Cooperation between professional societies and a government agency: The journal of physical and chemical reference data

The National Standard Reference Data System consists of data centers and other projects funded or coordinated by the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) which compile and evaluate data on physical and chemical properties of well-defined materials. The output is then published in the form of tables of recommended data and critical reviews. In 1972 an agreement was reached with the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the American Institute of Physics (AIP) for establishing a new publication channel for the material, the Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data. Editorial work and preparation of camera-ready copy is handled by NBS, while ACS and AIP divide the other responsibilities. The progress of this journal is reviewed.