Session 3 on “Handling and Use of Special Format Materials” dealt with diverse items which are of unique importance in astronomical libraries.

Preprints and reprints are important in several ways. Libraries’ collection and dissemination of information about pre-publication journal and conference papers boosts the astronomer’s awareness of current research in a timely fashion. Individual libraries’ practices range from very basic—the receipt and physical display of preprints—to the more elaborate activities including production of lists, gathering of subsequent publication information about the papers themselves, construction of local databases listing preprints, and electronic network exchange of listings.

There was a consensus that the sending of reprint series is far less important than it was in years past.

We heard a call for formal recognition or designation of a central clearinghouse for information about astronomy preprints.