Selecting Terms

ONE OF THE biggest differences between book-style and collection indexing is the term selection process. This is because book-style indexes are stand-alone items, and the indexer can usually choose any wording and combination of headings and subheadings within the bounds of proper indexing practice. In collection indexing, on the other hand, indexers are usually constrained by the need to maintain consistency with past indexing, or with other indexers working at the same time, and may have to select terms from a controlled vocabulary (Chapter 6).