1. Indexing
CHARLYN P. SALCEDO, RL

2. Role of Indexing in Information Retrieval
Relationship of Indexing, Abstracting and Searching
(Cleveland and Cleveland, 2001, p. 31)‏
DOCUMENT
INDEXING TOOL
INDEX
ABSTRACT
PATRON

3. by type or form of material indexed
1. Book index*
Reasons for Preparing a Book Index
collects the different ways of wording the same concept.
filters information for the reader.
pinpoints information

4. Components of a book index entry:
main heading
subheading
locator
cross references
World Wide Web (WWW)‏
browsers, 78
components, 89
development,
see also Internet

5. 2. Periodical index*
consistency becomes the most challenging part
open-ended projects
scope is broader
3. Newspaper index
vocabulary control becomes a paramount challenge

6. Difference between Book & Periodical Indexes
Compiled only once and within a relatively short time and usually performed by a single person.
Deals with a more or less well- defined central topic.
A continuous process and more often performed by a team of indexers and lasting for an extended period.
Deals with a great variety of topics.

7. Difference between Book & Periodical Indexes
Indexing terms are almost always derived from the text.
Specificity is largely governed by the text itself.
Terminology must be consistent and derived from a controlled vocabulary.
Terms are prescribed by a controlled vocabulary and their level of specificity may be lower than the book index.

8. Difference between Book & Periodical Indexes
Every single page of a book must be read.
Entire text is virtually subject to indexing.
Always bound with the indexed text.
Exmaple:
Antiquanrian, 15, 36
Library, 3, 5, 20, 60
Articles are scanned for indexable items and may rely on an abstract or summary compiled.
A periodical index will depend on a number of policy decisions.
Compiled separately.

9. by physical form card index printed index microform index
computerized index
automatic indexing
computer-assisted indexing

10. Types of Indexes Author Indexes
Whose entry points are people, organizations, corporate authors, government agencies, university
Example
Abel, Darrel – The Moral Picturesque
Choice – v26- D’08 – p64
ABMS Compendium of Certified Medical
Specialists – p34

11. Example: Corporate Body
Agriculture, Department of
Health, Department of
Trade and Industry, Department of

12. Example: Personal Names
Anyayahan, May C.
Fitzgerald, F. Scott
John XVI, Pope Pius
Zamora, Lt. Armando

13. Alphabetical index
Advantage:
More convenient to use and follows an order that is familiar to users.
Drawbacks:
synonymy
scattering of entries
Example: “Pecan Tress” or “Trees”

14. -by classes or by subjects headings Advantages:
Classified index
-by classes or by subjects headings
Advantages:
useful for generic searches.
Brings similar things together.
Drawbacks:
Most users find them difficult to use.
Needs a secondary file.
One cannot enter it directly as one can with alphabetical sequences of names.
Ex: Abortion
Goldstein, R. D. Mother-love and abortion
Hursthouse, R. Beginning Lives
Abuse of the elderly see Elderly abuse

15. by type or form of material indexed
1. Book index*
Reasons for Preparing a Book Index
collects the different ways of wording the same concept.
filters information for the reader.
pinpoints information

16. Components of a book index entry:
main heading
subheading
locator
cross references
World Wide Web (WWW)‏
browsers, 78
components, 89
development,
see also Internet

17. 2. Periodical index*
consistency becomes the most challenging part
open-ended projects
scope is broader
3. Newspaper index
vocabulary control becomes a paramount challenge
4. Audiovisual materials index
textual labeling is needed along with image matching

18. Difference between Book & Periodical Indexes
Compiled only once and within a relatively short time and usually performed by a single person.
Deals with a more or less well- defined central topic.
A continuous process and more often performed by a team of indexers and lasting for an extended period.
Deals with a great variety of topics.

19. Difference between Book & Periodical Indexes
Indexing terms are almost always derived from the text.
Specificity is largely governed by the text itself.
Terminology must be consistent and derived from a controlled vocabulary.
Terms are prescribed by a controlled vocabulary and their level of specificity may be lower than the book index.

20. Difference between Book & Periodical Indexes
Every single page of a book must be read.
Entire text is virtually subject to indexing.
Always bound with the indexed text.
Exmaple:
Antiquanrian, 15, 36
Library, 3, 5, 20, 60
Articles are scanned for indexable items and may rely on an abstract or summary compiled.
A periodical index will depend on a number of policy decisions.
Compiled separately.

21. by physical form card index printed index microform index
computerized index
automatic indexing
computer-assisted indexing