Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 14:17:55 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: bob wallace Subject: Subheading and locators ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- I'm working on a book on feminist ethics. One of the main entries will be "Gender differences in moral reasoning," and it will have subheadings like "division of moral labor" and "empirical studies of." So far so good. The discussion of gender differences in moral reasoning spans about nine pages, but not every page contains stuff that fits under a subhead, because some of the discussion is very general. I'm wondering about two possible ways of treating the locators: a) Gender differences in moral reasoning, 117-19 division of moral labor, 119-22 empirical studies of, 122-25 b) Gender differences in moral reasoning, 117-25 division of moral labor, 119-22 empirical studies of, 122-25 Choice (a) seems misleading to me. If the list of subheads is long enough to conceal (because of alpha arrangement) where the overall discussion ends, then the reader will not easily recognize that the discussion of gender differences in moral reasoning is nine pages long rather than three. Choice (b) seems a bit redundant. I couldn't find a definitive answer in The Chicago Manual of Style. At 18.91 the education example might support (b), but 18.135 seems to support (a). Sorry if this question is old and boring to the oldtimers. Cheers, Carol Roberts Have fun, look cool, and dance to the beat. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 14:18:21 ECT Reply-To: ab190@freenet.carleton.ca Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: "Richard W. Woodley" Subject: Re: legal constraints on choice of indexing terms ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- > >----------------------------Original message---------------------------- >This query pertains mostly to legal indexing, but I'll be interested to hear if >it applies to other indexing as well. >It happens occasionally that I am constrained from using the main heading I >think is best because of a legal argument. THIS IS NOT A LEGAL OPINION BUT It has always been my contention that indexes are not intended to state facts or make arguments only to point to where something is discussed or filed. If users who are interested in a particular company or term would find the information useful that name or term should be an index entry, similarly if a user will think of a particular company or term when they are looking for particular information that name or term should be an index entry. I do not know if placing these particular terms in quotes would ease or worsen the potential legal implications but that may be one solution. If someone calls someone a "Nazi" in a document, indexing the reference under "Nazis" should not make the indexer liable for a liable suit, I would certainly hope not - the indexer is not creating the information only providing access to it and that should not be a crime in a criminal or civil sense. -- ********* Richard W. Woodley (ab190@freenet.carleton.ca) ********** * Indexer-Analyst, House of Commons Index & Reference Service * * Secretary, Bridlewood Residents Hydro Line Committee * ************* "Communicate Globally - Act Locally" **************** ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1993 16:13:00 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Charlotte Skuster Subject: indexless books This is one of those things that make my blood boil. I am the selector for books in the life sciences in our library. In addition to ordering books, I screen books coming in on approval. In the case of approval books, first thing I usually do is make sure that the book has an index and I often reject a book that has come in if it does not have an index. I do not do this 100% of the time, although I would like to. I may opt to keep a book even if lacks an index if the table of contents is very detailed or if I feel that the information is unique enough to merit keeping the book anyway. Today, I encountered two books from the same (very reputable) publisher (of very expensive books). Neither of them had indexes. One of the books came in on approval and I rejected it. The other had been ordered (presumably by me), cataloged and was ready to be shelved. I have permission to return the book and write a nasty (but polite) letter to the publisher on university stationary. The sad thing is...I would love to have both of these books in our collection...if they had indexes. Apart from blowing off steam to what I know is a sympathetic audience, I am curious to know if others of you have had this experience. If so what do you do about it? Charlotte Skuster Index-l moderator