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

Comment on the importance of learning from the past, Comment on the importa...

Comment on the importance of learning from the past, using the nuclear reactor accident at Three Mile Island, as an example?  Values are notorious for being between the least

Geographic information systems, Geographic Information Systems : A GIS tha...

Geographic Information Systems : A GIS that is geographic information system integrates software, hardware, and data for analyzing, capturing, managing, and displaying each forms

Authority - evaluation of encyclopaedia, Authority The authoritiveness...

Authority The authoritiveness of an encyclopaedia can be judged by the reputation of the editor, consult-ants, contributors who are responsible for producing it. The reputatio

Institutional resource, Institutional Resource In many cases informati...

Institutional Resource In many cases information not published in regular publications can be sought directly from research organizations in public, private or government se

Coverage by geographical area, Coverage by Geographical Area There are...

Coverage by Geographical Area There are indexing and abstracting services with coverage limited to literature of a particular country. Various countries bring out national I &

The man who has no inner life is a slave to his surroundings, the man who h...

the man who has no inner life is a slave to his surroundings

#title.human resource mangement., #question.idenrify how history hás contri...

#question.idenrify how history hás contributed to thé current state of human resource mãnagement. .

Cosmopolitan principle, describe in detail the cosmopolitan principle, whic...

describe in detail the cosmopolitan principle, which Rorty defends, that the list of rights that a society should uphold depends on what is needed for that society to make progress

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

Cataloguing, what is centralized cataloguing?

what is centralized cataloguing?

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