OPPORTUNITIESfor WOMEN as RESEARCH BIBLIOGRAPHERS1 Mellon Institute of Industrial Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Many persons do not appreciate the difference between a bibliographer and a librarian. There is as much difference in their functions as in those of a secretary and a filing clerk. Librarians perform the valuable service of maintaining a library in a position where its books are readily available to the reader, and they frequently assist the-reader to find. .the'material for which he is searching. This has naturally led to the preparation by a few inspired librarians of lists of references bearing on specific subjects, which are defined as bibliographies. In special libraries, this experience can be developed to a point where the librarian who has a technical background becomes familiaf with the subject C matter of the bibliography and can prepare a critical bibliomaohv. At about this ~ o i n he t has entered the border zone between a librarian and a bibliographer. EFORE outlining the opportunities which exist Beyond this point the opportunities for productive for women as research bibliographers, i t will be effort are enormous, and i t is in this field that the rewell to define the meaning which attaches to this search bibliographer works. title. The dictionary definition of bibliographer, as one Let us digress for a moment to discuss the work of the who is versed in the history of books or the preparation industrial laboratory researcher. At the start of a new of lists of books relating to a given subject, is inadequate assignment he busies himself with becoming familiar to describe the functions of such a person in the sense with the literature pertinent to his problem, using i t as discussed here. A research bibliographer may be de- a springboard with which to throw himself toward his fined as one who criticdly extracts from the literature goal. Because of his training in laboratory technic, information which is of value in the pursuit of research. he generally turns to the laboratory as quickly as posSuch a person must be a student of the literature, whose sible, giving only sufficient attention to the literature special technical knowledge and experience facilitates to assure himself that the work has not been previously the application of the literature to creative endeavor. carried out by some one else. If the answer is not already in the literature, laboratory work is carried on to 1 Contribution t o the Symposium on Training and Oppartunities for Women in Chemistry, conducted by the Division of get the desired results. Meanwhile, he keeps in conChemical Rrluration at the ninetv-eiehth meetine of the A. C. S.. stant touch with current literature to take advantage of any assistance it may render him. At the completion ' ~ e i i o rlndust&l Fellow, ello on Institute.
There i s a definite need for research bibliographers .in industry. A growing appreciation of bibliographic work as a n adjunct of industrial research i s d e n t . Work along this line i s interesting, Particularly because its future holds Possibilities for creative thinking and growth of the individual in analyzing and applying to industry the research results available in the literature. The accomplishments in work of this nature increase as the experience of the individual grows. The opportunities for women as research bibliographers are present for those who seriously wish to pursue a n industrial career. Temperamentally, women are well equipped to yndertake such work and should be superior to men i n carrying it out.
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of the laboratory stage, he may carry the results into commercial development or pass them on to a development organization. With this background we shall proceed to describe the functions of a research bibliographer in an industrial research organization. The research bibliographer must be familiar with laboratory technic, but his major interest should lie in extracting from the literature ideas and information which are available for the taking. His efforts should supplement and, to an extent, replace those of the laboratory researcher. Industrial research demands a flexibility of action to accommodate itself to the development of new materials and articles as existing ones become obsolete. A broad knowledge of the literature of chemistry, physics, and other exact sciences enables a versatile research organization to enter new fields quickly before their latent opportunities are generally appreciated. While each research worker may be expected to keep up-todate on the literature in his special field, the amount of time he will devote to reading is small. An appreciable amount of his reading time is spent in going through abstract journals in sections outside of his special field, unless this material has been sorted out for him. An important function of the research bibliographer is to provide the mechanism for obtaining a broad coverage of the literature a t the same time that publications in special fields are called to the attention of individual research workers. Items of general interest to group supervisors, research directors and management are discovered simultaneously and passed on to the proper parties. This intelligence service is of especial value in bringing new ideas and developments to the attention of those persons most directly concerned in the shortest possible time. This is more readily accomplished if a definite responsibility is placed on one person than if it is everybody's business, hence no one's responsibility. The research bibliographer must be completely familiar with the research interests of those with whom he cooperates and must have a general background of company operations find products. These he acquires by attending research conferences, by individual contacts in the laboratory and plant, and by reading research reports as they issue. Reading must be directed to cover the interests of the research organization without going into too much detail. Detailed reading of pertinent information should be done by the . research worker. The research bibliographer separates the chaff from the wheat and passes the grain on to the research worker for study. This is particularly valuable in covering the patent and abstract literature as well as general literature. With a large research organization, eliminating the duplication of ineffective browsing by various men gives all an opportunity to read and study publications of value which have been called to their attention. Being informed on the technical literature pertaining to an industry is one of the prime functions of a research bibliographer. But being informed on a subject is of meager value compared to being able to utilize this in-
