t e r p r e t the r e s u l t s and t o r e n d e r conclusions. Table of contents o r index pages might be m a d e a p a r t of the labor a t o r y r e c o r d book f o r u s e by t h e r e s e a r c h chemist. The decision not t o index l a b o r a t o r y reco r d books i s sound only if the reporting s y s t e m is responsive t o management's needs f o r c o m munication and f o r an adequate key t o experim e n t s and r e s u l t s r e c o r d e d i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y r e c o r d books. This i m p l i e s frequent and c o m plete reporting for both s u c c e s s f u l and unsucc e s s f u l e x p e r i m e n t s . The reporting, however, should not be s o frequent and complete that it does not allow f o r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s and conclusions. The r e s e a r c h r e p o r t , p r o p e r l y conceived, i s a well-balanced distillation of the
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H e r m a n Skolnik
ebcperiments and r e s u l t s r e c o r d e d in the l a b o r a t o r y r e c o r d book on which the r e s e a r c h chemist b a s e s his i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s and conclusions. The r e s e a r c h r e p o r t with i t s r e f e r e n c e s to l a b o r a t o r y r e c o r d books and correspondence i s ideally suited f o r indexing in a c e n t r a l r e p o r t index. The r e p o r t index is of p r i m a r y i m portance t o the r e s e a r c h chemist who m u s t consult it t o l e a r n of all thoughts and r e s e a r c h and development r e s u l t s of his p r e d e c e s s o r s in the company f r o m which his assignment will be extended o r modified. This s e a r c h of the company l i t e r a t u r e will supplement the r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t ' s review of the published l i t e r a t u r e . The r e p o r t index i s of fundamental importance f o r obtaining the information and ascertaining the original concepts and data in the obtaining and protection of patents, and i s consulted f o r this purpose by the patent attorney o r , on his r e q u e s t , by a r e s e a r c h chemist o r r e p o r t indexer. Because of the g r e a t and frequent need of the r e s e a r c h chemist t o consult the r e p o r t index, i t should be available t o him for his own s e a r c h ing and the indexing should conform t o his needs. Alphabetical and f o r m u l a indexes p r o vide the m o s t flexibility to the r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t . Subject headings should include both the specific and g e n e r i c , the r e a c t a n t s , the products, the p r o c e s s e s , and the u s e s o r applications. The r e s e a r c h chemist gets dizzy awfully f a s t on a m e r r y - g o - r o u n d , so c r o s s r e f e r e n c e s should be a t a minimum and i n s e r t e d judiciously. Conservation of e n t r i e s should never be made a t the expense of the u s e r ' s patience o r intelligence. Management, on the o t h e r hand, does not want the r e p o r t index t o grow out of house and home e v e r y other y e a r and t o a b s o r b the t i m e and expense of an ever-growing r e p o r t index group. The r e p o r t index, t h e r e f o r e , will maintain s t a n d a r d s and consistency no l e s s than equal t o those of any good a b s t r a c t s e r v i c e . Even a r e p o r t index, which, in a s e n s e , i s a m i n i a t u r e Chemical A b s t r a c t s , cannot be a l l things to a l l people. Several a r e a s in a r e s e a r c h function m a y have needs s o individually unique that to adapt the r e p o r t index t o them would reduce i t s effectiveness f o r the majority. Examples of such unique needs m a y be those of the i n f r a r e d and ultraviolet groups o r the c o r rosion engineers who p r e f e r t h e i r index t o m a t c h o r t o be combined with a s e r v i c e p r o vided by a society o r external organization. The pharmaceutical, biological, toxi city, o r insecticide group may p r e f e r to have t h e i r r e p o r t s indexed c o r r e l a t i v e l y a s well a s subjectwise. In t h e s e c a s e s , the r e p o r t index will be supplemented t o the d e g r e e of the need, and u s e probably will be made of other indexing t e c h niques, such a s hand- o r mechanically-sorted punched c a r d s , computing machines , o r coordinate indexes.
