ECONOMIC ASPECTS IN THE DISSEMINATION O F CHEMICAL KNOWLEDGE * BY M. H. ARVESON'F* Arnoco Chemicals Corp., Chicago, Illinois
T h e s e r e m a r k s a r e m y own. I a m not speaking f o r the A m e r i c a n C h e m i c a l Society B o a r d , any of i t s C o m m i t t e e s , or m y company. A f t e r listening t o the m e m b e r s of the A.C.S. B o a r d and staff a.nd o t h e r s d i s c u s s i n g the financ i a l and other a s p e c t s of o u r publications p r o g r a m , and reading s o m e of the r e l a t e d l i t e r a t u r e , I a m fully convinced that t h e r e i s a m i s s i n g e l e m e n t i n o u r A.C.S. s y s t e m . The p u r p o s e of t h i s i n f o r m a l talk i s to s e e k your help to define what this e l e m e n t should be and to find the optimum f o r m and mode of operation. The c h a r t e r of the A.C.S. s a y s in p a r t , "The objects of the i n c o r p o r a t i o n s h a l l be to e n c o u r a g e in the b r o a d e s t and m o s t l i b e r a l m a n n e r the advancement of c h e m i s t r y in a l l of i t s b r a n c h e s ; the p r o m o t i o n of r e s e a r c h i n c h e m i c a l s c i e n c e and i n d u s t r y ; the i m p r o v e m e n t of the qualifications and u s e f u l n e s s of c h e m i s t s through high s t a n d a r d s of p r o f e s s i o n a l e t h i c s , education and a t t a i n m e n t s ; the i n c r e a s e and diffusion of c h e m i c a l knowledge; and by i t s m e e t i n g s , p r o f e s s i o n a l c o n t a c t s , r e p o r t s , p a p e r s , d i s c u s s i o n s , and publications t o p r o m o t e scientific i n t e r e s t s and inquiry, t h e r e b y f o s t e r i n g public w e l f a r e and education, aiding the development of o u r count r y ' s i n d u s t r i e s , and building to the m a t e r i a l p r o s p e r i t y and h a p p i n e s s of o u r people." Obviously, for the A.C.S. to diffuse o r diss e m i n a t e c h e m i c a l knowledge, the A.C.S. m u s t accept it f i r s t . T h e United States patent s y s t e m , which h a s s u r v i v e d a l l anti.-monopoly d r i v e s , h a s a s i t s p r i n c i p a l object the placing of c e r t a i n types of knowledge in the public d o m a i n , r a t h e r than leaving i t in the r e a l m of s e c r e c y . A substantial r e w a r d i s offered: a 1 7 - y e a r monopoly a s d e fined by the c l a i m s . The Government s e c u r e s the d i s c l o s u r e , p l a c e s the knowledge in the o r ganized l i t e r a t u r e , but the u s e r m u s t pay. The p r i n c i p a l A.C.S. activity c o n c e r n e d with the dissem:ination of c h e m i c a l knowledge is the f o r m a l publication p r o g r a m . It c e n t e r s a r o u n d the s e r i a l j o u r n a l s and C h e m i c a l Abs t r a c t s S e r v i c e . We offer no r e w a r d for d i s c l o s u r e o t h e r than the p r e s t i g e and public r e l a t i o n s
a d v a n t a g e s . All accepted m a t e r i a l i s s e t in type, p r e s s e s o p e r a t e d , and the j o u r n a l s m a i l e d . T h e r e a d e r and h i s e m p l o y e r pay, m e m b e r s and c o r p o r a t i o n s subsidize to a limited extent, and a d v e r t i s i n g r e v e n u e s u p p o r t s substantially in limited a r e a s . Under t h i s s y s t e m , a c c e p t a n c e will be influenced by s u b s c r i p t i o n i n c o m e . With t h e substantial growth in the l i t e r a t u r e , the c a p a c i t y of the r e a d e r n e a r l y constant, the i n c r e a s e in the number of i n f o r m a t i o n s p e c i a l i s t s , the rapid i n c r e a s e i n the u s e of copying m a c h i n e s , and for other r e a s o n s , s u b s c r i p t i o n s have been falling off, relatively speaking. The r e d u c t i o n in s u b s c r i p t i o n i n c o m e due t o copying is one of the things the copyright l a w s a r e d e signed to p r e v e n t . Yet, violation i s c o m m o n f o r rather practical reasons. Now c o m e s the page c h a r g e placed on the s p o n s o r of the r e s e a r c h r e p o r t e d . Whether we like i t or not, I ' m a f r a i d it i s coming, u n l e s s s o m e m a j o r change is m a d e i n the l i t e r a t u r e s y s t e m . T h i s , i n m y opinion, is a backward s t e p so f a r a s o u r A.C.S. objectives a r e c o n c e r n e d . It adds m o r e r e s i s t a n c e to the offering step: financial ( a l s o the page c h a r g e a d d s a new c