The Contents of Periodicals
Not only do periodicals contain lengthy articles on special subjects, but every item in them from cover to cover is of value; for example, in engineering periodicals the business library is greatly aided by the current news notes on books, pamphlets, meetings and people; information on state and federal legislation; prices of materials and second-hand material for sale or wanted to purchase, new construction notes, new devices and best makes of standard supplies.
The brief notes found in current periodicals, announcing the publication of trade pamphlets, reports of state boards, special committees, private corporations and bulletins published by universities, lectures delivered at colleges and papers presented at state meetings of associations, are most valuable guides in collecting pamphlets, which although in many cases may be had for the asking, represent a collection of valuable data which can not be replaced by the expenditure of any amount of money and yet most of it costs only a polite letter of request.