In her journal ‘Some Issues in the Indexing of Images’, Sara Shatford explores the issues which are pertinent in indexing a pictorial representation or an image. The journal postulates that indexing should be based on image attributes and should give access to significant image groups instead of only specific images.
The journal begins with the various methods of accessing an individual image from an index based on the various attributes of the image. Various factors are considered when it comes to the attributes of an image, first is the biography of the image which is the description of the progenitors, and the various description of the image in terms of place cost, and time. Secondly is the subjective perspective where the image is indexed concerning the subject matter which it is addressing. It is the most used method, yet full of chaos (Layne, 1958, p.2-6).
This has three points of view; the image can be indexed as an image of or an image about a given phenomenon. An image can also be indexed as either general or specific for instance a photo of a bridge can be a representation of a specific bridge or generally indicate a bridge. Further, the subject of an image can be described into space, time, objectives, and events and activities that are used in the image (Shatford, 1984, p. 5-11).
Thirdly the images can be indexed using exemplified characteristics where the characteristics of the images are used to reference an image such as a poster, photograph, or etching. Lastly is relational indexing where the images are indexed relative to another image or textual context. This is used in cases where the image is not self-explanatory and therefore cannot make a complete meaning on its own (Carson, 1977, p.206-209).
Groups of images are important to be indexed so that comparisons can be made easily, enable easy access where the user is not sure of the indexing attributes and facilitate highly specific search methods. The image groupings are ascertained after considering where the image appears in the indexing procedure, the basis of the grouping, the detail level that is demanded by a certain group, and the ability to predict the significance of a grouping (Svenonius, 1994, p.600-606).
This journal is very informative and has been systematic in addressing indexing issues, particularly those that are related to images. The article has focused on all the various methods of addressing an image or groups of images. One of the weaknesses of the journal is that it does not give allowance or suggestions of alternatives that can be used in reference images that are not in print form or current possible developments in the indexing styles at the same time it lacks the actual prescription of cataloging (Yee, 1994, p.9-28).
A striking feature in this journal is that there is a difference in the grouping access methods and individual images. It is puzzling that group indexing is more preferred than individual images. it is also surprising that there are more than two ways of indexing a particular image. This can be exemplified by Pettersson (1988) who found out 43 different designations of images after researching with a sample space of 97. This, therefore, is a Cataloging Classic in the manner in which it has addressed the image referencing comprehensively (Pettersson, 1988).
In conclusion, this journal is very informative and has categorically outlined the various indexing techniques in detail. This journal describes the various image indexing methods but does not give how the referencing is done (Yee, 1983, p.1-18).
References
Carson, D.M. (1977). What is a Serial Publication? Journal of Academic Librarianship, 3(4), 206-209.
Layne, S.S. (1958). Some Issues in the Indexing of Images. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 45(8), 2-6.
Pettersson, R. (1988). Interpretation of image content. Toronto: ECTJ.
Shatford, S. (1984). Describing a picture: A thousand words are seldom cost effective. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 4(4), 5-11.
Svenonius, E. (1994). Access to Nonbook Materials: The Limits of Subject Indexing for Visual and Aural Languages. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 45(8), 600-606.
Yee, M. (1983). Integration of Nonbook Materials in AACR2. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly , 3(4), 1-18.
Yee, M.M. (1994). “What is a Work?”. Part 1: The User and the Objects of the Catalog. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 19(1), 9-28.