o s t , a d m i n i s t r a t i v e c o s t s ) ; n u i s a n c e (budgeting, accounting, and paying); and psychological r e s i s t a n c e (Why should I pay to give ? ). Also, s o f a r as I c a n t e l l , the r e s e a r c h labo r a t o r i e s of o u r m a j o r i n d u s t r i a l companies a r e placing i n the f o r m a l l i t e r a t u r e only a p a r t of the m a t e r i a l potentially available and useful to o t h e r s They put in that which will r e f l e c t f a v o r a b l y on the o r g a n i z a t i o n and i t s people. They even have c o m m i t t e e s and e x p e r t s t o put e a c h one in the b e s t p o s s i b l e e d i t o r i a l shape, a l l of which c o s t s a c o n s i d e r a b l e s u m of money f o r e a c h p a p e r . Other m a t e r i a l they would be willing to give i s not offered. In view of what h a s been said s o f a r and o t h e r i m p r e s s i o n s that I have gotten listening to other m o r e closely involved people w r e s t l i n g with the financial and other p r o b l e m s of o u r publications p r o g r a m , I a m convinced that the t i m e i s long p a s t when the A.C.S. should e s t a b l i s h : ( 1 ) a s y s t e m for handling what I will c a l l f o r now the
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'Presented at the American Chemical Society's Division of Chemical Literature Luncheon, September 6, 1961, Chicago, Illinois. *Director-at- Large, A.C.S.
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M. H. ARVESON
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i n f o r m a l l i t e r a t u r e , and ( 2 ) a c o m p r e h e n s i v e copying s e r v i c e . This i n f o r m a l l i t e r a t u r e , p r e sumably useful information, would be provided i n m a n u s c r i p t f o r m p r e p a r e d to specifications such as those used f o r divisional p r e p r i n t s and g e n e r a l l y meeting the s t a n d a r d s of company r e p o r t s and m e m o r a n d a . Tentatively, the s y s t e m proposed would include : 1. Acceptance, docketing and p e r m a n e n t storing of t h i s i n f o r m a l l i t e r a t u r e , i n cluding a l l of the p a p e r s offered at A.C.S. meetings, in manuscript f o r m . 2 . P r e p a r a t i o n of l i s t s including document n u m b e r , t i t l e , a u t h o r , and a u t h o r ' s o r ganization and sponsor i f different. 3 . Sell copies of m a n u s c r i p t s and l i s t s of various t y p e s . 4. Sell copies of the f o r m a l l i t e r a t u r e and bibliographies (C.A. a l r e a d y g a t h e r s m o r e f o r m a l l i t e r a t u r e in c h e m i s t r y in C.A. one place than anywhere e l s e used to provide photocopy s e r v i c e of this f o r m a l l i t e r a t u r e on a limited b a s i s , but the Board put a stop t o i t f o r copyright r e a s o n s ) . 5. The p r i c e to t h e buyer would include royalties based on an a r t i c l e c h a r g e and a page c h a r g e to be paid: ( a ) to divisions for copying meeting p r e p r i n t s o r m a n u s c r i p t s ; ( b ) t o individual A.C.S. j o u r n a l s when copied; ( c ) to other publications when copied. 6 . Provide e x p r e s s s e r v i c e s f o r additional fees (facsimile wire transmission, i f necessary). 7 . The s y s t e m t o be based on the best p a r t s of m o d e r n o r d e r , c r e d i t , w a r e h o u s e , and accounting s y s t e m s . U s e should be n e a r l y a s s i m p l e a s making a telephone call. 8. The whole operation to be o p e r a t e d on: ( a ) b r e a k - e v e n financial b a s i s paid by the u s e r , and ( b ) financially s e p a r a t e f r o m other a b s t r a c t s , s e a r c h i n g and other s e r v i c e s , p r e s e n t o r f u t u r e . With this s y s t e m established f o r accepting i n f o r m a l l i t e r a t u r e , copying i t , a s w e l l as the f o r m a l l i t e r a t u r e , on o r d e r and paying r o y a l t i e s , i t c a n compete with the f o r m a l l i t e r a t u r e s y s t e m on a s t r a i g h t - f o r w a r d and equitable b a s i s . The A.C.S., then, will avoid getting into a situation w h e r e it could be c h a r g e d with r e s t r i c t i n g scientific advance by r e j e c t i n g c h e m i c a l knowledge offered and c a n m o r e effectively a s k f o r r o y a l t i e s on A.C.S. m a t e r i a l copied. It i s m y contention that we m u s t place o u r s e l v e s in t h i s s t r a t e g i c position, even i f i t should t u r n out that the i n f o r m a l s y s t e m i s used but little i n o r out. Until i t i s established, und e s i r a b l e c o m p r o m i s e s have and will be m a d e . You c a n s e e how i t pleased m e to h e a r l a s t week that t h e redesigned 1962 I . & E . C . will
