Explorations in Indexing and Abstracting: Pointing, Virtue, and Power (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781563081842)

Indexing and abstracting often fail because too much emphasis is given to the mechanics of description and too little is given to what ought to be described. This text focuses on how people seek information. Drawing on a delightfully broad base of intellectual resources--from information theory and classic literature to Beethoven and MTV--the author considers the basic question of how we can index and abstract our information so that the user can actually find it. He also addresses the challenges and opportunities resulting from the information and technology explosion. O'Connor discusses the shortcomings of traditional indexing and abstracting systems and then presents essays, exercises, and case studies that foster consideration of the elements of a successful search in a variety of settings. Useful as a companion volume for reference, cataloging, and indexing and abstracting classes, this book is also of interest to professional librarians, information brokers, and online searchers.

Author: Brian C. O'Connor,American Libraries
ISBN-10: 1563081849
ISBN-13: 9781563081842
Publisher: Libraries Unlimited
Language: English
Published: 06/15/1996
Pages: 182
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.03lbs
Size: 9.55h x 6.42w x 0.67d