From: SMTP%"@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU:LISTSERV@BINGVMB.BITNET" 15-JAN-1995 19:55:08.54 To: SOLIBJA CC: Subj: File: "INDEX-L LOG9411D" Date: Sun, 15 Jan 1995 19:53:39 +0000 From: BITNET list server at BINGVMB (1.8a) Subject: File: "INDEX-L LOG9411D" To: Julius Ariail ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 10:43:03 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Jonathan Jermey Subject: Re: Periodical(s) Indexing ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- At 01:17 PM 18/11/94 ECT, Madelaine M. Weigel (UW-Platteville Library) wrote: >----------------------------Original message---------------------------- >Greetings. >Can anyone guide me to articles, books, or individuaaddressing the indexing, >not of *books* , nor of *individual periodical titles*, but of **periodicals on >a certain topic** (like the _Reader's Guide_ or _Alternative Press Index_) ? Madelaine has called it "indexing periodicals on a certain topic" and Sandra Henderson has called it "indexing periodicals for inclusion in a database/printed index". Is there any simple, concise way of distinguishing between the indexing of one periodical title, and the indexing of a group of periodicals? For the second I often say "database indexing", but I believe in computing this means something else entirely. I also don't know if 'database indexing' means the same to other people (including indexers) as it does to me. I just looked up 'Indexing from A to Z' by Hans Wellisch to see if I could find any ideas there. He uses the term serial bibliographic database which seems precise, but still not concise. He also uses 'database indexing' alone, and perhaps this is the best compromise we can make. I'd be interested to hear what other people use, and to know if choosing the appropriate term has ever been a problem for you. Regards Glenda Browne. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 10:43:23 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: DLWITT@alex.stkate.edu Subject: indexing theory ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- I have always found hands on experience preferable to theory, however way back in the dark ages when I began my career, I worked with the NY TIMES INDEX. This was hands on training that also included thesaurus construction. This is extremely useful for a beginning indexer and I would recommend trying to get some experience with thesauri, either on line or with a small in-house project. Thesauri and indexing go hand in hand and experience with both is very helpful. I have never had a mentor per se. But Cynthia Weber of ASI and I formed a partnership that lasted until I moved away. This enabled us to exchange information and help each other with our weaknesses. It's a great way to go. help each other with our weaknesses. It's a great way to go. Diana Witt (DLWITT@alex.stkate.edu) ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 14:24:29 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Carolyn Weaver Subject: Re: Periodical(s) Indexing In-Reply-To: <9411231556.AA20573@carson.u.washington.edu> ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- On Wed, 23 Nov 1994, Jonathan Jermey wrote: > Madelaine has called it "indexing periodicals on a certain topic" and Sandra > Henderson has called it "indexing periodicals for inclusion in a > database/printed index". Is there any simple, concise way of distinguishing > between the indexing of one periodical title, and the indexing of a group of > periodicals? Back in the Dark Ages (i.e. the late '60s before micros, the Internet, and all those other goodies, I was trained in indexing for MEDLARS/Index Medicus at NLM. (NLM's theory at that time was that a batch MEDLARS searcher had to know how to index before they were competent to construct a search; how things have changed!) People in my search analyst class had to index a minimum of 1,000 articles for the database before they were certified as searchers. Though I imagine that NLM indexing processes have changed considerably with the advent of online indexing/computer support, the basic principles haven't: MeSH is the absolute authority for vocabulary control, and NLM indexing rules have to be adhered to religiously for quality control and consistency between multiple indexers inputting records from several thousand journals into a massive machine-readable database. And I would expect that senior indexers at NLM are still reviewing the input of all junior indexers. Much of my current work as a freelance indexer is for journals and annual publications (mostly health sciences). One of the first things I had to learn was that indexing for a medical database and doing an annual index for a medical journal are two entirely different processes. They are similar in that consistency in terms is required in both cases; but they differ in that a single journal is an entity unto itself; the process is closer to back-of-the-book indexing than database indexing. A database covers a wide variety of publications with different audiences for each one and a need for consistent terminology between disciplines. A journal index needs to be targeted toward the readers of that particular journal, and a database vocabulary may simply not be specific enough for specialists. For instance, the "left" side of a cross reference may be more appropriate as a preferred term for the journal index than the "right" side which has to be used according to database indexing rules. Also, the authors in a specialty journal may use narrow terminology that may NEVER make it into a general thesaurus but which need to appear in the index. The key point in a journal index is that when three different authors use different terms for the same concept, that only ONE gets used as the preferred term in the index (with cross references as appropriate) - and, to the extent possible, that the same term is used in subsequent annual indexes for the same journal. I always have MeSH handy as a reference for selecting terms for a medical journal index; but it's a guideline rather than an absolute authority as it would be if indexing for a database. IMHO, having done all three types of indexing, database indexing is the most technically demanding (due to the need for close adherence to rules/standards/terminology which is determined externally) and back-of-the-book indexing is the most fun. Journal indexing falls somewhere in between; but annual journal indexes can also be a pretty reliable source of income for a free-lancer. Back-of-the-book indexing comes in fits and spurts; an indexer may have to turn down three titles one month due to lack of time and then have nothing in the pipeline for weeks. But journal indexes can be schedule long in advance. I can count on getting paid for one in January, another in July, and two in the fall. And if the publisher agrees, the work can be spread out over the year as issues are published, with a time crunch only for the final index, with individual issues indexed between other projects. I love doing book indexes because of the variety; but journals are my meat and potatoes. Carolyn Weaver Bellevue, Wa. e-mail: cweaver@u.washington.edu voice: 206/930-4348 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 28 Nov 1994 13:20:49 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: "C.JACOBS" Subject: Re[2]: Periodical(s) Indexing In-Reply-To: In reply to your message of WED 23 NOV 1994 10:45:11 EST ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Glenda Browne asks about "database indexing". It seems to me that this term indicates the format the index is kept in, rather than the type of material being indexed. There are many materials besides periodicals that are indexed in databases. It also seems to imply that all multiple periodical indexes are kept in computerized format. One would like to think so, but from a global standpoint, we probably have not reached this yet. All of which doesn't really answer the question. I tend to use "multiple periodical index" or "general periodical index" when indicating an index to a group of periodicals, and "journal index" for the index to a single periodical. Not exactly precise either. Christine Jacobs Montreal, Quebec incj@musicb.mcgill.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 28 Nov 1994 13:22:04 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: PATE@UHCL4.CL.UH.EDU Subject: Ethics and indexing ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Just a note to members of the group. I read a few days ago the note in the latest copy of The Indexer about the Getty Art Library's misleading indexing and abstracting of material on Guido Riccio (Sorry if I've messed up the name, my copy's at home.) I was surprised at it. On the heels of that I picked up the the Nov. 21, 1994 issue of Forbes (The Capitalist Tool), a business mag. Pages 47-48 have an article of interest to the law indexers entitled "West Wiill Always Be There". It discusses West Publishing and Mead Data Central in the context of citation systems and censorship. Pat Pate Univ. of Houston Clear Lake ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 28 Nov 1994 13:22:42 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: acuesta@BIX.com Subject: Indexing programs? ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- We would appreciate any comments about available software to assist in compiling indexes for books and periodicals. We know of Cindex from the US and Macrex from the UK --and would welcome comments from users about both programs' strengths and shortcomings-- but we wonder if there are other options. Specifically, is there any indexing program for the Macintosh platform? Thank you for any assistance and best regards from Barcelona. --Albert Cuesta Thesaurus Serveis Documentals [acuesta@bix.com]