DOCUMENTATION SURVEY

Abstract

This issue attempts to provide a general background for exploring the increasingly complex world of abstracting and indexing services. It is also an indication of the involvement of libraries in the total development of abstracting and indexing services. The first paper by Adams and Baker discusses one of the basic problems in this area which is the proper structuring of subjects, for inclusion in any service. The relationship between ‘discipline’‐and ‘mission’‐oriented services is covered, and in this chapter a common base is reached for future discussion. The National Federation of Science Abstracting and Indexing Services appears to have collapsed into a fairly passive role, but the editor has presented some informative notes which can act as a basis for a more definitive report. Stella Keenan provides a valuable contribution to the background of abstracting and indexing services in the physical sciences and Louise Schultz discusses new developments in the area of the biological sciences, demonstrating the complexities of providing access in a specialized scientific area. The paper by Tate and Wood is entitled ‘Libraries and Abstracting and Indexing Services—a study in interdependency’. Although, based primarily on their experiences at ‘Chemical Abstracts’, they bring out the relationship between libraries and specialized services. Another introduction to the Science Citation Index is given by Morton Malin, from the Institute for Scientific Information, bringing out the interests of librarians in this new indexing tool. Charles Bernier discusses the procedures and problems of production of subject indexes, based on his own extensive experience. He covers problems of term selection and correction in addition to the physical preparation of copy. James Wood, Head Librarian of Chemical Abstracts Service, proposes a co‐operative venture between librarians and abstracts producers in a comprehensive list of periodicals for chemistry and chemical engineering. The final paper by Andrew Aimes, senior officer of the COSATI staff, gives general guidelines and information basic to the theory behind national information systems, referring to the ‘System Study of Abstracting and Indexing in the United States’, prepared by SDC under contract to COSATI.