Format-Dependent and National Abstracts/Indexes in a Science Library

Abstract

The juxtaposition of the recent announcement by University Microfilms of its Japanese Technical Abstracts, the recent offering by UNV Science Press of Chinese Science Abstracts, and continuing advertisements by ISI for their Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings and Index to Scientific Book Contents raise a bothersome question in my mind. Namely, are format-dependent or "national" abstracts/indexes useful tools in a science/engineering library's reference collection?

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