Purple Mountain Observatory
Academia Sinica, Nanjing
China
The purpose of compiling bibliography, scope of chosen serials and the main characters of their bibliographic information as well as the use of this bibliography are presented.
Most information sources of modern scientific research come from serials. These materials would just meet the needs of scientists and technologists. Serials, the most living type in literature, are different from the others like books and non-book materials. Publishing various results of scientific research is one of the main functions of serials. As an astronomy librarian, I have given more care to acquire specialized literature on astronomy, astrophysics and space science (hereafter, I call them to be ASTRONOMY), and found that a great number of theoretical papers and observational materials in these fields appeared more likely in serials.
More than 300 years ago, a title of almanac, Connaissance des Temps ou Connaissance des Mouvements Celestes, was initially pub- lished under the Royal Academy of Sciences of France in 1679. Since then, some other titles of ASTRONOMY serials were followed to come out one after another. I found that about 450 titles of them were published in the first half of 20th century. After the Second World War, there is a more permanent peaceful environment in the world. ASTRONOMY science is also getting vigorous development as some natural sciences do. During the period from 1950's to 1980's, their relevant serials were growing so rapidly. Their titles have greatly increased to the quantity over 2500. In general, institutions or presses are responsible for editorial work or publication of ASTRO- NOMY serials. Up to now, we noticed that their geographic scope has extended from few countries with advanced ASTRONOMY science in Europe and America to seventy countries in five continents.
A valuable reference tool, Union List of Astronomy Serials, has shown those holdings on ASTRONOMY serials worldwide from the fourteen special libraries in U. S. The list was compiled by Judith Lola Bausch and was published in 1983. A rich resources of professional ASTRONOMY serials all over the world has been displayed to a great extent by it. Some statistics on this union list should be brought to our attention. In total, there are 2131 titles selected; the 60 and 54.6 per cent of which belonged respectively to the libraries of U. S. Naval Observatory and University of Michigan. In addition, the Purple Mountain Observatory in China has also paid more attention to acquire ASTRONOMY serials of all the world for its library holdings. Up to 1988, we had only possessed by 31.9 per cent of the mentioned total.
Astronomy, astrophysics and the rising space science are the sciences that need the most widespread international cooperation. In these fields, when the relationships of international cooperation are getting closer, the area scope of resources sharing is correspon- dingly enlarged. A great deal of bibliographic information on ASTRO- NOMY serials would improve the purchase and exchange of the litera- ture. This information is more helpful to resources sharing, and will promote the development of the relevant sciences as a consequence.
In Purple Mountain Observatory, the library holdings of ASTRONOMY serials are obviously not enough to meet the needs of scientific research at present. Lacking more bibliographic information of these serials is one of our problems. On this condition, the library should make great efforts to seek the effective ways for improvement. A Chinese proverb said: it is better to go back and make a net than to stand by the pond and long for fish. Suppose we get an updated bibliographic tool of ASTRONOMY serials, it will certainly be benefited not only to the Purple Mountain Observatory, the Chinese astronomical community, but the fields of ASTRONOMY all the world as well; not only for librarians and information workers but for the relevant scholars as well. I started to compile a bibliography of these serials in 1990. And now this reference tool, INTERNATIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ASTRONOMY SERIALS, printed form has been published in China. Meanwhile, publishing its electronic form is getting in touch with the press.
The purpose of compiling the bibliography is to widen the field of vision in academic learning of astronomy, astrophysics as well as space science for scholars, and is to make their referring serials convenient. And besides, it is an useful reference tool for librarians and infor- mation workers, especially for those people who are engaged both in acquisition and exchange for literature with domestic or international institutions and presses. Then, it is helpful to libraries to raise the satisfying capacity of these serials. I focused my attention on the specialities in the serials on astronomy, astrophysics and space science, the minority titles are involved in the neighboring sciences (such as physics, geophysics, geodesy, meteorology, etc.). So, it is fit for scholars and their professional institutions, academic bodies, amateur groups and colleges of the mentioned field.
Considering that the serials published before the mid-20th century were out of date, the professional serials selected in this bibliography were published by over one thousand institutions and presses from seventy countries and regions during the period of 1950's to 1980's. Obviously, by the responsible institutions, it means: observatories, institutes, departments of university, academic bodies and amateur groups and colleges. Some institutions are run by internationali- zation or several countries. I have gathered them together with a category of INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTION. It has been listed alpha- betically with the other countries and regions. There are a sum total of 3100 entries in this bibliography. In each entry, some practical data have been given: title or its abbreviated form, International Standard Serial Number, publication date, and notes on the relationship with other serials (serial history), etc. The statement of responsibility area, name of institution or press and its country (region) and place, are also included.
INTERNATIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ASTRONOMY SERIALS comprises two parts, the text and the appendixes. The text reports the various ASTRONOMY serials published by institutions of different countries and regions as well as international institutions. They were ar- ranged alphabetically under the names of the countries, etc. So did the responsible institutions of the same country, etc. and their serials. In addition, more commercial serials of ASTRONOMY and related sciences are listed in Appendix 1. Appendix 2 consists of some abbreviations and codes of country, etc. In order to re- trieve and search easily, the responsible institutions and their places are included in appendix 3 as an index.
When I selected serials, I considered the following conditions: ASTRONOMY or NON-ASTRONOMY; Chinese serial or foreign serial; professional institution or amateur astronomy group and college; non-commercial and commercial. The emphasis had been placed on all the corresponding former ones. And, especially the last two pairs are more useful for users, I should strictly distinguish them. But it was not easy to distinguish exactly, since the referred materials for compiling were insufficient. I fear that users would easily find out something mistaken or left out.
Commercial and non-commercial are two different modes of ac- quisition in libraries. Commercial serials basically are well-known. Some of them are core journals. It is easier to find their bibli- ographic information out from various bibliographies and advertise- ment. But, in contrast with the former, non-commercial (internal) serials cannot be obtained by means of trade. Their titles, in the mentioned fields, are much more than commercial serials. They are mainly edited and published by professional institutions and aca- demic bodies for academic exchanges. Most of them are seldom to be known since their distribution are limited in a small scope, and their institutions had not paid attention to give publicity to build up their reputation. Therefore, this part of ASTRONOMY literature sources was often neglected for a long-term. So, I thought I should lay emphasis on non-commercial serials in my compiling.
In the total of this bibliography, most relevant information was accumulated during the last half century by the pioneers, many our colleagues all over the world, I have only collected and compared the titles from various bibliographic tools with definite aim. During the process of compilation, the 32 per cent of total have checked their material objects or catalogues against the library collection of Purple Mountain Observatory. Meanwhile, I have also received some latest information from various observatories, institutes, university departments and academic bodies worldwide, and should like to express my heartfelt thanks for the timely support and help. The remainders were checked the other references up. Thus, this bibliography is an original and reliable but not perfect collection. Maybe there are some information mistakes or some information left out, any invaluable advice, comments or remarks will be earnestly welcome.