Purpose of an Index:

A successful index leads the reader to the whereabouts of the information sought - whether in a book, journal, manual, the web or data bases.

Index headings must be reader friendly and lead directly to the material sought.

A good index:

• anticipates the user's viewpoint
• includes appropriate cross references
• exercises a consistent and clear format
• uses words most likely to recognized by the reader

A first rate indexer:

• provides the necessary intellectual collaboration between author and reader
• provides a professional objectivity toward the subject matter that greatly aids reader comprehension