When should you use Indexes and/or Abstracts?

Because you cannot read every book, periodical, and article...



Indexes and Abstracts are very helpful because they enable users to quickly search the material and determine if the material:

• Covers the relevant topic area. For example: you are writing a research paper on the Harlem Renaissance, you could search the Black Thought and Culture Index, which is organized by subject.
• Covers the time frame needed. For example, you are interested in reading dissertations produced before the 20th century... you could use Index to Theses, which contains abstracts for theses accepted for higher degrees by the universities of Great Britain and Ireland since 1716.
• Provides the necessary depth… ABSTRACTS in particular enable a quick scan. Of course we all read the fascinating library school articles, especially those about Reference, but in case we are running short on time, Abstracts are an invaluable resource.
• Provides the necessary perspective(s)… are you looking for academic materials? Or are you searching for a more popular perspective? Perhaps you want a literary review? There are different tools that identify and represent these different perspectives.
  • Examples: JSTOR, Expanded Academic, Pub Med

INDEXES and ABSTRACTS can be referenced at any time. In fact, good research require ongoing engagement with materials. Instead of Google or Wikipedia, try a more reliable source with “added value.” Indexes and Abstracts are created by librarians so they carry extra authority.

At the beginning stages of research, these resource tools can help set the parameters of investigation and of what is possible.

** Get a sneak peek without full feature: Review Indexes
** Build a bibliography: Citations Indexes

At the middle of a research paper, they can help expand the bibliography, enable refining of the original research question, and help survey materials the user does not have time to read.

**For Library 200 research project, turn to: Library, Information Sciences & Technology Abstracts with Full Text (LIST)

At the end of an investigation, indexes and abstracts can let the user see future directions and unsolved problems.