Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice [Hardcover]

F W Lancaster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2003 | ISBN-10: 1856044823 | ISBN-13: 978-1856044820 | Edition: 3rd

Offering guidance on indexing and abstracting as practised by published indexing and abstracting services (in paper or electronic form), this title is equally applicable to those concerned with improving subject access in online catalogues. Fully revised to take into account the latest changes since 1998 - especially in the areas of multimedia sources, text searching, automatic indexing and the Internet - it is illustrated throughout with useful indexing and abstracting exercises to guide the practitioner. The areas covered include: indexing principle and practice; pre-coordinate indexes; consistency and quality of indexing; types and functions of abstracts; writing an abstract; good evaluation; approaches used in indexing and abstracting services; enhancing indexing; natural language in information retrieval; machine-aided processes; automatic indexing and abstracting; and the future of indexing and abstracting services. Designed primarily as a text to be used in teaching indexing and abstracting in schools of library and information science, the title should also be useful reading for all individuals and institutions involved in training and related activities, including practising library and information professionals and database producers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This is primarily a text for teaching in schools of library and information science. It is also invaluable reading for anyone developing a search engine or planning to publish a bibliographic [tool.]' MANAGING INFORMATION

From the Publisher

F. W. Lancaster, professor emeritus at the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science, is the recipient of numerous awards for his books in the field of library and information science. The first edition of Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice, which appeared in 1991, won the "Best Information Science Book Award" in 1992 from the American Society for Information Science. An additional three of his books have earned this ASIS "Best Book" award, and another two have received awards from the American Library Association. Technology and Management in Library and Information Services (co-authored with Beth Sandore) is listed on Library Journal's 1998 best professional reading list. Professor Lancaster is the editor of Library Trends, the premier thematic quarterly journal in the field of American librarianship, produced by the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 472 pages
• Publisher: Facet Publishing; 3rd edition (July 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1856044823
• ISBN-13: 978-1856044820
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,794,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The state of the art of Information Science, April 28, 2000

By 

Birger Hjørland (Bagsværd, Denmark) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice (Hardcover)

F.W.Lancaster is a true pioneer in Information Science. He is in my opinion at least among the top ten along with persons such as Eugene Garfield and Patrick Wilson. And in a way he is broader than they are. This book represents in my view the state of the art of a core area in information science today. This does not mean, that I am not critical of it. I have written a long review of this book in the Journal of Documentation, June 1999, vol. 55, no. 3, pp. 345-351. In this review I outline how research in this field can be improved. But I believe it will take a long time before we can replace this book with a better one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Essential, November 30, 2005

By 

Michelynn (Tallahassee, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice (Hardcover)

Since 'Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice' was a required text for my Subject Analysis course, I expected Lancaster's book to be involved and informative... and I certainly wasn't disappointed. Not only does he provide analysis of indexing and abstracting theories, but he includes specific guidelines and examples for a variety of techniques. Most reviews concern earlier editions, but the third edition has only slight changes (addition of chapters concerning indexing/abstracting in context of advancing technology).