Indexing: Principles and Practice

Short course

Inhouse

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Short course

  • Methodology

    Inhouse

  • Duration

    1 Day

This course covers general principles of indexing, and the indexing process, and also specific points of practice, in the indexing of all kinds of material, emphasising the value of controlled indexing languages. The relations between indexing and other ways of analysing and denoting content (abstracting, summarising, classifying, categorising etc.) are emphasised. The course also deals with understanding, and creating, indexing policies, which govern the way in which indexing is carried out. Suitable for: Library/information workers

About this course

Participants are invited to bring some examples of materials that you have indexed, or need to index, for use in the practical sessions.

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Teachers and trainers (1)

David Bawden

David Bawden

Course Director

Course programme

Programme Features

  • what is indexing?
  • principles of indexing, and the indexing process
  • indexing as part of metadata creation
  • controlled vocabularies for indexing
  • indexing compared with other subject analysis methods
  • indexing policies
  • practicalities of indexing
Why you should attend:

Indexing is one of the best known of 'traditional' library/information activities. Its importance has not diminished in the digital age. On the contrary, indexing is of even more importance in digital environments, so that information can be efficiently found from sources such as the Internet, or intranets. Indexing is an important part of the broader process of metadata creation.

Many library/information workers are expected to index material, but not everyone is given sufficient training. This course covers general principles of indexing, and the indexing process, and also specific points of practice, in the indexing of all kinds of material, emphasising the value of controlled indexing languages. The relations between indexing and other ways of analysing and denoting content (abstracting, summarising, classifying, categorising etc.) are emphasised. The course also deals with understanding, and creating, indexing policies, which govern the way in which indexing is carried out.

On completing this course, you will be able to:
  • understand the principles of indexing, and the indexing process
  • understand the relationship between indexing and metadata creation
  • understand the value of controlled languages for indexing
  • understand the relation between indexing and other forms of subject analysis
  • be able to index different forms of material effectively
  • be able to create an indexing policy

Time: 09.45 - 16.30

Programme

09.45 : Introduction to course

10.00 : Indexing and the indexing process
Form of index and its consequences
11.00 : Practical exercise 1: why indexing ?
11.15 : Break
11.30 : Indexing and metadata
11.50 : Controlled vocabularies for indexing
12.20 : Indexing and other subject analysis methods
12.40 : Practical exercise 2: what vocabulary ?
13.00 : Lunch
14.00 : Indexing policies
14.45 : Practical exercise 3: indexing policies
15.15 : Break
15.30 : Practical exercise 4: indexing practice
16.15 : Summary
16.30 : Close

Companion Course: Constructing a Thesaurus

Indexing: Principles and Practice

Price on request