Indexing and Abstracting (ISO)

Authority File

List or file of headings to be used in an index, e.g. forms of proper names, subject headings.

Collection

Group of documents to the contents of which reference is made or expected to be made in an index.

Cross-reference

Direction from one heading or subheading to another.

Document

Any item that presents information, including machine-readable records, microforms, print and non-print media.

Index

Alphabetically or otherwise ordered arrangement of entries, different from the order of the document or collection indexed, designed to enable users to locate information in a document or specific documents in a collection.

Index Entry

Single record in an index consisting of a heading, a qualifier or scope note if required, subheading(s) if required, and either locator(s) or cross-reference(s) or both.

Index Heading

Term chosen to represent in the index an item or concept in a document.

Index Subheading

Heading that is subsumed under a heading to indicate a subordinate.

Locator

Indication, following a heading or subheading, of that part of a document, or that item in a collection, to which the heading or subheading refers.

Qualifier

Term, added to a heading, but separated from it by punctuation (preferably parentheses), in order to distinguish the heading from homographs in the same index.

Scope Note

Explanation added to a heading to clarify the range of the subject matter encompassed or the usage of the heading within the index.

"see also" cross-reference

Direction from a heading or subheading that is followed by one or more locators, to one or more other headings or subheadings under which related information will be found.

"see" cross-reference

Direction from a heading or subheading not followed by locators, to one or more other headings or subheadings under which information will be found.

Term

Word, phrase or symbol used to denote a concept.

Number and code indexes

Provide access to information or documents by numerical designation.

[1] Quality of Indexes

[2] Length and detail of indexes

Quality control involves...

[1] needs

[2] documents indexed

An effective index meets the [1] ________ of those seeking information contained in the [2] ________

[1] approaches

[2] user

Entries showed allow for the [1] ________ approaches likely to made by the [2] ________

[1] impartial

[2] objective

[3] subject matter

[4] terminology

The indexer should be [1] ________ and [2] ________ both in selecting [3] ________ and in choosing [4] ________.

The indexer's knowledge of the principles of indexing, gained through study and experience.

What determines the quality of the index?

[1] indexer's knowledge of the language and subject matter of the document

[2] quality of indexing tools used (e.g., controlled indexing language)

Other important factors that determines the quality of an index includes:

[1] detailed

[2] needs

[3] detail

[4] subjects

The index should be sufficiently [1] ________ to meet the expected [2] ________ of the user, given the amount of [3] ________ in, and the number of [4] _______ covered by, the indexed documents.

[1] the character and purpose of the documents indexed

[2] the purpose of indexing

[3] indexer's professional judgement of the detail of indexing

Factors that affect the length of an index:

[1] number

[2] extent

[3] early

It will be helpful if the indexer can estimate the [1] _________ and [2] __________ of entries at an [3] ________ stage, so that presentation can be discussed in good time.