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Serials review and you
pierian press
SR editorial
Serials Review and You SR editors We are pleased, to present the inaugural number of Serials Review, which, through this editorial and the various columns comprising the issue, we hope will convey an interesting, useful, and representative sample of things to come. During the late Fall and Winter of 1972, when we launched Reference Services Review, a new publication was already taking form in our minds and hearts-a sister publication to be titled Serials Review. While much recognition for RSR was immediately forthcoming, the two-year struggle to establish it as an essential library resource at last peaked in its selection as one of the best periodicals to be published since 1971 (Bill Katz, Magazines for Libraries, 2d ed. supplement, 1974, p 1), with the added comment that, "No library, regardless of type, can afford not to subscribe." (Katz, p170). Now, without diminishing our efforts to continually foster and improve RSR, it is time to turn to other things. Hence, Serials Review.
Pierian Press has long been involved and committed to the publication of reference tools in the area of serials, Our first publication was a subject index to New Serial Titles 1950-1960 and New Serial Titles 1961-1965. Many of the major efforts that followed
were similarly based on serial works: Serial Bibliographies in the Humanities and Social Sciences, which analyzed serially published indexes, abstracting services and bibliographies either separately published or found in other serial publications; Words and Phrases Index, which indexed articles containing discussions on the historic meaning, origin, and use of words and phrases, articles which serve to update major English language dictionaries like the Oxford English Dictionary; and, Indexed Periodicals, requiring seven years to complete, which traces the coverage of periodicals in widely held indexing and abstracting services down to exact volume and issue numbers. O t h e r publications, including several important author indexes like our Author Index to Poole's Index to Periodical Literature and our author indexes to the Monthly Catalog, as well as several major indexed cumulations of serial bibliographies (The Romantic Movement Bibliography, 1936-1970, Articles on the Middle East, 1947-1971, Articles in American Studies, 1954-1968, and Russian Studies, 1941-1958) serve to reflect our recognition of the importance of serials. More recently we have devoted much effort and attention to our periodical indexes, Media Review Digest and Consumers Index, which together offer unique coverage of hundreds of periodicals. Media Review Digest, we hasten to add, was recently reviewed by the Reference SERIALS REVIEW
January/June 1975
5
and Subscription Books Review Committee o f ALA; conclusion: "It is recommended for all types of libraries," (RSBR, The Booklist, v71 n20, June 15, 1975, p1089). Yet another periodical index of major importance to libraries with limited serials budgets is in the offing: Index to Free Periodicals, compiled by Arnold Rzepecki. IFP is a new addition t o a battery of Press serials which all have one underlying goal: to help librarians get the best values per dollar spent either by guiding them to free materials or by providing access to evaluative information relative to the purchase of books, periodicals, media, or other consumer goods. Since late 1972, then, the idea behind Serials Review has been germinating, and we have slowly been developing commitments which have now come to fruition. Serials Review is a true sister publication to Reference Services Review. It contains many of the same kinds of service oriented columns but, like a sibling, reflects its own personality through features unique to serials. Major sections include: ( 1 ) l o n g , signed evaluative and comparative reviews of periodicals of all types. Both new and established publications deserving re-evaluation are covered. Reviews, in general, are longer than those found in R S R ; (2) an index to reviews of serials of all kinds appearing in other periodicals and in monographs is also included, We felt this to be an important service in RSR, and feel it will be of even more value in Serials Review. When one subscribes to a periodical or other serial, a commitment is made that may need to be upheld for one or more years, unlike the one-time purchase of most reference books. Hopefully, the "Serial Review Index" will be helpful in making wiser subscription decisions through access to sound evaluative reviews of serials. Fortunately, an increasing number of excellent columns exist in the professional literature which are now devoted to review coverage of serials, including Bill Katz's widely known column in Library Journal, Evan Farber's new column in Choice, Edith McCormick's coverage of popular magazines in American Libraries, and others. These are augmented by occasional but very valuable reviews in scholarly journals, to which we will attempt to draw systematic attention through the efforts of Contributing Editors like Phil Thomson (Index to Book Reviews in tl4e Humanities) and Albert Kamper (Technical Book Review Index), each of whom monitor hundreds of periodicals. In addition, books which contain reviews of serials will be indexed, all efforts combining to provide unsurpassed coverage of serial reviews for the librarian called upon to commit limited funds for the purchase of new serials. Like RSR's "Reference Book Review Index," the "Serial Review Index" will cumulate regularly in clothbound volumes, themselves supplemented by each issue of Serials Review; (3) equally important to review coverage is the knowledge of where a particular publication is indexed. Numerous past studies have shown that only a very small per6
SERIALS REVIEW
January/June1975
