ABSTRACTS AND INDEXING SERVICES Indexing

ABSTRACTS AND INDEXING SERVICES

Indexing:

Definition

·         Abstracting and indexing (A&I) services unlock the content of scientific journal articles and eBooks using metadata and abstracts. In doing so, they contribute significantly to the use of scientific literature. 

·         The metadata presented in abstracting and indexing services includes the title, author(s), date of publication, journal title, volume and issue, page numbers, subject area, keywords, DOI, etc.

·         Users browsing these services using particular search criteria are shown the relevant articles, chapters or books with the metadata, abstract and link to the full text.

Background information

Indexing and abstracting services have also covered other information sources such as books, reports, government publications, newspapers etc. Libraries were initially indexing and abstracting their resources in order the help their users. This went on for years until the rapid growth of journal literature necessitated the advent of indexing and abstracting services as a commercial service resulting in the creation of subject based and multi-disciplinary bibliographic databases. The growth of journal literature meant that libraries had to acquire indexes and abstracts to many journals, which became impossible. The consequence of this was that indexing and abstracting services to journals emerged.

Introduction

If the users themselves or an institution to which they are affiliated have access to the full text or it is an open access publication, then they can immediately use the full text. Otherwise, they are usually shown information from the publisher or other rights holder on how to access the text.

Abstracting and Indexing (A&I) services provide one location for researchers in libraries to search for articles in a subject. They present abstracts of articles and link through to the publishers’ websites for the full text of the article. Journals should be included in the major A&I indexes for their subjects to provide wider reach to researchers and more points of access to the articles hence driving up readership and citations. A 2004 survey commissioned by Blackwell showed that 80% of life scientists still rate Abstracting and Indexing Services as very important as the starting point for online research. At Blackwell we know how important these services are and setting up electronic links with A&Is is a key element of our online readership marketing strategy.

ABSTRACTING SERVICES

Abstracts

Abstracts are formal summaries prepared by writers or abstractors to completed works. They are important tools for information users, especially as they strive to keep abreast of explosion of information.

An Abstract is a brief objective summary of the essential content of a book, article, speech, report, dissertation or other works that present the main points in the same order as the original but has no independent literary value. Abstract like all summaries should cover the main points of a piece of writing using the same level of language and expertise found in the article or document being abstracted. An abstract is a condensed version of a longer piece of writing that highlights the main point covered, it should concisely describe the content and scope of the writing and reviews the documents’ content in summarized form. .

Types of Abstract:

Indicative Abstracts

As it names implies, indicative abstracts simply indicates, usually short and objective with the aim of alerting the user or reader of the existence of documents. Indicative abstracts describe the type and form of the work abstracted, indicating the major topics covered in the work and providing a brief description of the treatment of the facts and issues. It does not summaries the content or evaluates its quality. What an indicative abstract does is that, it indicates the type of document being abstracted. In most cases abstracts are short, written in general terms and do not provide the reader a step by step account of the document’s development. Indicative abstract outlines topics covered in a document so the reader can decide whether to read the document or not. In several ways, the indicative abstract is similar to table of contents in a paragraph form. Unlike an informative abstract, reading an indicative abstract cannot substitute for reading the real document as it does not capture the content of the document or paper. And because indicative abstracts fail to meet the other main objectives of abstracts as well as informative abstracts do, they are less common.

Indicative abstracts seldom provide the real content of documents and therefore they cannot be used as surrogate (substitute) of the original document. They only inform the user what they can find in documents and not the real data or information contained in them.

 Informative Abstracts

This is an abstract that summarizes as much of the essential content of a document as possible within the limitation of a paragraph. Informative abstracts attempt to convey the message of the original document, indicating all the important data including observations and conclusions. It captures all the essential details of a document presenting the actual information contained in the original document. This enables the user of the abstract to have adequate knowledge of the content of the original document. It is a substitute of the original document unlike indicative abstracts. Informative abstracts attempt to provide as much quantitative and qualitative data as possible, providing a useful guide to documents reporting an experimental investigation. They are a type of abridgement of the original document with the major ideas and fact well captured such that the users’ needs not look for the original document  

The Do’s and Don’ts for Abstract:

 (A). Do’s:

