The frequency in which publishers churn out periodicals is a major advantage to researchers. Researchers working on cutting-edge topics or recent events often run into difficulty finding published resources due to the length of time it takes for books to be published. Yet because many periodicals are published monthly or quarterly, such researchers have relevant resources made available more quickly.
Additionally, because periodicals are published so frequently, the essays and articles contained in periodicals are more likely to be relevant and up to date. Often researchers face restrictions on the age of materials they can consult. Many professors and academics recommend that the majority of students' sources be no more than a decade old since older sources may lack pieces of information that contemporary scholars possess.
Libraries often have difficulty finding space to store periodicals. Libraries deal with the volume of material in several ways, including transferring the periodicals onto microfilm or microfiche and storing the physical periodicals in a warehouse or annex. This, however, can be a disadvantage to researchers who want to obtain the material quickly. Researchers may find themselves on a scavenger hunt to find where a particular volume or issue of a periodical is stored. Unfortunately, an even greater disadvantage is that some libraries discard periodicals, meaning that researchers have to travel to obtain the material from another institution.
Many libraries have a policy of noncirculation regarding periodicals. Due to the difficulty in obtaining back issues of periodicals, libraries place greater value on these publications. One way that libraries prevent periodicals from going missing or being damaged is to require that patrons use them within the library itself. While this gives increased public access to the materials, it can be a hindrance to researchers since they must do all research involving the periodicals in the library.