A bibliographic index is a bibliography intended to help find a publication. Citations are usually listed by author and subject in separate sections, or in a single alphabetical sequence under a system of authorized headings collectively known as controlled vocabulary, developed over time by the indexing service. Indexes of this kind are issued in print periodical form (issued in monthly or quarterly paperback supplements, cumulated annually), online, or both. Since the 1970s, they are typically generated as output from bibliographic databases (whereas earlier they were manually compiled using index cards).
"From many points of view an index is synonymous with a catalogue, the principles of analysis used being identical, but whereas an index entry merely locates a subject, a catalogue entry includes descriptive specification of a document concerned with the subject".
The index may help search the literature of, for example, an academic field or discipline (example: Philosopher's Index), to works of a specific literary form (Biography Index) or published in a specific format (Newspaper Abstracts), or to the analyzed contents of a serial publication (New York Times Index).
See also
- Citation index
- Guide to information sources
- Indexing and abstracting service
- Library catalog
- List of academic databases and search engines
- Metabibliography
- Metadata registry
- Subject index
References
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A bibliographic index is a bibliography intended to help find a publication Citations are usually listed by author and subject in separate sections or in a single alphabetical sequence under a system of authorized headings collectively known as controlled vocabulary developed over time by the indexing service Indexes of this kind are issued in print periodical form issued in monthly or quarterly paperback supplements cumulated annually online or both Since the 1970s they are typically generated as output from bibliographic databases whereas earlier they were manually compiled using index cards From many points of view an index is synonymous with a catalogue the principles of analysis used being identical but whereas an index entry merely locates a subject a catalogue entry includes descriptive specification of a document concerned with the subject The index may help search the literature of for example an academic field or discipline example Philosopher s Index to works of a specific literary form Biography Index or published in a specific format Newspaper Abstracts or to the analyzed contents of a serial publication New York Times Index See alsoCitation index Guide to information sources Indexing and abstracting service Library catalog List of academic databases and search engines Metabibliography Metadata registry Subject indexReferencesReitz Joan M 2004 Dictionary for Library and Information Science Westport Connecticut Libraries Unlimited p 353 ISBN 1 59158 075 7 Prytherch Ray 2000 Harrod s Librarians Glossary and Reference Book Ninth ed Hants England Gower p 366 ISBN 0 566 08018 4 This article relating to library science or information science is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte
