I/EC
September 1960, Volume 52,
No. 9
APPLIED JOURNALS, ACS 1 1 55 Sixteenth St., N.W. Washington 6, D.C. Director of Publications, C. B. Larrabee Editorial Director, Richard 1. Kenyon Executive Editor, James M. Crowe Assistant to the Director o f Publications, Joseph H. Kuney Asrisfant to the Editorial Director, Rodney N. Hader Director o f Editorial Research, Robert F. Gould INDUSTRIALAND ENGINEERINGCHEMISTRY Editor, Will H. Shearon, Jr. EDITORIAL HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON 6, D. C. 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W. Teletype W A 23 Phone REpublic 7-3337 Associate Editor: Willlam H. Gay Assistant Editors: Joe H. Olin, Joe B. Pullen, Elspeth W. Mainland Manuscript Department Associate Editors: Stella Anderson, Head, Katherine 1. Biggr, Reviewing, Ruth Reynard, Editing, Ruth M. Howorth, Eugenia Keller Editorial Assistant: S. S. Rogers Layout and Production Joseph Jacobs, Art Director; Melvin D. Buckner (Art)] Leroy Corcoran (Layout) Editorial Reference: Barbara A. Gollagher BRANCH EDITORIAL OFFICES WASHINGTON Associate Editor; Louis A. Agnello CHICAGO 1, ILL. Room 926.36 South Wabash Ave. Teletype CG 725 Phone STate 2-5148 Associate Editors: Arthur Poulos, James H. Krieger Assistant Editor: Donald Solsson HOUSTON 2, TEX., 718 Melrose Bldg. Phone FAirfax 3-7107 Teletype HO 72 Associate Editor: Bruce F. Greek NEW YORK 16, N. Y., 2 Park Ave. Phone ORegon 9-1646 Teletype NY 1-4726 Associate Editors: William Q. Hull, Harry Stenarson, D. Gray Weaver, Walter S. Fedor, Laurence J. White, Earl V. Anderson SAN FRANCISCO 4, CALIF. 703 Mechanics’ Institute Bldg.. 57 Post St. Phone EXbrook 2-2895 Teletype SF 549 Associate Editor: Richard 0. Newhall Assistant Editor: Joseph Sturchio EASTON, PA., 20th and Northampton Str. Phone BLackburn 8-91 11 Teletype ESTN Pa 7048 Associate Editor: Charlotte C. Sayre Editorial Assistants: Elizabeth R. Rufe, Barbara A. Conover EUROPEAN OFFICE Bush House, Aldwych, London Phone Temple Bar 3605 Cable JIECHEM Associate Editor: Albert S. Hester Assistant Editor: Brendan F. Somerville Contributing Editors: H. Carl Bauman, James B. Weaver, W. S. Connor, P. H. Sterling Advisory Board: R. L. Bateman, A. S. Brunies, David M. Clark, James M. Church, Lauchlin M. Currie, Joseph C. Elgin, Sam E. Emison, E. J. Fox, George Harrington, Gustave Heinemann, Rafael Katzen, Joseph H. Koffolt, F. Drew Mayfield, George Thodor, Richard C. Waugh
It’s All in Knowing How VETERANS of the late World War will remember the “recognition” classes that almost everybody was exposed to, in greater or lesser degree. To many, instantaneous recognition of enemy aircraft and/or ships was imperative; others never knew when it might be useful. Some found this easy, some difficult, some never learned it. For the forty-’leventh time we saw in our mail: “It is impossible for me even to scan all the publications I really should read.” While we were mulling over publication and reading problems, a thought which had been in subconscious solution a long time suddenly crystallized. “Perhaps,” we said to ourselves, “some of the trouble lies in whether an individual really should read, or whether he should read.” More pertinent is whether he knows how to scan. Reading is an art. Results from books written and courses given indicate definitely that quick reading, with understanding, can be learned. Scanning is even more of an art. Depending on the individual and the circumstances, the scanner can be looking for various things. He may never be conscious of what he has scanned; he may simply know that what he is looking for was or wasn’t there. The Q.E.F. is that perhaps all of the fault does not lie with the increasing size and variety of publications. Many of these publications are spending much time, effort, and money on appeal to the scanner. All this can be wasted if the reader doesn’t know he should scan, or if knowing he should, doesn’t know how. The same correspondent we quoted earlier says, “Even though I personally subscribe to seven technical publications and many more cross my desk, it is difficult to keep up with what is going on.” There may be several factors behind this sad state of affairs. We won’t criticize him, but we will lay out a three-point program that could help : 1. Companies must realize that publications are working tools. Proper attention to them is a legitimate part of the day’s work. 2 . A maximum number of publications to be seen each week or month must be set by the individual reader. These are his “musts.” 3. The individual reader must learn to scan, and when he reads, must learn to read quickly. One of the most frustrating experiences of being an effective editor is that the scanning habit penetrates into leisure reading. We find ourselves scanning everything-even material we are trying to read for relaxation. So we have had to develop a personal valve for actuating our own on-and-off scanning mechanism. The individual’s job description may dictate whether he is to be a scanner or a reader, or both; but careful development of the ability to scan will reap rewards for anyone. I n the I/EC Reports feature in this issue, there is a short item titled, “Try the Unusual in Pilot Plants.)’ I t shows specifically how some equipment conventional to certain industries was adapted to the chemical industry. I n this case, it is true, a good bit of the effort was in searching for the proper equipment. I n another case we remember vividly, however, a vice president told us that the solution to a problem that had vexed his division for several years was found by a staff member who was scanning a publication completely out of his field of interest. Discretion must, of course, determine what and how much the individual scans in working hours. Self-discipline must limit straying into paths that fascinate personally but soon prove that personal fascination is the only reward. Some persons may have to resign themselves to the bank teller’s viewpoint, and let information pass through them, but not stick. Learning when to turn the reading-scanning mechanism on and off and how to use it is no permanent panacea to our scientific reading problems, but it will certainly help.
Advertising Management REINHOLD PUBLISHING CORP. (For Branch Offices see list of advertisers)
VOL. 52, NO. 9
SEPTEMBER 1960
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