centage of unindexed periodicals are ever used by library patrons, whether they be the general public or doctoral degree candidates. When one wishes to backdate a run of a popular serial, it would therefore be helpful to know where and when a periodical was indexed, perhaps in order to maximize probable use with minimal expenditure by purchasing only those years during which indexing took place. "Indexed Periodicals" will, therefore, incorporate and update a volume which we began seven years ago, and on which editorial work was only completed during the Winter of 1974. Original plans had called for the serialization of lndexed Periodicals in Serials Review, utilizing the text produced for the book as installments in the periodical. Once production commenced and began moving along rapidly, however, it became clear that the book-running 500 to 600 pages-would be completed and available in short order, certainly well before its serialization could be completed. We therefore felt that any service which might have been performed by the serialization of 1P would be redundant and even unwelcome by purchasers of the book. We do plan to include an "Indexed Periodicals" column in Serials Review in future issues, however; it will contain information which supplements and updates the basic volume of Indexed Periodicals soon to be issued; (4) another related column also finds a place in Serials Review, this one devoted to recording the availability of separately published cumulative indexes to individual serial titles. This column, over a period of time, will form the basis of a monograph updating Haskell's Cumulative Indexes (New York Public Library, 1942), expanding coverage to new serials outside the scope of his work. Cumulative indexes are invaluable to libraries for their coverage of serials not otherwise indexed, as well as for titles already indexed in sources covering great numbers of serials. We will describe and attempt to evaluate such cumulative indexes, and encourage more widespread and effective use of this valuable source of information; (5) the important column by Richard Centing, "Reference Serials," has been transferred from Reference Services Review to Serials Review; (6) other columns-like those included in the present issue-are intended to become regular SR fare: a feature review, reviews of books related to serials, SR regional and subject surveys, and more. Serials Review will appear quarterly. This year, however, we will publish only three issues, this first combined issue followed by two quarterlies. The same format used in Reference Services Review provides the framework for Serials Review, bringing a great deal of text to the librarian at as reasonable a cost as possible. We anticipate that the size of Serials Review will be comparable even in this first year to that of the present R S R issue, averaging 500-600 pages in 1975. Separate indexes to Serials Review will be developed at the end of each year, adding greatly to the value of this publication.
Please let us know o f y o u r desire for possible features for Serials Review. If y o u would like to contribute to Serials Review as a reviewer or in some other capacity, please contact us, sending y o u r credentials and an indication o f y o u r interest. Y o u might also send along a sample review o f a periodical or serial of y o u r choice, utilizing the guidelines set forth in the "SR periodicals miscellany." We look forward to hearing from you.
Library periodicals which you cannot afford to be without
subscribe now! Sample copies and publications lists sent on request
SR Editors 03 ~3
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The Library Association 7 Ridgmount Street London WCIE 7AE England
SERIALS REVIEW
January/June 1975
7
SR editorial
Serials Review and You SR editors We are pleased, to present the inaugural number of Serials Review, which, through this editorial and the various columns comprising the issue, we hope will convey an interesting, useful, and representative sample of things to come. During the late Fall and Winter of 1972, when we launched Reference Services Review, a new publication was already taking form in our minds and hearts-a sister publication to be titled Serials Review. While much recognition for RSR was immediately forthcoming, the two-year struggle to establish it as an essential library resource at last peaked in its selection as one of the best periodicals to be published since 1971 (Bill Katz, Magazines for Libraries, 2d ed. supplement, 1974, p 1), with the added comment that, "No library, regardless of type, can afford not to subscribe." (Katz, p170). Now, without diminishing our efforts to continually foster and improve RSR, it is time to turn to other things. Hence, Serials Review.
Pierian Press has long been involved and committed to the publication of reference tools in the area of serials, Our first publication was a subject index to New Serial Titles 1950-1960 and New Serial Titles 1961-1965. Many of the major efforts that followed
were similarly based on serial works: Serial Bibliographies in the Humanities and Social Sciences, which analyzed serially published indexes, abstracting services and bibliographies either separately published or found in other serial publications; Words and Phrases Index, which indexed articles containing discussions on the historic meaning, origin, and use of words and phrases, articles which serve to update major English language dictionaries like the Oxford English Dictionary; and, Indexed Periodicals, requiring seven years to complete, which traces the coverage of periodicals in widely held indexing and abstracting services down to exact volume and issue numbers. O t h e r publications, including several important author indexes like our Author Index to Poole's Index to Periodical Literature and our author indexes to the Monthly Catalog, as well as several major indexed cumulations of serial bibliographies (The Romantic Movement Bibliography, 1936-1970, Articles on the Middle East, 1947-1971, Articles in American Studies, 1954-1968, and Russian Studies, 1941-1958) serve to reflect our recognition of the importance of serials. More recently we have devoted much effort and attention to our periodical indexes, Media Review Digest and Consumers Index, which together offer unique coverage of hundreds of periodicals. Media Review Digest, we hasten to add, was recently reviewed by the Reference SERIALS REVIEW
January/June 1975
5