1. Scan the document purposefully for key facts

2. Tell the readers the purpose of the work (what the author did)

3. Tell why the work was done (reasons)

 (B). Don’s

 (1). Repeat words of the title

(2). Change the meaning of the original

(3). Mention earlier work

(4). Include detailed experimental work

Indexes

An alphabetically arranged list of headings consisting of the personal names, places, and subjects treated in a written work, with page numbers to refer the reader to the point in the text at which information pertaining to the heading is found.
In single-volume works of reference and nonfiction, any indexes appear at the end of the back matter. In a multivolume work, they are found at the end of the last volume. In very large multivolume reference works, the last volume may be devoted entirely to indexes. Works of fiction are rarely indexed. The publisher of a periodical may provide an index to each volume at the end of the last issue of the publication year

Indexes are indicators or locators that assist one to find information. They do more than just locate, indexes are systematic guides to location of words, concepts and other information items in books, periodicals or other publications. An index consists of series of entries appearing in alphabetical order to enable users find information with references to show where each item is located. Indexes lead the user directly to the exact information required with no hurdles. It leads the user to the pertinent information, reducing to the barest minimum the need for cross-

references. An index strives to minimize the time and effort of the user in locating information and to maximize the success of the user in searching.

Who Should then Index?

 Ordinarily indexing of a book is the responsibility of the author. Most authors do not actually do it. While a few publishers have – in – house indexers (those who index), most indexing is done by freelancers, often working from home, hired by authors, publishers or any independent business which manages the production of a book to accomplish the various tasks involved including copyediting, proofreading and indexing called “packagers”. Therefore, indexing work is not for those who lack an orderly mind and a capacity for taking pains. A good index is a minor work of art but it is also the product of clear thought and meticulous care.

Index Service provider example:

The National Agriculture Library USA provides Bibliography of Agriculture issued monthly since 1942 provides index by subject and author to all important book and articles acquired by library in agriculture and related sciences. It is a computer –produced permuted title index issued in three parts keyboard index a bibliography, and author index

Alphabetical Indexes

One of the best known methods of index arrangement is the single alphabetical index in which names and subject entries are filed together. This is a kind of general purpose and simple index forms that many people are familiar with. Alphabetical indexes are the most common index method, many index types also follow this alphabetical format of arrangement not only because it is simple to create but also because it follows a known pattern which people are used to. Alphabetical indexes according to Cleveland and Cleveland (2001) is based on the orderly principle of the letters of the alphabets and it is used for the arrangement of subject headings, cross-references and qualifying terms as well as main headings. All the entries come in one alphabetical arrangement with subject terms, author names and place names. Many times, alphabetical index arrangements also have some element of classified order and vice-versa in order to guarantee its effective use.

 Periodical Indexes

Periodical indexes are lists of periodical articles in which citations are entered by subjects or in a classified manner, and sometimes under the author’s names separately or in a single alphabetical order. They may be general, devoted to an academic discipline or group of disciplines or restricted to a particular kind of publication. Periodical indexes as the name implies are related to journals and there are basically two types of periodical index, the individual and broad indexes. While the individual index are to individual journals in which the journal publisher prepares the index, usually under the direction of the journal editor; broad indexes focus on a group of journals

Classified Indexes

This is an index in which entries are arranged under headings indicating hierarchy divisions and sub-divisions with classes based on the subject matter being indexed. It does not follow the conventional alphabetical style; its arrangement is hierarchical, of related topics and working down to the specific. It is a systematic arrangement by classes or subject headings. Many times users who are naturally conversant with alphabetical index arrangement find classified indexes difficult to use because the method arrangement is strange to them. It is important to note however that for readers who understand the hierarchical breakdown of vocabulary which classified indexes provides, searching is easier and simple if the users want to conduct generic searches since the breakdown of terms is usually presented.

CONCLUSION

Indexing and abstracting services have a strong connection with libraries and information centers. Economically these services have relied on libraries and other information agencies as subscribers. In the twenty-first century, indexing and abstracting services are provided as commercial services to users. Databases enjoy subscription from institutions and organization worldwide. They are easily searchable online and they provide users the luxury of speculative searching. Computer and the internet have in no small why complemented and improved upon access to indexing and abstracting services when considered from the point of view of the user.