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Periodical literature

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Periodicals are special types of writing that come out on a regular schedule. You might know them as newspapers, magazines, or journals. They are also called serial publications because they appear in a repeating cycle. Some modern websites and electronic journals are also periodicals. They can cover almost any topic you can imagine. Some focus on science or business, while others talk about fun things like movies.

Cover of Science in School 32
Cover of Science in School 32

Most periodicals follow a specific way of working. They are organized into articles that usually share one main theme. Each article has a title and a date. They also list the author and a brief summary. Many periodicals include an editorial section for comments. You might also find book reviews, columns, or advertisements inside.

PLoS Biology cover April 2009
PLoS Biology cover April 2009

People use volumes and issues to keep track of these works. A volume often represents one year of the publication. An issue is a single release during that year. For example, a magazine from April 2011 might be "volume 10, issue 4." Some people even use Roman numerals for the volume number. This system helps readers and librarians find specific information easily.

PLoS Biology cover April 2009
PLoS Biology cover April 2009

There are different ways to group these publications. Popular periodicals are often magazines like Ebony or Esquire. Scholarly journals are for experts and are often found in libraries. There are also trade magazines for people in special jobs. In the early 1990s, the United States had over 6,000 of these professional publications. Some periodicals are made to continue forever, while others might be part-publications.

Cover of Science in School 32
Cover of Science in School 32

Periodicals come out at many different speeds, called frequencies. Some come out daily, like a newspaper. Others might be weekly or monthly. Some are even released only once every five years, which is called quinquennially. Librarians use this frequency to decide which ones to collect. Scholars use it to choose where to share their research. Even the post office has special rules for how they carry them.

PLoS Biology cover April 2009
PLoS Biology cover April 2009
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