FEB. 19, 1921 sosman: distribution of scientific information 95 



turer what he wants, and in which to tell his fellow-consumers his 

 experience with what had been offered? The editors of the Journal 

 of the Washington Academy of Sciences have considered the feasi- 

 bility of publishing "consumers' advertising" of this kind, since 

 the Academy, as a private organization with no governmental or 

 commercial affiliations, is in a wholly disinterested position, and 

 furthermore numbers in its membership representatives of almost 

 every ramification of science so that a wide range of experience is 

 available. The task of "advertising manager", to collect, edit, and 

 publish material of this type, however, is one of those public services 

 which are more praised than rewarded. 



Newspapers and popular magazines . — The appearance of scientific 

 information in newspapers and popular magazines is relatively so 

 recent that it would be rash to try to predict its future. These 

 media themselves may change considerably during the next two 

 decades. The present tendency toward centralized ownership and 

 management of both types probably bodes good rather than ill for 

 the distribution of information, whatever may be thought of the 

 tendency in its political and social bearings. 



Separates. — The use of separates seems to be on the increase, and 

 I believe is destined for continued growth. In particular, their 

 use in place of special series of "bulletins" published by research 

 institutions is a very desirable development. Bulletins issued in 

 independent series are not likely to be effectively distributed, as 

 each has to be handled by itself and librarians are frequently at a 

 loss as to where to index or file them. Their very existence, also, 

 may remain unknown until long after the stock has become exhausted 

 and copies are no longer available for libraries which find them in 

 demand. Articles published in a regularly circulating journal, on 

 the other hand, are not thus lost to view or rendered inaccessible. 

 The difference is the same as that between the privately printed book 

 and the book issued by a publishing house which is alwa3'^s in touch 

 with the channels of distribution. 



The distribution of separates by dealers is a service almost lacking 

 in this country. For instance, before the War the surest way to get a 

 separate of an American geological paper was to write to Leipzig for it. 

 Patriotic pride, if nothing else, ought to stir us to remedy this situa- 

 tion. Some authors deliberately send copies of their separates to the 

 second-hand dealers in order better to reach interested persons un- 

 known to them; w^hile others condemn this practise as undignified. 



