Scholastic Training for a Career in Chemical Literature Research' MARY ALEXANDER, NANCY CORBIN, and GUSTAV EGLOFF Universal Oil Products Company, Chicago, Illinois
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publications are than a historic record of progress. They are an integral part of chemical research. The literature serves the chemist as a source of inspiration and factual knowledge, and as a means of avoiding the rediscovery of alreadyknown facts. Scientific periodical literature began with the ~ublication of the Philosobhical Transactions of the Roval Societv in 1665. Patent literature first appeared .. in 1617 when British Patent No. 1 on "Improvements in and Printing was issued A' Rathburne and R. Budges. These dates signify the period which marks the transition from alchemy to chemistry as a science. since that time, the field of chemistry has grown from a few small laboratories to an enormous industry. To keep pace with experimental work, the volume of literature has increased from one journal in 1665 to about 3800 abstracted by Chemical Abstracts in normal times. This enormous growth in the volume of publications is indicative of their importance to the development of science and industry. The greater the volume of publications, the more difficult it becomes to find all of the information on a specific subject. For this reason, i t is increasingly necessary that all chemists be acquainted with the literature and that some be especially trained for library research. The laboratory researcher cannot review the literature completely and a t the same time get much done in the laboratory. He should have the assistance of a competent person who will select the more important articles from the many appearing in his field. Although mature judgment and facility in handling the literature are largely the results of experience, scholastic preparation can provide the proper background. A review of 100 college catalogs shows that over 25 now offer a course in the use of chemical literature. A growing recognition of the importance of chemical literature is apparent because many of these colleges have only recently been presenting this course. The subject, however, is of sufficient scope and importance to warrant additional study. The announcement of four courses of training in chemical literature to be given a t Wayne University promises an important advance in this direction. A brief description of this series follow~:~ ~~~~
1 Presented before the Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society, 108th meeting, New York City, September 12, 1944. GORDON, NEILE.. Private communication, Wayne Universitv. April 26. 1944.
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1. Each of the four courses will carrv three credit hours 2. These coursesare offered to seniors or graduate students. 3. The first course covers the ordinary chemical literature course given in most colleges and universities. The second course covers a study of patent literature. The third and fourth courses will cover actual experience in abstract and monograph work. 4. The graduate student will have the same training in mathematics. ohvsics.. and chemistrv as the Ph.D. stud e n t and will the work m&ti&ed above in addi~ - have tion to that. The thesis is based upon a laboratory problem. 5. The language requirement will he a reading knowledge of . French and German. The student all four coursesin chemicalliterature will also be required to have a reading knowledge of Russian for the Ph.D. degree. 6 . The complete course will be given to a limited number of students, but the first half will be required of all students taking a Ph.D. in chemistry at Wayne University, that is, the first two courses.
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OPPORTUNITIES
Before considering the specific training desirable for chemical literature research, the chemist is Interested in knowing what opportunities are open in this field. These vary with extent of training and experience and with personal inclination. This type of work involves much more than routine library duties; it includes actual research in the literature. The compensation varies with the nature of the work and the qualifications of the chemist. In some instances the salaries have been lower than those of similarly educated chemists doing laboratory research. These inequalities are usually brought about by chemists who function only as clerks or those who have failed, at least, to impress their employers with the idea that they are any more than clerks. When the literature research is of such quality that i t gains recognition as an indispensable part of the research program, the salaries are adequate and the opportunity for higher pay is good. Attractive positions are available in the libraries of industrial concerns and research foundations. The duties involved usually include the cataloging of material, preparation of bibliographies and finding specific data for the chemists in the laboratory, making patent searches, abstracting current literature, editing, and writing publications. Many smaU concerns offer positions in which the individual does both literature searching and secretarial work, since the volume of research is too small to occupy all of a person's time. The demand for chemists as pHlent searchers, abstractors, and specification writers in industry is growing. The editing of
technical bulletins of industrial concerns known as house organs, trade journals containing scientific information, and purely scientific journals is another field open to chemists. Furthermore, many popular periodicals and newspapers have science editors on their staffs. The compilation of chemical knowledge into selective treatises or tables presents diversified opportunities. Authors and editors frequently employ assistants to check references, prepare bibliographic lists, and compile the collected material. Translators with chemical knowledge are needed by chemists who lack either the knowledge of languages or the time to make their own translations. The nature of positions open to chemists in literature searching is as varied as in laboratory research, if not more so. Every student should thoroughly investigate all the practical opportunities which his education opens to him. The importance to his happiness and material success of doing a type of work compatible with his tastes and temperament cannot be overestimated. The proposed training which follyws is suggested in line with the opportunities in this field. The broad program is not submitted with the intention that any one student could or should cover the whole but with the view that a wide selection of courses will enable each student to prepare for a specific type of work. PREREQUISITE AND COREQUISITE SUBJECTS FOR STUDY
