Library Reference Indexes What Are They and How Are They Helpful? By Renee Hensley & Stephanie Long

 Index – (1) a list of names and subjects in alphabetical order at the end of a book, showing on what pages these names and subjects appear. (2) a thing that points out something else. Webster’s New World Dictionary Webster’s New World Dictionary

 Library Reference Index – A print resource or on-line database that points the library patron to the source of information that is needed.

“Indexes can be general multidisciplinary periodical or newspaper indexes or specialized subject indexes covering a particular subject area.” “Indexes can be general multidisciplinary periodical or newspaper indexes or specialized subject indexes covering a particular subject area.”

Exemplary Print Indexes  Scribner Writers Series – Includes a Master Index and 15 volumes by Subject  Current Biography Index – Includes Biographical Information of Most Famous People  The Great Scientists  Short Story Index  Granger’s Index to Poetry  Play Index (H.W. Wilson)  The Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature

Exemplary Online Indexes  Academic Search Premier  LexisNexis Academic  Wilson OmniFile Full Text  ProQuest Newstand  HeritageQuest Online  MasterFILE Premier  Primary Search

Advantages of Online Indexes  More people can use at one time  Easier access  Up to date  Can look at from home  More cost effective  Take up less space

Criteria for Evaluating an Index: Criteria for Evaluating an Index:  Authority of publisher  Scope/subjects covered  Number of sources indexed  Quality of sources indexed  Number of titles with full-text available  Currency/Frequency of updating  Accuracy of bibliographic citations  Search techniques

 lib5020indexes.wikispaces.org 