formation. Many of us are familiar with theoutstanding commercial success of certain organizations, which have made useful to the world ideas which were previously confined to the literature. This reduction to practice is essential to the fruition of invention. While work of this nature has been frequently deprecated by the research worker or inventor, partly because of envy, I can think of nothing more commendable than creative endeavor, whether i t be in the conception of an idea, its investigation, or its utilization. The opportunity of the research bibliographer in applying the research of others to practical use, instead of allowing i t to continue a mere philosophical addition to the literature, is practically unlimited. Many applications of basic information are overlooked by the research worker who lacks industrial perspective. These applications are obvious to one who is well informed in a special field and of a practical turn of mind. Frequently ideas developed in one field may be adapted to development in entirely unrelated fields. The accomplishments in work of this nature increase as the experience of the individual grows, so that it may be expected that the research bibliographer will be an increasingly fruitful source of new ideas, patent applications, new processes, and new products. It frequently occurs that a survey of existing knowledge along some particular line is required to guide or formulate a research program, before it becomes evident that laboratory work should be carried out. The technic and experience of the research bibliographer become of valuable assistance in such an undertaking. His broad viewpoint permits a close approach to the subject, without being distracted by its details. His accumulatui knowledge of sources of reference facilitates a rapid and accurate approach to the desired information. Other surveys, somewhat outside the strictly technical field,but required in making decisionsof policy, may also be handled to advantage by the research bib,. liographer. Assistance to the research worker in reviewing the foreign literature is another important function of the research bibliographer. The average research man gropes his way through foreign language articles with considerable difficulty, frequently to find that they are interesting but irrelevant. A cursory reading by an accomplished linguist, skilled in technical matters, permits a ready selection of pertinent material. Furthermore, a good abstract, supplemented by tables of data and results, is generally of more value to the research worker and easier to prepare than a complete translation. A review of the important functions of a research bibliographer will emphasize the need of industry for such a specialist. These functions include
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(1) A broad, critical coverage of the technical
literature to assist: (a) The laboratory research worker ( b ) The research director (c) The patent attorney (d) Management
(2) Contribution of ideas and information to active research projects (3) Providing speedy contact with newly published ideas and developments (4) More extensive utilization of published results of research (5) Development of new ideas from the available literature (6) Preparation of critical surveys . (7) Critical reading of foreign publications Appreciation by industry of its need for the research bibliographer is developing gradually. The economy of avoiding duplication is immediately apparent to management, but the simultaneous increase in the amount of useful literature studied by the research worker is probably of even greater value, although more difficult to deiine. The opportunities for creative reading are great, as may be seen by reviewing the histoty of certain successful enterprises founded on this type of work. To sell industry on its need for research bibliographers, the research bibliographer himself must have a creative, productive attitude as well as the initiative and technical qualifications for this work. The training and experience required by the research bibliographer are extensive and exacting. While I do not wish to set up specifications for such employment, i t is desirable to point out some of the basic qualifications. Extended study in chemistry, physics, including laboratory research of the caliber of a doctor's thesis,
supplemented by an easy reading knowledge of a t least French and German are absolutely essential. Subsequent and varied experience in teaching advanced chemistry or physics to develop a more mature viewpoint is also desirable. An active interest in reading, an analytical mind, a critical attitude, and a love for creative thinking complete the special qualifications for starting on such a venture. Desirable personality traits include fairness, sincerity, open-mindedness, energy, perseverance, a sensitivity to human traits and reactions, and the ability to make decisions and to realize and exercise responsibility without undue strain. As pointed out above, the value of the research bibliographer increases with his experience and familiarity with the industry and company in which he is engaged. A small turnover is essential, therefore, and only those who are definitely interested in an industrial career should be encouraged to enter upon this work. Men who develop experience in such a position are generally transferred to supervisory work in production or research before they reach their greatest value as research bibliographers. Since comparable positions in production and research are not generally available to women, their careers as research bibliographers will not be interrupted in this way. Hence, women are to be preferred to men for such work. Furthermore, women are temperamentally well equipped to undertake such work and should be superior to men in carrying it out.
