PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. 19 
In the interim statement from the Royal Society Com- 
mittee, for the information of the delegates of the 1896 
Conference, it is pomted out that ‘itis absolutely necessary 
to each scientific society, and to the editors of every serial 
scientific publication, to index for their own purposes what- 
ever they publish, and the only change in the existing 
system required for the purposes of the International Cata- 
logue is that each paper shall be fully indexed at the time 
it is passed for press.” If such material be forwarded at the 
earliest possible moment to the body primarily interested 
in its collection, and after revision to the Central Bureau, 
no time need be lost. 
Of course all material thus collected will have to be pre- 
pared for publication on a uniform plan. It is pointed out 
that under such a system the material will automatically flow 
into the proper channels. 
The committee regards it as essential that authors should 
be requested to supply indexes of the subject-matter of 
their papers ; some, of course, may supply too much infor- 
mation, and others too little, but from the experience 
already gained in the office of the Royal Society it is clearly 
shown that the information supplied by the authors is of 
the greatest value to the supervisors of the work of indexing. 
The International Conference arranged that the Central 
Bureau should issue the catalogue in book form from time 
to time, in parts or divisions for the various branches of 
science, and also, as promptly as possible, in the form of 
“slips” or “cards.” The committee are of opinion that 
the National Bureau of each constituent country should 
prepare the slips ready for the slip catalogue. 
The committee wish opinions upon the question as to 
whether the co-operating countries should have the option 
of printing and also of issuing the slips which it prepares 
to subscribers within its own limits. This is a point which 
might well be discussed here, together with others, during 
the session of this Association. 