Training for doing chemical literature research includes study in many fields. An effective search of the literature demands a fundamental knowledge of the subject matter. The first requisite for conducting chemical literature research is, therefore, a sound background in chemistry. Unless the library searcher has chemical training almost equivalent to that of the laboratory research worker the latter will have little confidence in abstracts and searches made by the former. The courses of study prescribed by colleges offering a chemistry major usually include general and inorganic chemistry, qualitative and quantitative analysis, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry. Advanced courses in one or more of these fields are also desirable. The laboratory should not be slighted by those expecting to specialize in literature research, for abstract knowledge not supplemented by experience in practical application has a tendency to distort one's concept of the actual problems. Several research men were asked for suggestions on improvements of literature service. They stated that much better coordination could be had if the library personnel made frequent visits to the laboratory and actually saw the experimental work going on. As a result, the library worker could more readily acquire research-minded perspective. The laboratory worker goes to the library to supplement his ideas for research. One would think, then, that the library worker, spending his full time with the chemical literature, would be an unendmg source of research ideas, and would keep a steady stream of suggestions flowing to the laboratory and the patent department. Yet this is too frequently not the case. Practical lab-
oratory experience, particularly along research lines, and application of a research point of view to his reading will enable the library worker to give more profitable assistance to the laboratory. In addition to theoretical and experimental knowledge of pure chemistry, the student should become acquainted with industrial technology. This aspect of chemistry and the associated terminology could be given to the student through assigned reading on technological subjects and field trips to industrial plants followed by examinations covering the reading and trips. Industrial technology is frequently omitted. particularly in the case of women. A chemical librarian of many years' experience relates the history of one young lady who regarded the work in a petroleum research library only as something involving "pencil and paper, the printed page, the faithful searching of Chemical Abstracts" before she took an enlightening trip through an oil refinery. The marked improvement of her work thereafter convinced her supervisor that women chemists should encounter more of the "grease and grime" of chemical industry. A reading knowledge of some foreign languages is essential to all chemists. In order to cover most of the older literature, both French and German are necessary. The study of Russian is becoming equally important because an increasing volume of scientific work is being published in that language only. Italian, Dutch, Spanish, and others may be helpful, but most chemical literature appears in English, German, Russian, and French. The chemistry student, if possible, should take foreign language courses comprised of reading in scientific subjects and, if such courses are not offered, he should supplement the given courses with scientific .. reading. Related scientific study must include physics and mathematics because the interpretation of chemistry is highly dependent on their laws. A basic course in physics may be sufficient. Mathematical study should be continued a t least through calculus. The extent to which sciences such as bacteriology, zoology, and geology should be studied is largely a matter of personal preference. The type of company one may be working for cannot be predicted early enough to permit a wise choice on that basis. The details of these subjects relevant to chemical research are usually learned when one encounters them in specific problems. Schooling in a t least one of these sciences is recommended, however, for the purpose of acquiring broader perspective in scientific methods. A basic course, a t least, in engineering is very valuable to patent department personnel. Some knowledge of machine elements is almost essential in this field. To pass the United States Patent Office examination so that one can qualify as a patent agent this knowledge is essential. There is an increasing demand for personnel who have had thorough training in mechanical and electrical engineering and electronics. A course in logic is useful to the chemist, for science can progress only through logical thinking. Logic is
necessary in planning experimental work and evaluating the results as well as in gathering and correlating information found in the literature. Logical thinking is the basis for acquiring a sense of discrimination. I t is indispensable to good abstracting and indexing. For example, material is frequently classified under the wrong heading because of failure to differentiate between the main subject and incidental information in a publication. Typing and shorthand are valuable tools, particularly for the literature searcher. In libraries, the records should be typed, and many positions include some secretarial duties along with literature searching. A chemist with secretarial abilities usually has a greater choice of jobs than one with scientific background only. Journalism courses are helpful to students desiring a career in science news reporting or technical writing. For work of this kind, inclusion of journalism is probably more necessary than some of the detailed training in the use of cbemical literature. BASIC COURSE WORK IN CHEMICAL LITERATURE
A general basic course of a t least three semester hours in the use of chemical literature should be on the required list for all chemistry majors. This training should be prerequisite to graduate study, because the student must conduct a literature survey before beginning his laboratory research. Even though the chemistry student is later employed by a concern providing library assistance, he must be well enough acquainted with the literature to direct searches on his problems efficiently. An appropriate introduction to the use of chemical literature may be effected by acquainting the student with some of the excellent manuals written on this subject. Crane and Patterson's "The Literature of Chemistry," Mellon's "Chemical Publications, Their Nature and Use," and Soule's "Library Guide for the Chemist" all contain general instructions for literature searching. In addition to general information, many peculiarities of the literature are discussed. These books contain lists of journals devoted to specific purposes. For good comprehension of the manuals, simultaneous class instruction and actual use of the library are necessary. Mellon has outlined a series of literature problems helpful in course instruction. In a basic course, much emphasis should be placed upon the keeping of neat and accurate records. A reference recorded wrongly causes time to be lost later in correcting it, and sloppy work will always lead to errors. All types of scientific publications should be surveyed in the general course. Exercises in the use of some of the more important secondary sources such as the abstract journals, Beilstein, and the Critical Tables should be assigned as well as problems which necessitate the use of journals printing original research. The assignments should cover the well-known chemical journals thoroughly enough to inform the student about the nature and quality of articles published.
