Page 258 - DLIS006_INFORMATION SOURCES AND SERVICES

Unit 13: Indexing Services and Abstracting (I&A) Periodicals

13.4 Features of I & A Periodicals Notes

The essential features of I & A periodicals should be assessed in term of the features described
here.
Coverage: In order to fulfil the functions enumerated, the I & A periodicals should, as far
as possible, be comprehensive in reporting the literature so that they can be relied upon as
an exhaustive source of information. It is necessary, at least to specify and maintain
consistency in the scope and criteria of coverage to ensure the user as to what to expect.
Time Lag: The indexing and abstracting periodicals should report literature with as little
time lag as possible after publication of the original, otherwise the very purpose of this
type of reference source gets defeated

Indexes: The indexing and abstracting periodicals should have high retrieval efficiency
through provision of quality indexes.

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Caution The search should yield optimum recall and relevance of desired information.

Bibliographic Description: The citation should be accurate and according to established
standard practices.

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Caution The abstract should be of a high quality in scientific and textual presentation.

Ease in Consultation: The indexing and abstracting periodicals should be easy, convenient,
and quick to consult.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:
6. It is not important to specify and maintain consistency in the scope and criteria of coverage
to ensure the user as to what to expect.
7. The indexing and abstracting periodicals should be easy, convenient, and quick to consult.

13.5 Importance and Presentation

Now let us discuss the importance and presentation of I & A periodicals.

13.5.1 Importance

I & A periodicals point out only to the existence of source of information and do not carry actual
information. Indexing periodicals give bare bibliographical description of primary documents.
They are not, therefore, substitutes for the original documents. On the other hand, abstracting of
documents helps the users to have an idea of the thought content of the documents and its
relevance to their research interest. Many times they substitute the original documents various
aspects like coverage and arrangement of entries, indexes that are provided and other helpful
features are dealt with in this unit.

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