Alternatives to Traditional Forms of Scientific Communication.

Recent growth of scientific journals suggests that the prediction of 100,000 journals published by 1980 is likely. This paper outlines developments in publishing to increase efficiency of dissemination and reduce costs. Advances in direct impression typesetters, phototypesetting equipment, offset printing and binding processes contribute to expediting production. Editorial processing centers apply automation to editorial, production, and fulfillment functions. A no-frills journal means unedited author-prepared copy published on cheap paper, and inexpensive binding and cover, thus reducing costs. Other developments discussed are brief articles called synoptics, articles in reduced type called miniprints, and selective dissemination in which subscribers are sent articles matching their interest profiles. Micrographic journals cost less to produce and distribute, and reduce publishing lag. The concept of articles in a databank, accessible through terminals, is called an electronic journal. It is too early to predict which options hold the most promise. 21 pp. Bibliog.