Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1993 10:38:26 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Carol Roberts Subject: ASI literature ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- This message is addressed primarily to newcomers like me, who haven't read much ASI literature yet. I've just finished devouring _Indexing Biographies_, by Hazel K. Bell, and I recommend it highly. The text is 35 pages long and is wall-to-wall useful info, including a list of biographies with good (some award-winning) indexes and discussions of typographical devices, arrangement of subheadings, and alternative forms of names. If you don't already have the society's publications list, send to: American Society of Indexers, Inc. PO Box 386 Port Aransas, TX 78373 -- Carol Roberts Publications Services Cornell University cjr2@cornell.edu 607 255-9454 Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1993 10:39:14 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Mary Haessig Subject: PRECIS indexing ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Greetings: I am new to the list so I thought I should introduce myself before asking my questions. My name is Mary Haessig. I am currently pursuing an MLIS at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I am now taking the introductory class on the theory of cataloging and classification in which a term project option is to study a classification/indexing system other than Dewey or LCSH. I chose the PRECIS indexing system because I'd read a study (for a class on research evaluation) in which PRECIS was discussed. As a result of this I have a couple of questions..... How many, if any, of you use the PRECIS system and where are you? What do you think of it? Is it as easy to lear as the authors of overview articles make it seem? What about the users? Do they seem to find it easy to learn and understand? Any points that you think are important could help. Please send any replies to me off'list at either of the following addresses since I don't want to waste bandwidth for the entire list. haessig@wiscmacc.bitnet haessig@macc.wisc.edu Thank you for your time and trouble. Mary Haessig ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1993 16:00:20 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Carolyn Embach Subject: Re: ASI literature In-Reply-To: <9303221627.AA22347@TUblue.pa.utulsa.edu>; from "Carol Roberts" at Mar 22, 93 10:38 am ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Hi -- I especially appreciated your postscript -- it reassures me that serendipity is a healthy resource to indulge in... Carolyn Embach Petroleum Abstracts ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1993 13:56:41 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: "Neva J. Smith" Subject: RE: Standard for Arrangement ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Thanks to Jessica Milstead for including index-l in her survey for opinions on the NISO standards for filing. Thanks also to Jim Anderson for a readable and enlightening summary of the current situation. May I suggest that, given insufficient funds for research, that you request comments from a wide selection of discussion lists with related interests. Moderated lists may be useful for minimizing repetitiveness of response. Several lists that come to mind are PACS-L, LIBREF-L, ASIS-L, and CNI-DIRECTORIES. As for arrangement rules, I'd like to see spaces considered. Meaning, of course, I fall in (predictably) with others in the library community. I would like to see further discussion of filing in the fora. Neva J. Smith Graduate School of LIS e-mail: njsmith@emx.cc.utexas.edu and DataSmiths Information Services ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1993 13:57:18 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Mary Moulton Subject: Recent articles in _The Scientist_ The following article is from the online version of the current issue of The Scientist. ================================ CAREERS IN ABSTRACTING AND INDEXING FOR SCIENTISTS As computer networks, online databases, and various types of document delivery systems become more actively used by researchers, the need for knowledgeable and competent scientists to perform abstracting and indexing services will increase, according to the National Federation of Abstracting and Information Services (NFAIS), based in Philadelphia. Abstracts are the concise, generally noncritical summaries at the beginning of documents. Indexes are lists of a document's contents organized by key words or phrases. A new book, Guide to Careers in Abstracting and Indexing (Philadelphia, NFAIS, 1992), points out: "In the 1990s, A&I [abstracting and indexing] services have become big business. Technology has revolutionized the basic A&I services, and a growing population of computer-savvy users poses new challenges." Even with computer databases that provide full-text documents, NFAIS executive director Ann Marie Cunningham predicts that the need for services that facilitate speedy data searches, such as those provided by the Institute for Scientific Information in Philadelphia and H.W. Wilson Co. in New York, is making all A&I services more vital. Scientists often begin a career in A&I working on a freelance basis for a book or serial publisher or A&I services. "Most of the scientists going into this type of work have advanced degrees in a particular scientific discipline," she says. "For instance, many people coming to the end of their