The patent literature should not be overlooked, for many chemists will be concerned with i t to some extent. Although time would not permit detailed discussions, generalities could be presented in a few lectures on the use of patent indexes, the manner in which patents are written, and patent law. Another general course including technical English and its use in the presentation of laboratory findings should be offered. Exercises in writing both complete articles and abstracts should be included. As much emphasis should be placed upon logic and balance as upon good English usage. Without these, an article usually gives the impression that the author is not well acquainted with his subject, or even worse, leaves erroneous impressions of fact in the mind of the reader. Important research is too frequently buried in theliterature because it was poorly presented. ADVANCED COURSES AND RESEARCH IN THE CHEMICAL LITERATURE
More detailed work included in one long or several shorter courses is desirable for those who intend to make a career of literature research. Effective searching includes much more than methodical coverage of the literature, and a supplementary course provides the student with an opportunity to learn the "tricks of the trade." For example, Soule lists asthe final approach in making a library search !'general browsing,'' and comments, "Frequently as the end of a search is approached, a casual inspection of a book initially ignored may disclose some very valuable data."3 Before studying the literature itself, the searcher should be familiarized with library organization inasmuch as some companies require the chemist to organize a research library. Knowledge of existing library classifications such as the Dewey Decimal Classification and Library of Congress Classification will be helpful in organizing a library, in cataloging new material, and in using public libraries. The. searcber should be well informed on library privileges and the benefits of interlibrary loans, photostating, and microfilming so that he can make the most efficient use of these. The literature is usually first approached through secondary sources. It seems fitting, therefore, to begin with the consideration of various types of problems encountered in connection with the use of secondary sources. An intimate knowledge of the major abstract journals and comprehensive works is necessary for almost all kinds of searches. Particular weight should be given to a study of their indexes. Beilstein and the International Critical Tables are systematized along such intricate lines that special study is necessary for their effective use. A knowledge of the limitations of these sources will aid the chemist in knowing how far to go for completeness and when to apply the law of diminishing returns. Handbooks, monographs, and review articles should also be studied as secondary sources. - These publications are rather specific in SO~LE, "Library Guide for the Chemist," McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc.,New York, 1938, p. 121.
nature but are particularly valuable in making short surveys. Periodicals which publish original articles vary in scope. A detailed study of these is essential. The publications include journals of general chemistry, both pure and applied, journals of the major chemical fields, and of various industrial classifications. In addition to a knowledge of the subject matter and quality of these journals, the student should learn such peculiarities as changes in volume and series numbering and change of title. For example, the Journal fur p a k tische Chemie has a second series of volume numbers but the first series volume numbers are also continued and a reference may give either series. This journal has complicated matters further by starting a third series of 1943 and changing its name to the Journalfur makrmolekulare Chemie. Articles published in Monatshefte fur Chemie also appear in Sitzunzsberichte der Akademie der Wissenchaften i n Wien. If one of these journals is not available the other may be, and by use of the author index, the desired article is readily located. Some time should be spent in acquainting the literature searcher with government publications, graduate theses, and house organs, all of which include information not found elsewhere. The government publications are often difficult to locate, because so many departments publish material of interest to the chemist and because they are seldom abstracted by the wellknown abstract journals. Theses usually are published in complete form only by the universities where they are written, and the policies in regard to publication vary widely. Frequently valuable details appear only in the original thesis which has never been published in full. House organs published by chemical companies are interesting and informative to the chemist as a means of keeping up with current industrial developments. These publications are of particular interest to the chemist whose future position may involve the publication of house organs. The patent literature is a subject apart from other chemical literature and should be treated separately. The methods used in locating patents differ from those used in other searches, and an exhaustive patent search requires the services of an expert in the field. In this course, the student should be familiarized with indexes, classifications,and subclassifications used by the patent office. A study of the special form in which patents are written should be included to show the chemist what to look for and where to find it. For the benefit of future specification writers, the "Rules of Practice" of the Patent Office must be given some study. Although an LL.B. degree is necessary for one to become a patent lawyer, an introduction to patent law in this course is worth while so that the chemist will understand to some extent the many technicalities involved in securing a patent. Chemists should be particularly concerned with these documents, as their welfare is in many cases dependent on them. Cooperation with the laboratory research chemists requires good understanding of what is patentable, how it is patented, and an appreciation