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s e l l copies of m a n u s c r i p t s p r i o r to publication based on brief d i g e s t s appearing in I.&E.C. It should be apparent to you now why I have come to you today asking for help. While I once w a s responsible f o r the Information Division i n our company (it w a s a long t i m e ago), I have been a city office m a n f o r a good many y e a r s and I have l o s t touch with the work habits of individual r e s e a r c h people at the bench level. Am I c o r r e c t i n a s s u m i n g t h a t , on the a v e r a g e , the conversion of an o t h e r w i s e perfectly s a t i s f a c t o r y company r e p o r t to a p a p e r f o r publication i s much m o r e expensive than the publication and distribution of the p a p e r by t h e Society? And that, t h e r e f o r e , with t h i s inform a l l i t e r a t u r e s y s t e m operating, various things would happen i n varying d e g r e e s : 1 . M o r e m a t e r i a l and d a t a would be offered and placed i n the "informal" l i t e r a t u r e s y s t e m . E x a m p l e s , specific analytical methods, s p e c t r a , e t c . 2 . Some r e p o r t s , now converted to p a p e r s for publication, would be sent h e r e instead. 3 . Some p a p e r s would be highly condensed and the complete original company r e port deposited h e r e . The condensed paper would c a r r y the notice of t h e deposit and document number. 4. Documents and m a t e r i a l now l o s t o r p r a c t i c a l l y i n a c c e s s i b l e would be saved. E x a m p l e s , m a t h e m a t i c a l derivations and shop drawings. All of t h i s would have the net effect of ( a ) l e s s type being s e t o r (b) t h e r e would be m o r e , but b r i e f e r , p a p e r s f o r the s a m e amount of type s e t , all for the broad audience, and m o r e i n f o r mation available, f o r a f e e , to the few that need it. Am I c o r r e c t i n a s s u m i n g that once a r e s e a r c h m a n h a s located a r e f e r e n c e , o r a group of r e f e r e n c e s , he would r a t h e r have copies f o r h i s work file than to have to go to the l i b r a r y e a c h t i m e he wants to locate i t ? Under this new s y s t e m , his p r o c e d u r e would be to f i l l out a l i s t of r e f e r e n c e s wanted on a f o r m designed f o r the p u r p o s e , indicate whether r e g u l a r (air m a i l ) o r e x p r e s s ( w i r e ) s e r v i c e i s d e s i r e d . Subsequent billings would be of no m o r e c o n c e r n to him than a r e long distance telephone bills now. If the s y s t e m designed i s comprehensive and f a s t , he c a n o r d e r his r e q u i r e m e n t s f r o m one p l a c e , whether it be f o r m a l o r i n f o r m a l l i t e r a t u r e , f o r e i g n o r d o m e s t i c . L i b r a r i e s could r e d u c e t h e i r binding, space and shelf r e q u i r e m e n t s , even though they m a y take everything they take now f o r c u r r e n t a w a r e n e s s and company indexing systems. Meeting attendees who couldn't move f r o m one hotel to the other f a s t enough, and those who didn't get t o go, could o r d e r copies of those
ECONlOMIC ASPECTS I N DISSEMINATION O F CHEMICAL KNOWLEDGE
p a p e r s h e wants t o check promptly d i r e c t l y f r o m the p r o g r a m listing i n C.&E.N. and r e ceive them shortly after the meeting i n a f o r m f o r i n s e r t i o n i n h i s work f i l e s , all f o r a f e e that c o n t r i b u t e s to defraying divisional and national meeting expense. With t h i s s y s t e m e s t a b l i s h e d , t h e A.C.S. could p r o p e r l y expect all of t h o s e organizations and individuals who d e s i r e to give full support to the A.C.S. effort to a c q u i r e t h e i r A.C.S. copyrighted m a t e r i a l e i t h e r d i r e c t l y f r o m the A.C.S. a s t h e publication o r f r o m t h i s new s e r v i c e , or to pay a r o y a l t y ort all copying done. Except f o r t h e a u t h o r ' s p e r s o n a l r e p r i n t r e q u i r e m e n t s , the w i d e s p r e a d , t i m e c onsuming r e p r i n t r e q u e s t s y s t e m , which h a s an a d v e r s e effect on s u b s c r i p t i o n r e v e n u e , would be p a r t of t h i s s y s t e m and be m a d e to m a k e i t s contribution a s a s o u r c e of r e v e n u e . It is i m p o r t a n t that he who u s e s pay. In t r y i n g t o d e s i g n an i m p r o v e m e n t i n A.C.S. o p e r a t i o n s f o r t h e a c c e p t a n c e and d i s s e m i n a t i o n of c h e m i c a l knowledge, the o v e r a l l economic
