Factors governing subject indexing systems, Humanities

Assignment Help:

Factors Governing Subject Indexing Systems 

There are many factors that govern the design of subject heading systems. Some of the more important ones are: 

  1. content analysis of documents to select the right key words that represent their specific subject; 
  2. rendering the selected key words in a logical sequence according to prescribed principles and postulates; 
  3. establishing main and added entries in standard formats; 
  4. provision of  cross references to  subject concepts to obtain as  many relevant documents as are available in the library through catalogue or index file; and 
  5. arrangement of entries. 

Content analysis of documents is totally  independent of any technique of indexing. Skills required in this process  are the subject background of the indexer on the subject(s) indexed and the ability to read/scan documents fairly quickly for the purpose of identifying appropriate key words to represent the thought contents of documents. 

To know what a document is about, some of the aids available in the documents themselves are: Titles  and sub-titles, if any; content page(s) with all the details of chapters listed; foreword, preface; conspectus; introduction;  the text - a quick scanning of the body of the text; and the index. Sometimes the  captions in tables, diagrams,  etc. and book jacket serve as an useful  aid. In addition to all these aids, dictionaries, encyclopaedias; handbooks, guides etc. are useful  consulting aids to know the subject(s). It may also be necessary on occasions to consult subject experts to know subject ramifications and their importance. 

For the rest  of the factors mentioned above, indexing systems usually provide the necessary guidelines, rules and procedures, backed up by principles, postulates, etc. which would explain the designer's logic and philosophy of approach. The understanding of all these and their proper assimilation by indexers would ensure a fairly good quality subject index. 


Related Discussions:- Factors governing subject indexing systems

Female ruler, "He who has left the household life is a lodger beyond the ...

"He who has left the household life is a lodger beyond the earthly [secular] world , and his ways are cut off from those of other beings. The doctrine by which he lives enables

Qualities of indexing and abstracting periodicals, Qualities Coverage...

Qualities Coverage: In order to fulfill the functions enumerated above (see 4.2.2), the I & A periodicals must, as far as possible, be comprehensive in reporting the literat

Special features of encyclopaedias, Special Features The prestige of t...

Special Features The prestige of the encyclopaedias is enhanced by some of the unique features employed in the publication of encyclopaedias. i) Most of the major articl

Dictionary - meaning and scope, Dictionary - Meaning and Scope Diction...

Dictionary - Meaning and Scope Dictionary is the most widely known and used reference book. Almost every household possesses a dictionary. All school children are taught to

Cataloguing-in-publication, Cataloguing-in-Publication   The cataloguin...

Cataloguing-in-Publication   The cataloguing-in-Source given up by the LC in 1959 was revived in July 1971. The entries were prepared from galley proofs and data returned to pu

Online public access catalogue (opac), ONLINE PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOGUE (OPAC...

ONLINE PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOGUE (OPAC)   By late 1970s, libraries began to use computers for cataloguing purpose and the idea of making the catalogue of a library available to i

Treatment - evaluation of encyclopaedia, Treatment Readability, object...

Treatment Readability, objectivity and style are the three important criteria of topics in encyclopaedias. Readability: The topics covered by the encyclopaedia should be

Uses of bilingual and multilingual dictionaries, Bilingual and Multilingual...

Bilingual and Multilingual Dictionaries There are bilingual and multilingual dictionaries, a good number of translating dictionaries pertaining to various foreign languages a

Political philosophy, I need report on Political Philosophy . Do you provi...

I need report on Political Philosophy . Do you provide help in topic Political Philosophy ? I need expert's assistance to solve my college assignment. Please suggest if it work

Humanity, iven the medieval works of art we have studied, evaluate how reli...

iven the medieval works of art we have studied, evaluate how religion influenced the aesthetics of the period. Use at least two examples of art we have studied in this course as th

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd