Indexing and Abstracting
LSC545

University of Rhode Island
Graduate School of Library and Information Studies
Fall 2007

Frank Kellerman
Brown University
Sciences Library, Box I
Providence, RI 02912
e-mail:Frank_Kellerman@brown.edu
work:(401)863-6324
home:(508)761-4072

Objectives - there are two general objectives for this course:
Learn how to index for the purpose of storing information.
Because you understand more thoroughly the indexing process,
become more proficient in retrieving information.
Specific aims of the course:
1. Use different types of indexes - to see the variations, capabilities, uses
2. Create your own indexes
3. Use thesauri and understand methods of thesaurus construction
4. Evaluate indexes - the strengths and shortcomings
5. Compare traditional indexing techniques with automatic indexing and natural language processing
6. Evaluate computer assisted indexing, indexing software, embedded indexing, and Web indexing
7. Through your greater familiarity with indexing techniques and vocabulary control, improve the quality of your searching and information retrieval

Readings for the course
--Lancaster, F. W. Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice. 3d ed. Champaign, IL, University of Illinois. Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  Availability directly from the University of Illinois. Graduate School of Library and Information Science. phone: 217-333-1359 fax: 217-244-7329 e-mail: lis-pubs@uiuc.edu. Also - a copy on Reserve.
--Book Chapters and Journal Articles and Web Sites.  These are listed at that week in the syllabus.
Some of these readings are available at Library Reserves [paper or electronic].
Some articles are from the periodicals dedicated to indexing, The Indexer and Key Words.  These two periodicals are included in both [1] the Wilson database, OmniFile Full Text Mega which is available with your GSLIS login at http://hwwilsonweb.com/loginand [2] the URI Library database, Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text.

Assignments
-Filing/Sorting exercise 
-Index journal articles
-Thesaurus assignments
-Write abstracts
-Prepare a Back of the Book Index [manually]
-Citation indexing
-Index another format [your choice]
-Use dedicated BOTBI software; Embedded indexing software
-Standards.
-Write brief paper - your analysis of different types of indexing (and retrieval).  Composite indexing exercise
-Exam
BOTBI - 25%  |||   Other Assignments - 60% |||  Exam - 15%

Web Site of Particular Interest
American Society of Indexers
http://www.asindexing.org/
Other Web sites are listed on the syllabus at specific weeks
Listserv of Some Interest
Index-L Archives at http://lists.unc.edu/read/?forum=index-l 

URI requested this announcement be put on all syllabi this semester: "Students with Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability is welcome to contact me as early in the semester as possible so that we may arrange reasonable accommodations.  As part of this process, please be in touch with Disability Services for Students office at 330 Memorial Union. 874-2098."


Week#1 - September 6, 2007
Introduction
Overview of the Course
Need for Indexes
Role of Traditional Indexes vs. Electronic Files, Indexes, and Web
Types of Indexes
Index Filing/Sorting
Vocabulary Control Overview

Assignment
Filing/Sorting
Due: September 13, 2007
 

Week#2  - September 13, 2007
Abstracting & Indexing Services
Journal Article Indexing (part 1)

Readings
-Tenopir, Carol.  "Human or Automated, Indexing is Important."   Library Journal 124(18):34,38, November 1, 1999.
[Wilson database, OmniFile Full Text Mega.  With your GSLIS login at  http://hwwilsonweb.com/login ]

-Milstead, Jessica L. Chapter 7, "Term Source: Internal or External." In: Subject Access Systems.  New York, Academic Press, 1984. pp.103-119.  [Reserve - Z695 M673 1984]

-Kellerman, Frank R. Chapter 2, "Indexing, Index Medicus, and Other Traditional Abstracting and Indexing Services."  In: Introduction to Health Sciences Librarianship. Westport, CT, Greenwood Press, 1997. pp.21-48.  [Reserve - Z675 M4 K44 1997]]

-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 2, "Indexing Principles."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.6-23.  [Reserve - Z695.9 L36 2003]

Assignment
Examine bibliographic records in ERIC [CSA], PsycINFO [CSA], MEDLINE/PubMed.
URI Library provides access to these. 
PubMed is free and can access directly at  http://pubmed.gov/
Due: September 20, 2007
 

Week#3 -  September 20, 2007
Journal Article Indexing (part 2)
Use of Thesauri

Readings
-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 3, "Indexing Practice."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.24-49.  [Reserve - Z695.9 L36 2003]

-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 4, "Precoordinate Indexes."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.50-67.  [Reserve - Z695.9 L36 2003]

Links
PubMed. http://pubmed.gov/
MeSH link on left side of PubMed screen - to MeSH database
About Topical Subheadings. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/topsubscope2007.html
Scope Notes for Publications Types. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/pubtypes2007.html
Available Publication Types for Journal Articles. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/pubtypesg2003.html
MeSH Tools. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/meshhome.html
PsycINFO (CSA) through URI Library Reference Databases. In PsycINFO, click on Search Tools. Then click on Thesaurus.
ERIC (CSA) through URI Library Reference Databases. In ERIC (CSA), click on Search Tools. Then click on Thesaurus.

Assignment
Assign Terms from a Thesaurus to Journal Articles
Due: September 27, 2007


Week#4 -  September 27, 2007
Thesaurus Construction
More Journal Article Indexing

Readings
-Aitchison, Jean et al. "Section E: Specificity and Compound Terms." In: Thesaurus Construction and Use: A Practical Manual. 4th ed. Chicago, Fitzroy Dearborn Publ., 2000.  pp.37-48.
[Chapter on Electronic Reserve]

-Broughton, Vanda.  Chapter 10, "Vocabulary Control 2: Form of Entry."  In: Essential Thesaurus Construction. London, Facet Publ., 2006.  pp.81-98. [Chapter on Electronic Reserve]

-National Information Standards Organization (NISO). "Section 8 - Relationships." In: Guidelines for the Construction, Format, and Management of Monolingual Thesauri. NISO Press, 2005. pp.54-69 of the download [pp.42-57 of the document].
Download the standard in PDF for free at:
http://www.techstreet.com/cgi-bin/detail?product_id=1262086
or at
http://www.niso.org/standards/
ANSI/NISO Z39.19 [2005]

-Svenonius, Elaine.  Chapter 8, "Subject Languages: Introduction, Vocabulary Selection and Classifications."  In: Intellectual Foundation of Information Organization.  Cambridge, MA, MIT Press, 2000. pp.127-146. [Reserve - Z666.5 S92 2000]

-Winchester, Simon. "Roget and His Brilliant, Unrivaled, Malign, and Detestable Thesaurus."  Atlantic Monthly 287(5):53-60,62-64,66-68,70-72,74-75, May, 2001. (A supplementary reading for your entertainment.)  [Atlantic Monthly available in many libraries]

Assignment
Index more journal articles
Construct a thesaurus
Due: October 4, 2007
 

Week#5 - October 4, 2007
Abstracting
Types of Abstracts
Role of Abstracting in Information Retrieval

Readings
-Tenopir, Carol and Jacso, Peter. "Quality of Abstracts." Online 17(3):44,46-48,50-55, May, 1993.
[Available as electronic full text through URI Library within the ABI/INFORM Global database]

-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 7, "Abstracts: Types and Functions."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.100-112.  [Reserve - Z695.9 L36 2003]

-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 8, "Writing the Abstract."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.113-134.  [Reserve - Z695.9 L36 2003]

-NISO. Guidelines for Abstracts. NISO Press, 1997.
Download the standard for free in PDF at -
http://www.techstreet.com/cgi-bin/detail?product_id=52600
or
http://www.niso.org/standards/

-Harris, Alex H.S. et al.  "The Accuracy of Abstracts in Psychology Journals."  Journal of Psychology 136(2):141-148, March, 2002. 
[Available as electronic full text through URI Library within the EBSCO database - database identified as Academic Search Premier EBSCO Host]

Assignment
Write Abstracts
Due: October 11, 2007


Week#6 - October 11, 2007
Thesauri in a Full Text World
Back of the Book Indexing (part 1)
Readings
-Milstead, Jessica L.  "Thesauri in a Full-Text World."  In: Visualizing Subject Access for 21st Century Information Resources.  Edited by Pauline Atherton Cochrane and Eric H. Johnson.  Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1998. pp.28-38. [Reserve - Z695 V57 1997]

-University of Chicago Press. Ch.17, "Indexes." In: Chicago Manual of Style. Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1993.  This is the 14th edition.  The 13th will be fine, too.  The 15th edition is not quite as helpful for our purposes but can use that.

-NOT ASSIGNED.  For when/if you want to go further on this topic at some point, you could consult: Mulvany, Nancy C. Indexing Books. 2nd ed.  Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2005.