professional career as a researcher or university professor and who don't want to work full-time or are retiring might consider getting into some freelance indexing and abstracting. "Sometimes, a publisher may hire someone for entry level with a bachelor's degree to cover the general scientific literature. But for something technical, like chemistry or physics, it would not be unusual to see doctorates." According to NFAIS statistics, average annual starting salaries for A&I work run between $13,000 and $29,000. Some government agencies pay up to $46,000 for A&I in a highly specialized field. To obtain the A&I career guidebook, contact NFAIS at 1429 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102; or call (215) 563-2406. --Ron Kaufman (The Scientist, Vol:7, #6, March 22, 1993) (Copyright, The Scientist, Inc.) ================================ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1993 12:54:50 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Carol Roberts Subject: Freelancing Workshop ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Those of you within driving distance of Ithaca, NY, might be interested in the following workship: FREELANCING WORKSHOP A workshop for persons who want to do freelance work in the communications industry is planned for Saturday, April 24. The fields covered are writing, copyediting, design, indexing, and photography. Experienced freelancers in each field will talk about the benefits and drawbacks of working independently; ways to develop a network; aspects of running a small business; equipment and tools needed; skills required; and ways to get work and negotiate fees. The workshop will be held in Ives Hall, on the Cornell University campus, beginning at 1:00 p.m., in room 117. The registration fee is $15 if received by April 21; walk-in registration is $20. Each field will be covered in a small-group session, and each session will be offered twice. The workshop is sponsored by the Ithaca chapter and the Cornell University student chapter of Women in Communications, Inc., a national organization for communications professionals. For a registration form or more information, contact Jane Hardy, Cornell University, 328 Kennedy Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-4203 (telephone: 607 255-2171). -- Carol Roberts Publications Services Cornell University cjr2@cornell.edu 607 255-9454 Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1993 10:12:33 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Ray Schwartz Subject: ASIS SIG/Classification Research Workshop - Call for papers ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Call for Participation The American Society for Information Science Special Interest Group on Classification Research (ASIS SIG/CR) invites submissions for the 4th ASIS Classification Research Workshop, to be held at the 56th Annual Meeting of ASIS in Columbus, Ohio. The workshop will take place Sunday, October 24th, 1993, 8:30 a.m. -5:00 p.m. ASIS '93 continues through Thursday, October 28th. The CR Workshop is designed to be an exchange of ideas among active researchers with interests in the creation, development, management, representation, display, comparison, compatibility, theory, and application of classification schemes. Emphasis will be on semantic classification, in contrast to statistically based schemes. Topics include, but are not limited to: * Warrant for concepts in classification schemes * Concept acquisition * Basis for semantic classes * Automated techniques to assist in creating classification schemes * Statistical techniques used for developing explicit semantic classes * Relations and their properties * Inheritance and subsumption * Knowledge representation schemes * Classification algorithms * Procedural knowledge in classification schemes * Reasoning with classification schemes * Software for management of classification schemes * Interfaces for displaying classification schemes * Data structures and programming languages for classification schemes * Image classification * Comparison and compatibility between classification schemes * Applications such as subject analysis, natural language understanding, information retrieval, expert systems * The CR Workshop welcomes submissions from various disciplines. Those interested in participating are invited to submit a short (1-2 page single- spaced) position paper summarizing substantive work that has been conducted in the above areas or other areas related to semantic classification schemes, and a statement briefly outlining the reason for wanting to participate in the workshop. Submissions may include background papers as attachments. Participation will be of two kinds: presenter and regular participant. Those selected as presenters will be invited to submit expanded versions of their position papers and to speak to those papers in brief presentations during the workshop. All position papers (both expanded and short papers) will be published in proceedings to be distributed prior to the workshop. The workshop registration fee is $35.00. Submissions should be made by email, or diskette accompanied by paper copy, or paper copy only (fax or postal), to arrive by May 15, 1993, to: Phil Smith, 210 Baker Systems, 1971 Neil Avenue, Cognitive Systems Engineering Laboratory, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210; Phone: 614-292-4120; Fax: 614-292-7852, Internet: Phil+@osu.edu =========================================================================