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a s p e c t s need t o be c o n s i d e r e d . Included i n t h i s should be t h e m a t t e r of putting full weight on t h e c o s t of the r e s e a r c h m a n ' s t i m e , both a s a n author and a s a u s e r of t h e l i t e r a t u r e . F o r exa m p l e , i t c o s t s t h e company about $5.00 f o r a s e n i o r r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t to go and r e t u r n f r o m a l i b r a r y 15 m i n u t e s away to check a r e f e r e n c e . P r e s u m a b l y among you, t h e r e a r e t h o s e who have looked at the d o l l a r s and c e n t s s i d e of t h i s p r o b l e m , or p a r t s of i t , a s a m e a n s of d e ciding w h a t ' s the b e s t way to do things i n your shop. P l e a s e contact m e or o t h e r s who a r e on t h e Board o r Council Publications C o m m i t t e e s and the staff people concerned about t h e p r o b l e m s a s a whole o r any p a r t t h e r e o f . May we have your suggestions, information, and opinions concerning m e c h a n i c s , ground r u l e s , c o s t s , r e d tape cutting a t the b u y e r ' s end, probable extent of u s e , both i n and out, effect, i f any, on the f o r m a l l i t e r a t u r e , t i e - i n with future mechanized s e a r c h and r e t r i e v a l p r o c e d u r e s , and t i e - i n with the e m p l o y e r ' s m e c h a n i c s .
BOOK REVIEW Searching t h e Chernical L i t e r a t u r e , Advances i n C h e m i s t r y S e r i e s No. 30, A m e r i c a n C h e m i c a l Society, Washington, D. C., 1961. 3 2 6 t vi pp. $6.50. T h e s e v e r a l volumes on c h e m i c a l document a t i o n i n t h e Advances i n C h e m i s t r y S e r i e s have proved to be b e s t s e l l e r s . T h e f i r s t edition of "Searching t h e C h e m i c a l L i t e r a t u r e , ' ' which a p p e a r e d a s No. 4 of t h i s s e r i e s , w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y i n g r e a t demand and went through four r e p r i n t i n g s . It w a s based on a symposium held by t h e Division of C h e m i c a l L i t e r a t u r e a t t h e D e t r o i t ACS National Meeting, A p r i l 16-20, 1950, and at t h e Atlantic City, ACS National Meeting, A p r i l 14-18, 1947. In o r d e r to bring t h e volume up to d a t e and t o i m p r o v e t h e balance of subject m a t t e r , t h e Division of C h e m i c a l L i t e r a t u r e p r o g r a m m e d a symposium under t h i s t i t l e , with M r . T . E . R. Singer a s symposium c h a i r m a n , a t t h e Atlantic City ACS National Meeting, Septemb e r 16-21, 1956. 13ecause of t h e l a p s e i n t i m e , M r . R o b e r t F. Could, Editor of t h e Advances
s e r i e s , had e a c h of t h e a u t h o r s r e v i s e the p a p e r s to a current basis. P a p e r s i n t h i s volume a r e grouped into t h e following g e n e r a l c a t e g o r i e s : u s e of indexes and a b s t r a c t s ; n o m e n c l a t u r e and language probl e m s ; l i t e r a t u r e s o u r c e s ; s e a r c h i n g techniques; and f a c i l i t i e s of four l i b r a r i e s . "Searching t h e C h e m i c a l L i t e r a t u r e " i s a valuable contribution to t h e l i t e r a t u r e of c h e m i c a l documentation. Although s e v e r a l of t h e p a p e r s a r e " t a l e s oft told," t h e m a j o r i t y r e v e a l s an e x p e r t n e s s and approach of c o n s i d e r a b l e knowledge and e x p e r i e n c e . Most of t h e p a p e r s a r e w e l l w r i t t e n . As a unit i n one volume, t h e p a p e r s constitute a n excellent r e s e r v o i r of t h e a r t and s c i e n c e of l i t e r a t u r e s e a r c h i n g . T h e neophyte i n c h e m i c a l documentation will profit m o s t f r o m t h e reading of this book. T h o s e experienced i n c h e m i c a l documentation will a l s o find t h i s book worth reading f o r t h e m a n y new i d e a s s e v e r a l of t h e a u t h o r s have i n t r o duced.
