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For the Sake of Discussion: Changes in Our Literature System

Department of Dairy Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park

ABSTRACT

The present system of disseminating scientific information is preposterous, contrary to common sense and reason. It is destined to fail in the not too distant future of this scientific age. It must be changed before sudden failure cripples our ever-moving front of progress.

Scientific journals are constantly being born, few seem to die; and the existing ones in almost all fields have doubled and tripled their contents. They add to the frustrations caused by the vast forest of scientific literature through which the researcher must find his way. In 1952, there were 50,000 titles listed in the World List of Scientific Periodicals 1900–1950. Despite that huge and still avalanching output, only a part of the material potentially available and useful to others is placed into the formal literature by our researchers. Strictly that which will reflect favorably on the authors or their organizations is submitted for publication.

Here are a few isolated facts to illustrate the present state of affairs and to somewhat foretell the future development in the field of scientific documentation.