of other aspects of patent law by the literature searcher. The st.udent specializing in literature research needs training in the preparation of abstracts. Articles should be assigned from a wide selection of fields and the abstracts prepared in forms varying from general and descriptive to specific and detailed. If an industrial concern employs literature searchers with good abstracting ability, the burden of reading which the laboratory personnel would otherwise have is lessened considerably. Good abstracting is highly important in keeping the whole of chemical literature in good order, as subject indexes to secondary sources are made from abstracts. The inadequacy of existing indexes is partially the result.of poor abstracting. Many subject indexes are in reality not these a t all but word indexes, for the indexer has had so little information in addition to the title that he could not index the abstract under the proper subject headings. A program incorporating practical experience in industrial libraries with scholastic instruction is highly desirable. Many schools arrange for chemistry students to be employed in industrial laboratories during the summer vacation period, and others divide the academic year so that part is spent in school and part in industrial laboratories. The same type of curriculum would prove advantageous to the future literature searcher. By spending part of his time in industrial libraries, he could acquire experience in widely different industries during a few years of schooling. Although the pursuit of a laboratory research problem is important for the chemist who will enter the literature field, research on problems of the literature would contribute much to the chemical profession. A program permitting the student to undertake both a laboratory and a literature research problem is possible in schools which allow seniors to do special work leading to a bachelor's degree with honors. The student may then attack a laboratory problem while an undergraduate, and be free to undertake research on literature problems as a graduate student. An alternative suggestion for the student who intends to take a Ph.D. is the pursuit of problems in both of these fields, and use of the shorter of the two for the Master's thesis. Many problems related to literature research are of sufficient importance to interest the graduate student, and a thesis could be written on a subject of this type. This suggestion is a departure from the conventional chemical research problem in universities. In the last few years, however, deviations have been made a t some schools which make it possible to receive a Master's degree without a laboratory research problem. The University of Chicago, for example, awards both "Departmental" and "Divisional" Master's degrees. The "Departmental" degree is awarded for the usual advanced study and completion of a laboratory problem and thesis. The "Divisional" degree in physical sciences is awarded for advanced study in two or three departments of the Division of Physical Science plus an essay on a subject approved by the department of specialization. A problem on chemical literature
searching might be selected as the suhject for such an essay by the student interested in this field. A topic of sufficientscope for graduate study is suhject index classifications. When the amount of information buried because of poor indexing is considered, this problem becomes one of paramount significance. One might think it a problem for the library science department, but good indexing is so dependent upon knowledge of subject matter that chemical indexing is a problem of the chemist. Crane and Patterson cite the following example of what can result from indexing according to the title alone. An article entitled "The effect on pigeons of eating polished rice" would be classified in a word index under "Rice" and "Pigeons" while the subject actually studied would be "Vitam i n ~ . " Journals ~ indexing the same type of suhject matter for a number of years build up a system of cross references which work very well, hut even these journals resort a t times to word indexing. In an abstract journal which usually adheres closely to subject indexing, the following discrepancy was found in a search for references to methane as motor fuel: "Methane conversion to motor fuel5 in motor fuel manuf. from sewage, sepn, transportation and use as motor fuel and its use as motor fuel."
Each of these notations referred to a ditferent puhlication and the search, therefore, necessitated an examination of each subheading under methane which took 'CRANE AND PATTERSON. "The Literature of Chemistry." John Wiley and Sons. Inc., New York. 1928, p. 175.
much more time than if all had been under " M e t h a n e as motor fuel," with separate headings for subjects such as ". . . from sewage" - and ". . . in manuf. of motor fuel." Another suggested problem is a thorough systematization of nomenclature. No system has been set up that permits one to name a large number of compounds without difficulty. For example, in naming the alkyl benzene hydrocarbons, long names involving double prime numbering, parentheses, and brackets result from consistent use of any one system. Considerable work has been done in standardizing nomenclature hut there is much room for improvement. If the granting of an advanced degree for a literature searching problem seems too radical a departure from present college practice, another suggestion is made. In most research problems leading to a Master's degree or a Ph.D., the main emphasis is placed on the laboratory work, with only just enough reading to give some background in the suhject. For a student interested in the literature searching field, the emphasis might well he reversed; thus, a problem could be chosen which would require a complete literature survey and relatively little lahoratory research. This program would give the student valuable training in covering all types of chemical literature, as well as the practical laboratory experience so necessary for well-balanced training. As the volume of research and chemical industry increases, revisions in our educational system become necessary. The suggestions made here are in the interests of providing the student with an adequate hackground and coping with problems encountered in chemical research and industrial development.
