Environmental studies and natural history texts: indexing issues

Abstract

Texts on natural history, horticulture, and environmental topics present interesting challenges for indexers. Animal and plant names, the handling of hierarchical information, wide variations in scope and fluid terminology in evolving fields are all areas ripe for the picking, for endless debate on the best way to do it. Special text arrangements and features such as A-Z layouts and indexable lists, keys, and illustrations are common. This article introduces these issues and suggests practical indexing approaches that can be applied to other subject areas as well. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.