LIBR 512: INDEXING -- COURSE SYLLABUS
Program: Master
of Library and Information Studies
Year: Winter
session 2006-2007, term 2
Course Schedule: Thursdays,
9:00-12:00
Location: FNS 40
Instructor: Mary Sue Stephenson
Office location: SLAIS, room 332
Office phone: 604-822-6392
Office hours: As is my practice I will not have posted office
hours during the term, but you can generally count on my being at SLAIS
all day Monday, and Wednesday-Friday. I will not be at SLAIS on most Tuesdays.
In any case, if you want to be sure I'm going to be available then I suggest
you make a firm appointment - otherwise just pop in if I'm in my office
and the door is open.
E-mail address: mss@interchange.ubc.ca
Course website address: http://www.slais.ubc.ca/courses/libr512/06-07-wt2/index.htm
Course Goal: The goal of this course is to provide students
with knowledge of the theory and practice of indexing of traditional, electronic
and object-based documents.
Course Objectives:
-
Understand the benefits and problems of indexing systems based on pre-coordination, post-coordination or a combination of the two, with particular emphasis on computer-based retrieval systems;
- Understand
the basic types of indexing languages, with particular emphasis
on the relative benefits and weaknesses inherent in controlled,
uncontrolled, and natural languages, as well as the implications
of each in manual and
computer-based retrieval systems; - Understand the use of natural and free indexing and their place in the indexing process of information storage and retrieval systems, particularly as enhancements to various types of controlled vocabulary languages and indexing.
-
Understand the construction and use of thesauri and other controlled vocabulary mechanisms, with particular emphasis on the use of international thesauri standards;
-
Understand the issues associated with indexing electronic information such as found on the World Wide Web;
-
Understand the basic types of indexes, including a consideration of international standards;
-
Understand the basic principles of back-of-the-book indexing, including both manual and automated approaches;
-
Be able to create a controlled vocabulary indexing language
-
Be able to index a web site using HTML
-
Be able to index journal articles using a combination of controlled vocabulary and natural language
-
Be able to use thesaurus creation software
-
Be able to use back-of-the-book and WWW indexing software
Course Topics:
- Pre-coordination & post-coordination
- Indexing languages
- Thesauri
-
Types of indexes
-
Controlled vocabulary indexing [open system]
- Abstracting
-
Back-of-the-book indexing [closed system]
-
WWW indexing [both open & closed system]
Prerequisites: LIBR
500, 501, 502, 503 or permission of SLAIS Graduate
Advisor. Limited
to graduate students.
Format of the course: Class meets on Thursday mornings. Class
sessions will be a combination of lectures, discussions and in-class exercises
Required and Recommended Reading:
-
Recommended text: Facing the Text: Content and Structure in Book Indexing, by Do Mi Stauber. Cedar Row Press, 2004. ISBN: 0-9748345-0-5. May be purchased directly from publisher -- details will be provided in first class meeting.
-
Required and recommended readings from selected web sites, the journal literature, and other sources will be provided in class.
Course Assignments, Due dates and Weight in relation to final course mark:
Assignment |
Due Date |
Weight |
Thesaurus
Assignment
|
March 15 |
45% |
WWW Index [individual assignment] |
April 16 |
45% |
In-class & Out-of-class
exercises
|
Various dates |
10% |
Course Schedule [subject to change]:
Date |
Topics |
Assignments Due |
|
January 11 |
Introduction to
Course |
|
|
January 18 |
Aboutness -- Methaphors |
|
|
January 25 |
Indexing Languages
cont'd |
|
|
February 1 |
Indexing Languages
cont'd |
|
|
|
IThesauri cont'd |
|
|
February 15 |
Thesauri cont'd |
|
|
February 22 |
READING WEEK - No Class |
|
|
|
Thesaurus software |
|
|
March 8 |
Retrieval cont'd |
|
|
March 15 |
Request-Oriented
Indexing cont'd |
Assignment #1 Due |
|
|
NISO Guidelines
for Indexes and Related Information Retrieval Devices |
|
|
March 29 |
WWW Indexing |
||
April 5 |
WWW Indexing |
|
|
April 12 |
Becoming an Indexer |
|
|
April 16 |
|
Assignment 2 Due |
|
Attendance: The calendar states: "Regular attendance is expected
of students in all their classes (including lectures, laboratories, tutorials,
seminars, etc.). Students who neglect their academic work and assignments
may be excluded from the final examinations. Students who are unavoidably
absent because of illness or disability should report to their instructors
on return to classes."
The University accommodates students with disabilities who have registered with the Disability Resource Centre. The University accommodates students whose religious obligations conflict with attendance, submitting assignments, or completing scheduled tests and examinations. Please let your instructor know in advance, preferably in the first week of class, if you will require any accommodation on these grounds. Students who plan to be absent for varsity athletics, family obligations, or other similar commitments, cannot assume they will be accommodated, and should discuss their commitments with the instructor before the drop date.
Regular on-time attendance in class is an important and required part of
this course. Much of the material covered during class is not readily available
from other sources. I will provide copies of all handouts distributed during
sessions you miss, but it is your responsibility to obtain notes from one
of the other class members. I
recognize that sudden unexpected problems arise for everyone (including
myself), but I expect you to attend and be on time for class. Repeated
absences or tardiness will result in a lower course mark or in a request
from me that you drop the course. The extent of the reduction is at my
discretion. If you know ahead of time that you will be coming in late,
please let me know. If you ARE late for class (for whatever reason) please
go ahead and come into the classroom rather than waiting for the break.
Evaluation: Assignments will not be accepted late unless prior
arrangements are made with me. Consideration will be given to legitimate
emergencies. If an extension is granted, a late penalty may be imposed
at my discretion; this will be discussed when you request an extension. Please
see note above on class attendance requirements as related to course marks. All
assignments will be awarded letter grades using the evaluative criteria
given on the SLAIS web site: http://www.slais.ubc.ca/RESOURCES/slais-marking.htm.
If you receive a mark such as A-/B+ you should interpret it as a low A-,
likewise a mark
of B+/A-
should
be
interpreted as a high B+. [The top mark represents the awarded letter grade,
and the bottom mark indicates the relative position of the numerical equivalent
in the range for the letter grade on the SLAIS web site].
Written & Spoken English Requirement: Written and spoken
work may receive a lower mark if it is, in the opinion of the
instructor, deficient in English.
Course
Internet Discussion List
