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VIII
The discontinuation of the SB check lists has left ABHB as the only annual index which takes bibliography as its sole concern. Though SB was limited, in coverage and organization, it was at least predictable; ABHB is quite unpredictable, and is declining in performance. The best annual indexes are in fact MLA and MHRA, with the latter superior in all but speed of production.
Of the current indexes IBZ can be dismissed completely. LL is unsatisfactory because of its limited coverage, its selectivity and its indexing under broad headings. BHI is limited by its British coverage, but offers the best indexing of any service. HI has deficiences, but would offer the greatest hospitality to bibliography.
The only indexing at the level of bibliographical technique is done by Library in its annual index. The commonest indexing is either by broad subject or by author (i.e. of the literary etc. work). The more 'difficult' parts of the bibliographical periodicals are being indexed very rarely.
The fixed-list indexes demonstrate the efficacy of such schemes in providing both complete coverage (within certain limits) and superior indexing. If indexing at the level of technique is desirable, a new fixed-list index of Anglo-American bibliographical periodicals will be called for, embracing the extant titles from at least Tanselle's categories 1 (Bibliographical Society Journals) and 2 (Book-Collecting Journals), supplemented by titles selected from 3 (Printing and Typographical Journals), 4 (Book-Trade and Paper-Trade Journals) and 5 (Library Journals).
| The Book Collector | ABHB | MLA | MHRA | LL | IBZ | BI | BHI | HI | EGLI | |
| Editorials | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Articles | 28 | 22 | 5 | 25 | 23 | 11 | 0 | 28 | ||
| Notes | 13 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Queries | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Notes and Comment | ? | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 54+37 | 5 | 35 | 26 | 11 | 0 | 28 | ||||
| The Library | ||||||||||
| Editorials | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Articles | 24 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 24 | 6 | 0 | |||
| Notes | 7 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Letters | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 37 | 22 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 9 | 1 | ||||
| Papers of the Bib. Soc. of America | ||||||||||
| Articles | 14 | 4 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 14 | ||
| Notes | 41 | 8 | 41 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 41 | ||
| Letters | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 58 | 12 | 55 | 49 | 17 | 8 | 0 | 55 | |||
| Studies in Bibliography | ||||||||||
| Articles | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | ||
| Notes | 11 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 11 | ||
| Check List | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 18 | 7 | 18 | 17 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 18 |
Notes to Table
The Book Collector. 'Queries' comprises all notes prefixed 'Q' whether they be queries or answers to previously-published queries. The number of indexable items included in 'News and Comment' is difficult to estimate; disregarding the sections devoted to recent auctions, catalogues and exhibitions I would suggest a figure of between 20 and 30.
The Library. The sections 'Recent Books', 'Recent Periodicals' and 'Projects and Information' have been disregarded. The BI figure includes the blanket entry for 'Recent books and periodicals'.
Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America. The section 'News, Notes, and Queries' has been disregarded: there are indexable items, but none of the indexing services covers it.
Studies in Bibliography. The distinction between articles and notes has been made on the basis of the change in type size which divides each volume into two distinct parts.
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