-NOT ASSIGNED.  Another good resource for BOTBI, but this is not assigned and just optional: Wellisch, Hans. Indexing from A to Z.  [Reserve - personal copy, 1991 edition]

Assignment
Thesaurus Applications
Due: October 18, 2007

Thesauri Available for Free on the Web     
Thesauri on-line. Cologne.     http://www.fbi.fh-koeln.de/institut/labor/Bir/thesauri_new/thesen.htm    A lot of thesauri linked here.  Not all of them true, subject thesauri.
A-Z of Thesauri.    http://hilt.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/Sources/thesauri.html      A lot of thesauri linked here.  Not all of them true, subject thesauri.
American Society of Indexers. Thesauri Online links.   http://www.asindexing.org/site/thesonet.shtml


Week#7 - October 18, 2007
Back of the Book Indexing (part 2)

Readings
-Browne, Glenda and Jermey, Jon.  The Indexing Companion.  New York, Cambridge University Press, 2007.  pp.65-71 on "metatopic" and "selecting terms."  [Pages on Electronic Reserve]

-Klement, Susan.  "Open-System Versus Closed-System Indexing: A Vital Distinction."  The Indexer 23(1):23-31, April, 2002. 
[Wilson database, OmniFile Full Text Mega.  With your GSLIS login at  http://hwwilsonweb.com/login ]

Assignment (Big)
Index a Book.
Due: November 1, 2007

Week#8 - October 25, 2007
Citation Indexing

Readings
-Cronin, Blaise.  "Bibliometrics and Beyond: Some Thoughts on Web-Based Citation Analysis."  Journal of Information Science 27(1):1-7,  2001.
[Available through URI Library electronic journals/Sage Publications]

-Golderman, Gail and Connolly, Bruce.  "Who Cited This?"  NetConnect 132:18-26, Winter, 2007.    [Available in Wilson database, OmniFile Full Text Mega OR Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text.]

-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 5, "Consistency of Indexing."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.68-82. [Reserve - Z695.9 L36 2003]

-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 6, "Quality of Indexing."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.83-99. [Reserve - Z695.9 L36 2003]

-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 9, "Evaluation Aspects."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.135-157. [Reserve - Z695.9 L36 2003]

Assignment
Citation Indexing
Due: November 8, 2007


Week#9 - November 1, 2007
Indexing Another Format

Readings
-Rhind-Tutt, Stephen.  "Different Direction for Electronic Publishers: How Indexing Can Increase Functionality."  Technicalities 21(3):1,13-15, May/June, 2001.
[Wilson database, OmniFile Full Text Mega.  With your GSLIS login at  http://hwwilsonweb.com/login ]

-Berinstein, Paula.  "Do You See What I See?  Image Indexing Principles for the Rest of Us."  Online 23(2):85-86,88, March/April, 1999. 
[Available as electronic full text through URI Library within the EBSCO database - database identified as Academic Search Premier EBSCO Host] 

-Wellisch, Hans.  "Alphanumeric Arrangement."  In: Indexing From A to Z. 2nd ed. New York, H W Wilson, 1995.  pp.6-22. [Section on Electronic Reserve]

Leise, Fred.  "Using Faceted Classification to Assist Indexing." Key Words 9(6): 178-9, Nov/Dec, 2001.
http://www.contextualanalysis.com/pub_usingfacets.php

-ASI site on the topic of indexing a Web site:
http://www.asindexing.org/site/webndx.shtml

-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 10, "Approaches Used in Indexing and Abstracting Services."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.158-185. [Reserve - Z695.9 L36 2003]

Optional Reading - Chaper 12 and Chapter 13
-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 12, "On the Indexing and Abstracting of Imaginative Works."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.200-214.
-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 13, "Databases of Images and Sounds."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.215-247.

Links
Barbara Semonche. "Newspaper Indexing Policies and Procedures." http://parklibrary.jomc.unc.edu/indexing.html
Fairfax County. "Using the Historical Newspaper Index."  http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/library/virginia/varoom/newsindx/using.htm
Thesaurus for Graphic Materials. from the Introduction. "Indexing Images: Some Principles." http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/tgm1/ii.html
American Society of Indexers. "Indexing the Web."    http://www.asindexing.org/site/webndx.shtml
HTML Indexer.  http://www.html-indexer.com/
Alexander Street Press. http://www.alexanderstreetpress.com/

Assignment
Index Another Format
Due: November 8, 2007


Week#10 -  November 8, 2007
Indexing Related Software
Cindex
Embedded

Readings
Download a Demonstration version of Cindex available for free on the Web -
http://indexres.com/home.php
click on Downloads link on the left side of page.
[The Macintosh version also available]
(Company home page that sells Cindex - Indexing Research)
-Optional (and not necessary for this exercise) - A copy of the Cindex manual can be downloaded

