Proceedings of the International Conference on Scientific Information Two Volumes (1959) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
International Cooperation in Physics Abstracting
International Cooperation in Physics Abstracting
Pages 481-490
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 481... ...
At the Unesco Conference on Scientific Abstracting in Paris in 1949, a plan for a single universal international abstracting service had been rejected as impracticable at the present time. A more modest proposal, for the formation of a single international physics abstracting journal by the amalgamation of the only two journals dealing with this subject then existing was referred to a committee of the International Union of Physics.
|
From page 482... ...
As wit appear below, the degree of international cooperation which has developed is not sensational. In assessing its significance, it must be borne in mind that the Board had practically no financial backing, which set a strict limit on its executive activities; and that the abstracting organizations retained undiminished, throughout the period under consideration, all the major preoccupations associated with the publication of an abstracting journal.
|
From page 483... ...
These enquiries have continued from time to time, and it has been most valuable to be able to obtain a "professional" opinion on the status and contents of a periodical from someone engaged on the same business as oneself, who by proximity has better opportunities for becoming familiar with it and possibly establishing personal contacts with the editor. The standards of selection and the range of subjects covered are not necessarily identical in all respects for the member journals, so that in many cases it has in the end been necessary to form one's own judgement by inspection of sample copies; but there have been numerous occasions when we have had excellent advice from our colleagues which has saved us a great deal of trouble.
|
From page 484... ...
In the case of one publishing organization, which appeared to be withholding its permission unreasonably, the Board and the member journals considered the possibility of conducting, with due publicity, a boycott on the abstracting of the periodicals concerned; whether this would have been effective cannot be said, for the controversy was founded on a misun(lerstancling, and it was eventually happily resolved. In the provision of proof copies of physics periodicals, therefore, the Board and the other memberjournals have been of definite benefit to Physics Abstracts.
|
From page 485... ...
It is believed that they were useful to the Bulletin Analytique, which publishes short indicative abstracts, but they were unacceptable to the Physikalische Berichte. We are now receiving direct from Moscow proof copies of ten Russian physics periodicals, in return for which we send proofs of British periodicals.
|
From page 486... ...
It was evident that no one of the existing systems of classification is outstandingly better than the others, and insofar as the readers ofthe abstracting journals on the whole consult only one publication, it would not seem to concern them whether the classification system ofthe others is different. Nevertheless, it was thought to be worth attempting to reach agreement on a common order of subject "chapters" for the arrangement of the abstracts in the indi~ 1 1 ~ r 1 · ~ vlaua1 Issues or one Journals, as a first step towards a possible agreement on more detailed subdivisions.
|
From page 487... ...
The noticeable feature of this survey is the absence of any move by the abstracting organizations themselves to share the actual work of abstracting. It will be recalled that the Board at its inception forswore any intentions of imposing such co-operation on the member journals; and I think their failure to take the initiative, though perhaps due partly to the natural conservatism of well-established organizations, is also a significant comment on the potential value of intimate multilateral working on an international scale, given the situation of three or more independent organizations producing journals in different languages.
|
From page 488... ...
Abstracting Board have been in fields connected with the investigation and acquisition of material for abstracting; if circumstances remain similar to the present, and there is no closer integration of the organizations producing the abstracting journals, ~ expect this to continue to be the case. It is not my concern here to consider what far-reaching changes in our traditional methods may be forced on us by the rapid development of science, or what greater measure of responsibility the Board may be called on to take up, but ~ would like to see it extend very substantially the activities it has already developed, and In so doing work out an articulate corporate policy towards scientific publication which wit have a certain degree of regulating effect.
|
From page 489... ...
Abstracting Board, I should not omit to mention that the periodic meetings ofthe Board have afforded most profitable opportunities for discussion of matters of common concern with my colleagues of the member journals, which would otherwise not have occurred.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.