INDEXING TECHNICAL LITERATURE AT ALUMINIUM LABORATORIES LIMITED* GERALD F. RENNER Aluminium Secretariat Limited, Montreal, Quebec MOIRA C. JONES Aluminium Laboratories Limited, Kingston, Ontario
THE
ALPHABETICAL semi-classified system of indexing technical literature described in this article is based on the use of main subject headings with special subdivisions where needed. The main subject headings were chosen for their conciseness, descriptiveness, and clarity. Some minor subjects were inserted as subdivisions of major ones and their location indicated by references. Related material was brought together by extensive cross referencing on a definite pattern within the system of headings itself. This referencing was done in two directions, from general subjects to specific subjects and from specific subjects back to general ones. No cross references were shown between related specific subjects. In this way cross referencing the documents themselves under several headings was avoided. Wherever necessary, explanatory notes were added to guide the indexer. The format of a page of subject headigs, including subdivisions and cross references, is shown at the end. To supplement the special subdivisions under particular main subjects, and to avoid repetition, a list of standard subdivisions, constantly recurring under various subjects, was prefaced to the main list. Cross references inserted in the main list explain the use of these subdivisions. The list of standard subdivisions inchdes such aspects as analysis, corrosion, properties, and statistics. Other smaller lists, prefaced t o and cross referenced in the main list of subject headings, include subdivisions used only under specific alloys and classes of alloys, adjectives used as modifications to make inverted headigs, and terms used to make oompound headings. Four types of headiigs are possible with the use of these subdivisions, modifications, and terms:
1. Simple headings 2. Subdivided headings 3. Inverted headings 4. Compound headings Simple headings consist of one word which is the name of a material, process, or phenomenon, e. g., copper, soldering, or radiation. Subdivided headings consist of the combination of a subdivision with a main heading which may be either simple, inverted, or compound, e. g., Aluminum-Uses Aluminum, Comminuted-Uses Aluminum sulfate--Uses A member of the Aluminium Limited Group of Companies.
Inverted headings consist of nouns fallowed by modifying adjectives, the two being separated by commas, e. g., "Paint, Aluminum." Inverted headings are used when the second word in the heading, as it is normally written, is more important than the first one, thus keeping like subjects together. Compound headings consist of nouns written together without dashes or commas to make one heading, e. g., "Steel industry."
The subject headiigs are related by four types of cross references: "See" references "See also" references ''(s)'' references "(sa)" references "See" references direct the searcher from headings not used, i. e., synonyms, to the heading which is used, e. g., 1. 2. 3. 4.
INTRAGRANULAR corrosion see Corrosion, Intragranular No documents are indexed under the heading "INTRAGRANULAR corrosion." The search is directed to the heading used i. e., "CORROSION, Intragranular" where he will find his information.
"See also" referencesdirect the searcher from headings not used, i. e,, synonyms, to the heading which is used, e . g., "See slso " references draw to the user's attention other headings under which documents on related subjects are classed. "See also" references are made: 1. from any one subject to a related subject or subjects of equal value and vice versa, e. g,, ELECTRIC cells see also Electrolytic cells ELECTROLYTIC cells see also Electric cells 2. from a general subject to more specific subjects, e. g., JOINING see also Bolting Riveting Bonding Soldering Brazing Welding
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"(sY references remind the indexer to make a "see" reference from a heading not used to the heading which is used. For example, when a document is being indexed under the heading "CORROSION, Intragranular," the reference CORROSION, Intragranular (s) Intragranulm corrosion reminds the indexer to make a ''see" reference from "Intrrtpanular corrosion." "(say references, which are made only from a specific subject to the general auhiect, are used: (1) to remind the indexer when entering a document under a
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specific subject to make a "see also" reference from the general subject. For example, when a document is being indexed under the heading "WELDING," the reference
"Phase equilibrium studies."
Phase equilibrium studies-Al-Cu-Mg system Phase equilibrium studies-Al-Mg-Si system
l,x,--m -*AT .-. n T N , 2
(se) Joining reminds the indexer to make a "see also" reference from "Joining" to "Welding,' unless the "see also" reference has already heen . .. ..rnnrle~ -. .
