How to make an index / by Henry B. Wheatley.

  • Henry B. Wheatley
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: How to make an index / by Henry B. Wheatley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    that are required to form a good indexer ? I think they may be stated under five headings : 1. Common-sense. 2. Insight into the meaning of the author. 3. Power of analysis. 4. Common feeling with the consulter and insight into his mind, so that the indexer may put the references he has drawn from the book under headings where they are most likely to be sought. 5. General knowledge, with the power of overcoming difficulties. The ignorant man cannot make a good index. The indexer will find that his miscellaneous knowledge is sure to come in useful, and that which he might doubt would ever be used by him will be found to be helpful when least expected. It may seem absurd to make out that the good indexer should be a sort of Admir¬ able Crichton. There can be no doubt, however, that he requires a certain amount of knowledge; and the good cataloguer and indexer, without knowing everything, will be found to possess a keen sense of knowledge.