-Anderson, Charles et al.  "Why I Use CINDEX."  In: Software for Indexing.  Edited by Sandi Schroeder.  Wheat Ridge, CO, American Society of Indexers, 2003. pp.45-54.   [Chapter on Electronic  Reserve]

-Lamb, James.  "Embedded Indexing."  The Indexer 24(4):206-209, October, 2005. 
[Wilson database, OmniFile Full Text Mega.  With your GSLIS login at  http://hwwilsonweb.com/login OR Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text]

Assignment
Use Indexing Related Software
Due: November 15, 2007


Week#11 - November 15, 2007
Standards
Machine Aided Indexer [Data Harmony]

Readings
-Anderson, James D. Guidelines for Indexes and Related Information Retrieval Devices. Baltimore, MD, NISO Press, 1997.
Available to download for free in PDF -
http://www.techstreet.com/cgi-bin/detail?product_id=52642

-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 14, "Text Searching."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.248-281. [Reserve - Z695.9 L36 2003]

-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 11, "Enhancing the Indexing."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.186-199.  [Reserve - Z695.9 L36 2003]

-Kasdorf, Bill.  "Indexers and XML: An Overview of the Opportunities."  The Indexer 24(2):75-78, October, 2004. 
[Wilson database, OmniFile Full Text Mega.  With your GSLIS login at  http://hwwilsonweb.com/login ]

-Dye, Jessica.  "Folksonomy: A Game of High-tech (and High-stakes) Tag."  EContent 29(3):38-43, April, 2006.  [Available as electronic full text through Academic Search Premier.]

-Jacso, Peter.  "Open Access to Scholarly Indexing/Abstracting Information."  Online Information Review 30(4):461-468, 2006.  [Available as electronic full text journal through URI electronic journals.]

Assignment
Standards
Due: November 29, 2007


THANKSGIVING BREAK [November 22, 2007] - No Class Session


Week#12 - Novermber 29, 2007
Automatic Indexing/Smart Searching (Ranking, Frequency, Weighting, etc.)

Readings
-Anderson, James D. and Perez-Carballo, Jose. "The Nature of Indexing: How Humans and Machines Analyze Messages and Texts for Retrieval. Part II: Machine Indexing, and the Allocation of Human Versus Machine Effort." Information Processing and Management 37(2):255-277, 2001.
[Note that Part I is not assigned - Part I: Research, and the Nature of Human Indexing, pages 231-254.]
[Available through URI Library electronic journals/ScienceDirect]

-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 15, "Automatic Indexing, Automatic Abstracting, and Related Procedures."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.282-336.  [Reserve - Z695.9 L36 2003]

-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 16, "Indexing and the Internet."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.337-354.  [Reserve - Z695.9 L36 2003]

-Lancaster, F. W.  Chapter 17, "The Future of Indexing and Abstracting."  In: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice.  3d ed.  Champaign, IL, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2003.  pp.355-362.  [Reserve - Z695.9 L36 2003]

Links
"What is Stemming?"       http://www.comp.lancs.ac.uk/computing/research/stemming/general/index.htm
NLM. "Online Indexing System"    http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/online_indexing_system.html
Google.  "PageRank Explained"    http://www.google.com/technology/
"MEDLINE Citation Counts"    http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/medline_cit_counts_yr_pub.html
NLM. "Medical Text Indexer"   http://ii.nlm.nih.gov/mti.shtml
NLM Gateway     http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/
"The NLM Indexing Initiative"  http://ii.nlm.nih.gov/resources/Indexing_Initiative.pdf
NLM. "Automated Indexing Implemented for Meeting Abstracts"  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/so02/so02_automated_indexing.html
NLM. "Unified Medical Language System"   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/umls.html
NLM. "PubMed Related Citations Algorithm"     http://ii.nlm.nih.gov/MTI/related.shtml


Assignment
Write brief paper - your analysis of different types of indexing (and retrieval). Composite indexing exercise.
Due: December 10, 2007/Monday  [send to me electronically as an e-mail attachment]
 

Week#13 - December 6, 2007
Indexing Organizations and Societies
Indexing as a Vocation or Avocation

Visit
-American Society of Indexers Web site  http://www.asindexing.org/
-American Society of Indexers. Key Words and The Indexer in Wilson OmniFile Full Text Mega OR in Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text.

Week#14 - December 13, 2007
Exam

The course syllabus is at -           
http://www.uri.edu/personal2/fkellerman/RIia2006.html