and Subscription Books Review Committee o f ALA; conclusion: "It is recommended for all types of libraries," (RSBR, The Booklist, v71 n20, June 15, 1975, p1089). Yet another periodical index of major importance to libraries with limited serials budgets is in the offing: Index to Free Periodicals, compiled by Arnold Rzepecki. IFP is a new addition t o a battery of Press serials which all have one underlying goal: to help librarians get the best values per dollar spent either by guiding them to free materials or by providing access to evaluative information relative to the purchase of books, periodicals, media, or other consumer goods. Since late 1972, then, the idea behind Serials Review has been germinating, and we have slowly been developing commitments which have now come to fruition. Serials Review is a true sister publication to Reference Services Review. It contains many of the same kinds of service oriented columns but, like a sibling, reflects its own personality through features unique to serials. Major sections include: ( 1 ) l o n g , signed evaluative and comparative reviews of periodicals of all types. Both new and established publications deserving re-evaluation are covered. Reviews, in general, are longer than those found in R S R ; (2) an index to reviews of serials of all kinds appearing in other periodicals and in monographs is also included, We felt this to be an important service in RSR, and feel it will be of even more value in Serials Review. When one subscribes to a periodical or other serial, a commitment is made that may need to be upheld for one or more years, unlike the one-time purchase of most reference books. Hopefully, the "Serial Review Index" will be helpful in making wiser subscription decisions through access to sound evaluative reviews of serials. Fortunately, an increasing number of excellent columns exist in the professional literature which are now devoted to review coverage of serials, including Bill Katz's widely known column in Library Journal, Evan Farber's new column in Choice, Edith McCormick's coverage of popular magazines in American Libraries, and others. These are augmented by occasional but very valuable reviews in scholarly journals, to which we will attempt to draw systematic attention through the efforts of Contributing Editors like Phil Thomson (Index to Book Reviews in tl4e Humanities) and Albert Kamper (Technical Book Review Index), each of whom monitor hundreds of periodicals. In addition, books which contain reviews of serials will be indexed, all efforts combining to provide unsurpassed coverage of serial reviews for the librarian called upon to commit limited funds for the purchase of new serials. Like RSR's "Reference Book Review Index," the "Serial Review Index" will cumulate regularly in clothbound volumes, themselves supplemented by each issue of Serials Review; (3) equally important to review coverage is the knowledge of where a particular publication is indexed. Numerous past studies have shown that only a very small per6
SERIALS REVIEW
January/June1975
centage of unindexed periodicals are ever used by library patrons, whether they be the general public or doctoral degree candidates. When one wishes to backdate a run of a popular serial, it would therefore be helpful to know where and when a periodical was indexed, perhaps in order to maximize probable use with minimal expenditure by purchasing only those years during which indexing took place. "Indexed Periodicals" will, therefore, incorporate and update a volume which we began seven years ago, and on which editorial work was only completed during the Winter of 1974. Original plans had called for the serialization of lndexed Periodicals in Serials Review, utilizing the text produced for the book as installments in the periodical. Once production commenced and began moving along rapidly, however, it became clear that the book-running 500 to 600 pages-would be completed and available in short order, certainly well before its serialization could be completed. We therefore felt that any service which might have been performed by the serialization of 1P would be redundant and even unwelcome by purchasers of the book. We do plan to include an "Indexed Periodicals" column in Serials Review in future issues, however; it will contain information which supplements and updates the basic volume of Indexed Periodicals soon to be issued; (4) another related column also finds a place in Serials Review, this one devoted to recording the availability of separately published cumulative indexes to individual serial titles. This column, over a period of time, will form the basis of a monograph updating Haskell's Cumulative Indexes (New York Public Library, 1942), expanding coverage to new serials outside the scope of his work. Cumulative indexes are invaluable to libraries for their coverage of serials not otherwise indexed, as well as for titles already indexed in sources covering great numbers of serials. We will describe and attempt to evaluate such cumulative indexes, and encourage more widespread and effective use of this valuable source of information; (5) the important column by Richard Centing, "Reference Serials," has been transferred from Reference Services Review to Serials Review; (6) other columns-like those included in the present issue-are intended to become regular SR fare: a feature review, reviews of books related to serials, SR regional and subject surveys, and more. Serials Review will appear quarterly. This year, however, we will publish only three issues, this first combined issue followed by two quarterlies. The same format used in Reference Services Review provides the framework for Serials Review, bringing a great deal of text to the librarian at as reasonable a cost as possible. We anticipate that the size of Serials Review will be comparable even in this first year to that of the present R S R issue, averaging 500-600 pages in 1975. Separate indexes to Serials Review will be developed at the end of each year, adding greatly to the value of this publication.
Please let us know o f y o u r desire for possible features for Serials Review. If y o u would like to contribute to Serials Review as a reviewer or in some other capacity, please contact us, sending y o u r credentials and an indication o f y o u r interest. Y o u might also send along a sample review o f a periodical or serial of y o u r choice, utilizing the guidelines set forth in the "SR periodicals miscellany." We look forward to hearing from you.
Library periodicals which you cannot afford to be without
subscribe now! Sample copies and publications lists sent on request
SR Editors 03 ~3
E
03
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The Library Association 7 Ridgmount Street London WCIE 7AE England
SERIALS REVIEW
January/June 1975
7