(2) to draw to the attention of a person using the index that additional information may be found under the general subject oomplementing that listed under specific subject, e. g., the reference
For example:
Similarly, chemical reactions are indexed alphabetically, e' 5'') Chemical reactions-A1
+ NaOH
~h~ indexing of alloys requires particular with a Wecific Or alloys is indexed under that alloy or class of alloys. For example, a document dealing with Alcan 755 WELDING aluminum alloy is indexed under that alloy rather than (sa) . . Joinine under aluminum in general. Alloys are classified acindicates to the searcher that additional information on welding , cording to their composition, first under the may be found under the heading "Joining." specific metal which forms the base of the alloy and then The diagrams below illustrate how these references by the main elements arranged in descending order by the percentage of the element present. For exwork. ample, documents on aluminum base alloys containing see see also see also copper and zinc as the only alloying elements would be A A AB G-D (general) E Y F (specific) indexed under "Aluminum alloys-Al-Cu-Zn alloys" (8) see a180 (sa) if the amount of copper present exceeded the amount of The application of this system of subject headings is zinc. If, on the other hand, the amount of zinc exboth simple and direct. Each document is classed ceeded the amount of copper, the alloy would be under the most specific heading adequate to cover the classed under "Aluminum alloys-Al-Zn-Cu alloys." Specific alloys, as distinct from a class as in the subject matter. In the majority of cases, one subject headmg will suffice,whether a process, a material, or example above, are indexed in the same manner, exits properties are stressed. For example, we may have cept that the amount of the alloying elements exthree documents all dealing with weldmg. One may pressed in percentage is usually written below the deal with the weldmg of steel, another with the repair chemical symbols, and the alloy designation or trade of aluminum castings by weldmg, and the third with name is added for positive identification, e. g., spot welding in general. With the use of our subject Aluminum alloys-Al- Cu - Mg- Mn - Alcan 17s headings list, the first document would be indexed 4.35 0.65 0.6 under "Welding steel," the second under "Castings, Aluminum-Welding," and the third under "Welding, In actual practice, it has been.found feasible to index Resistance (spot)." Should the second document be documents on alloys simply under alloy designations required by anyone requesting all available material arranged in alphabetical order as subdivisions of the on welding, it would be located by following the lead base metal, e. g., "Aluminum alloys-Alcan 24s." given on the cross-reference card in the card index a t This simplification has been made possible by the inthe beginning of the entries under "Welding." Such a clusion of an alphabetical index to aluminum alloys by cross-reference card would refer the searcher from trade names as an appendix 6s the list of subject "Welding" to all other specific subdivisions actually headings. While this list of subject headings was designed in use, e. g., specifically for the libraries of one company in the Welding field of aluminum technology, the authors believe that see also Castings, Aluminum-Welding many of the fundamental principles underlying this This brings out a very important advantage of this system can be applied successfully to the development system of indexing technical literature which was of subject heading lists in the fields of metallurgy, mentioned previously, namely, that the extensive use chemistry, engineering, and allied technical fields. In of cross-references in the subject heading list itself ferrous metallurgy, for example, alloys may be classified (and consequently in the card index) eliminates the by their base, iron, and main alloying elements such need of cross-referencing each individual document as manganese, molybdenum, chromium, and nickel. This system has been applied to nontechuical fields under a multitude of headmgs in order to cover all the and has proved its worth there also. In the economic, topics involved. In addition to the ordinary subject headings,, pro- kancial, and legal fields a much smaller list of subvision has been made for indexing special subjects. ject headings was compiled on the same principle as The indexing of phase equilibrium studies, for example, that used in the field of aluminum technology. One presents a problem to many physical metallurgists. of the key features which has proved such an advantage Our solution is a simple alphabetical arrangement of in making a flexible system is that very often the same dements by chemical symbols under the main heading word which is used as a main heading for general
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articles can be used either directly or with slight modification as a subdivision under various other subjects. For example, the headmgs, "Economics," "Labor laws," and "Taxation" are used as main headings and also as subdivisions under names of countries. Since its inception in the libraries of Aluminium Laboratories Limited a t Kingston, Arvida, and Montreal, the system described has been used in largescale reclassification of technical documents comprising books, company reports, periodical literature, specifications, and trade publications. Classification, i. e., assigning of subject headings, is done by assistant librarians who are university graduates or the equivalent. Use of our list of subject headings, including technical background, requires on-the-job training of approximately six weeks. A modified system of cataloging has been developed and a manual issued for the direction of our catalogers. All cataloging in the Kingston library is done by typists who can be trained to follow our methods in a period of three weeks. Printing of catalog cards is done on a standard Multilith machine using duplimats on which main entries for three documents have been typed. These are run off on special 5 X 9-in. card stock perforated to give three standard 3 X 5-in. catalog cards. Finally, the added entries and tracings are typed on the cards. Much emphasis is, a t present, being placed on the development of punched card systems of indexing, although it is generally agreed that their use is limited to restricted fields. Experience has shown that this system of classification by subject headings can be applied to broad and varied fields with a minimum of spccialised subject knowledge. I n the more restricted field of alloy classification, the groundwork bas been laid for the development of a punched card system.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
The cards have not been developed to date as this alphabetical system for classifying alloys by chemical composition bas proved adequate. This article is written to bring to the attention of metallurgists, chemists, and librarians the possibilities of indexing by an integrated system of subject headmgs. The method of cross-referencing employed makes it possible to follow subjects, processes, and operations along a straight, logical chain, from general subjects to more specific ones, and vice versa. FORMAT OF PAGE OF SUBJECT HEADINGS ANODIZING see also subdivision Anodizing under s ecific subjects, e. 9.. Welded joints-Anoieing (s) Anodic oxidation Oxidation, Electrolytic (sa)
Coatings, Artificial Finishing, Electroehemicd
ANODIZING &minum -Chromic acid processes see also Bengough-Stuart process (sa) Chromic acid -Sulfuric acid processes see also Alumilite proress Anox Eloxal GS process (sa) Sulfuric aoirl .4NONIZING see Finishing aluminum, Chemieal-Oxide
coatings
ANORTHOSITE see also Alumina-Production from anorthosite (sa) Aluminous ores Rooks, igneous (intrusive) ANOX process (sa) Anodizing aluminum-Sulfuric acid processes