R e s e a r c h r e p o r t s themselves m a y be filed according t o a classification o r by accessions number. It is quite common in the chemical industry t o budget r e s e a r c h by project numbers c o r r e l a t i v e with a product o r product group. Both management and the r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t s would think in t e r m s of t h e s e project numbers and, t h e r e f o r e , would p r e f e r t o s e e the r e p o r t s s o filed. If the project number is random o r without correlation, those who r e f e r t o the r e p o r t s probably would tend t o favor filing by author. Technical correspondence i s unlike any other information s o u r c e so f a r considered. It has the uniqueness of r e p o r t l i t e r a t u r e o r the ephemeral n a t u r e , in a high percentage of the c a s e s , of a p r i c e l i s t in a fluctuating m a r k e t . F u r t h e r m o r e , correspondence multiplies a t a f a s t e r r a t e than do Mr. and M r s . Rabbit. Management's solution t o this is a retention schedule, s e t up to include c a t e g o r i e s f r o m none t o permanent retention. Management, in g e n e r a l , would favor s o m e indexing of correspondence retained over ten y e a r s . Such correspondence may consist of l e t t e r s written in lieu of a r e port t o effect rapid communication, l e t t e r s disclosing i d e a s , l e t t e r s pertaining t o the p r o c e s s i n g of patents, covering l e t t e r s accompanying the shipment of experimental products t o potential c u s t o m e r s , and the like. This kind of indexing m a y well be handled by the r e p o r t index group and the e n t r i e s included in the r e p o r t index. Correspondence retained f r o m one t o ten y e a r s , and which i s technical in only the p e r i p h e r a l s e n s e , does not w a r r a n t subject indexing, but m a y w a r r a n t c l a s s i f i c a tion indexing o r cataloging. Correspondence m a y be filed by one of t h r e e ways: author and company, some c l a s sification s y s t e m , o r a c c e s s i o n numbers. The needs of the environment and the p r e f e r e n c e of the u s e r s will d e t e r m i n e which i s chosen. R e s e a r c h c h e m i s t s and engineers intuitively a s s o c i a t e information with people, and if they a r e the u s e r s then it a p p e a r s likely that filing by author and company would be elected. All of management has s o m e stake in functions and operations involving chemical indexing. All p a r t s , however, do not have an i n t e r e s t in chemical indexing p e r s e . What i s done and how it is done is of little consequence except t o that m a n a g e r i a l level accountable and responsible $or the obtaining of data and r e s u l t s f r o m information files. Beyond the r e sponsibility f o r providing the p r o p e r facilities , tools, and s k i l l s f o r the conduct of r e s e a r c h , management's views of chemical indexing a r e basically those of the r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t ' s . That which is in s h o r t e s t supply in r e s e a r c h is c r e a t i v e t i m e , and one of our g r e a t e s t concerns today is means f o r i n c r e a s i n g i t . If chemical indexing contributes i t s s h a r e t o c r e a t i v e t i m e , then i t i s successful. Chemical indexing,
CHEMICAL INDEXING: MANAGEMENT’S POINT O F VIEW
however, does nothing f o r creativity. Until it m e s h e s with the r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t ’ s intuition, habits, n e e d s , and objectives, a chemical index is j u s t s o many words and s o many d o l l a r s spent. A chemical index conceived and m a i n tained in t e r m s of r e s e a r c h needs and the u s e r ’ s wishes enhances c r e a t i v i t y and i n c r e a s e s the effectiveness of r e s e a r c h . This is achieved by
a chemical index open t o the hands and eyes of the r e s e a r c h staff. T h e r e f o r e , the indexing o r classification s y s t e m chosen m u s t be such a s t o allow the r e s e a r c h chemist t o do his OWE s e a r c h i n g i f he w i s h e s , and the subjects and classification t e r m s m u s t be those which a r e p a r t of the language and experiences of the r e s e a r c h chemist.
REFERENCES ’Crane, E. J., and C. L. Bernier, “Index and Index-Searching,” in R. S. Casey and J . W. Perry, editors, “Punched Cuds-Their Applications to Service and Industry,” Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York, N. Y., 1951, pp. 331-350. *Jackson, L., ed., “Technical Libraries-Their
Organization and Management,” Special Libraries Association, New York, 1951, pp. 104-1 19.
3Baer, E. M., and H. Skolnik, “House Organs and Trade Publications a s Information Sources,” presented at th+ American Chemical Society Meeting, Atlantic City, N. J., September, 1956. ‘Skolnik, H., Research and Engineering,
2, 26-29
’Skolnik, H., and J. I
