Indexing refers to representing information from documents in a way that allows searchers to easily retrieve that information. An index acts like an alphabetized list that directs searchers to relevant information. There are two main types of indexing - intellectual and mechanical. Intellectual indexing involves creating controlled vocabularies and keywords, while mechanical indexing involves alphabetizing and formatting index entries using computers. Automatic indexing uses algorithms and keywords to create indexes without human input, while automated indexing uses computers for mechanical tasks and humans for intellectual tasks like analyzing information.

1. What is indexing? Indexing is a system used to represent information from a document so that those conducting searches can retrieve the information easily. “ An index can be viewed as an alphabetized list of items that direct the searcher to further information.” 1

2. Indexing can be seen as a funnel. The funnel takes the information from the documents and comprises it into neat alphabetized lists that facilitate a searcher in retrieving the information . 2

3. Types of Indexing Activities Intellectual and Mechanical

4. Intellectual The intellectual part of indexing refers to the creation of controlled vocabulary, keywords or natural language used to create a retrieval system.

5. Mechanical Computers perform the mechanical activities, which are to alphabetize and format index entries.

6. Types of Indexing Automatic & Automated

7. What is Automatic Indexing? Automatic indexing occurs when computers do both the mechanical and intellectual parts of indexing.

8. Automatic Indexing Information Also known as machine indexing Uses algorithms, keywords and controlled vocabulary to create indexes Solves inconsistency and high cost problems associated with manual indexing Computers can index large amounts of information When computers deal with the intellectual part of indexing they can not evaluate the information like humans can

9. What is Automated Indexing? Automated indexing is when computers are used for the mechanical operations and humans deal with the intellectual portion.

10. Automated Indexing Information Computers are used for the tedious mechanical tasks so that humans don’t have to perform them Humans can concentrate on the intellectual porting and analyze the information Humans can combine and coordinate terms, cross-reference, link headings, and indicate relationships between terms which facilitate searches . 3

11. Helpful Websites This website has a helpful explanation of indexing: http://infomotions.com/musings/indexing/ This website has information on automatic indexing: http://www.db.dk/bh/lifeboat_ko/concepts/automatic_indexing.htm This website talks about why we need the human touch to write indexes: http://www.backwordsindexing.com/Comp.html

12. Works cited Richard Rubin, Foundations for Library and Information Science , 2nd ed. (Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc. 2004), p. 242. 2. http://knut.hinkelmann.ch/lectures/irko/IRKO-InformationExtraction.pdf 3. Richard Rubin, Foundations for Library and Information Science , 2nd ed. (Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc. 2004), p. 241.