Abstracting Services

By
Dr. P. S. Rajput

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 Introduction
 The word abstract comes from the Latin abstractum,
which means a condensed form of a longer piece of
writing.
 An abstract is a brief statement of the essential
content of the original document or an indication of
the characteristics of the original document.
 It aims to draw attention to the information contained
in the original and provide a sufficient basis for the
reader to judge whether or not he wants to consult
the original.
 Abstract = Abbreviation + structure (Information)
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 Meaning
 An Abstract is the terse presentation in (as
for as possible) the author’s own language of
all the points made in the same order as in
the original piece of primary documentary
information that can be a book, a research
report, a periodical article, a speech, the
proceedings of a conference, an interview
etc.

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 Definition
“An abbreviated, accurate representation of a
work, usually without added interpretation or
criticism, accompanied by a bibliographical
reference to the original work when
appearing separately from it.”
-ALA Glossary (1983)
Acc. To Wilfred, Asworth “An abstract is a
precise of information contain in an article in
a periodical”.
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 Need:
 Language barrier
 Fourth Law of Library Sc.
 Alternative of original document
 Size control
 Helps to Indexer and Bibliographers
 Information explosion

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 Types of Abstract

 By the Type of Information

 By Computer
 By the Type of Writer of the abstract.

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 By the Type of Information
 Titular abstract- is also knows as title only
abstract is the author’s title used without
amplification to describe the contents of a
document. Most titular abstracts are subject-
oriented rather than findings-oriented.
 Mini-abstract or Micro-abstract- is the
highly condensed indicative abstract which
provides only a line or two about the
document.
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 Informative Abstracts
 A good informative abstract acts as a surrogate for the work itself.
 the abstractor presents and explains all the main arguments and
the important results and evidence in the complete
article/paper/book.
 An informative abstract includes the information that can be
found in a descriptive abstract (purpose, methods, scope)
but also includes the results and conclusions of the
research and the recommendations of the author.
 The length varies according to discipline, but an informative
abstract is rarely more than 10% of the length of the entire work.

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 Informative abstract……
 Extract is an informative abstract in more detail
which contains tables of competitive data, diagrams
and other excerpts from the original and more
lengthy than abstracts.
 Critical abstract not only provides informative
abstract of the document but also evaluates the
work and the way of its presentation.
 Slanted abstract or oriented abstract is an
informative abstract where the findings are oriented
to a specific discipline to which the abstracting
service is devoted to.
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 Informative abstract……
 Digest is a short summation of or
compressed kernel of a body of information
arranged systematically. It generally does not
contain citation.

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 Indicative (Descriptive) Abstracts.
 A descriptive abstract indicates the type of
information found in the work.
 It makes no judgments about the work, nor does it
provide results or conclusions of the research.
 It does incorporate key words found in the text and
may include the purpose, methods, and scope of
the research.
 Descriptive abstracts are usually very short—100
words or less.

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 By Computer
 Auto-abstracts are produced by a
computer analysis of the frequency of the use
of significant words in a document and the
frequency with which these “high frequency”
words appear in the same sentence in which
they occurred and their position noted. the
resultant auto-abstract is a collection of
typical sentences from the original document.

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 By computer
 Telegraphic abstract is provided by selecting
significant words from the doc., assigning role
indicators and punctuation symbols which separate
and group the words into various meaningful units.
In this style of writing, grammatical or function words
and even verbs are eliminated. This type of abstract
is prepared in two stages. First a lengthy informative
abstract is prepared and telegraphic abstract is
made out of the first abstract in the second stage.

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 Cont…
 Statistical or numerical abstracts present
data in tabular or numerical form.

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 Other abstract
 Structured Abstracts- a structured abstract
follows a set form of subheadings and the abstract writer
fills in the blanks. The form of a structured abstract can
vary according to need ex.
Background
Aim
method
Results
Conclusion

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 By the type of writer of the
abstract
 Author abstract is the abstract prepared by the
author of the document and forms a part of the
original paper. This may be an indicative or
informative abstract depending on the nature of
publication and the publisher.
 Subject Experts- abstract is an informative or
indicative abstract prepared by a peer in the specific
discipline of the document either by education or
specialization and experience.

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 Process of Abstract

 First step
 the first step is to accurately and fully
record the reference.
 the elements to be included are fairly well
standardized.
 careful attention should be given to the
elements in the entry.

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 Cont……..
 The title- A good title can be a key device in
identifying information for retrieval
if the title is vague or misleading, the
abstractor should take corrective action by
adding modifying words in brackets
Ex. Author’s title might be “Eureka!”
The abstractor’s title is “Eureka [the
discovery of a calorie less beer]!”

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 First step……

 The Author- the form of entering the author’s

name varies, but a standard way is to invert
the first name and add additional authors in
the normal order.
 Author Affiliation- An author’s organization
is often of interest to a user because it helps
in judging the author and makes
communication. Affiliation is usually located
after the author’s name, sometimes with an
address attached.
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 First steps…

 Funding Agency- if the document is a

technical report or a paper based on the
results of funded research, the agency giving
the money should be noted in the reference
section.
 Publication Source- it provides the location
of the paper. It is important that it be accurate
and consistent and that it follows some
standard conventions for citing.
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 Cont….
 Ex. For journal
journal title
Volume number
Issue number
Inclusive pagination
Year
J Amer Soc Inf Science 30(5)
290-295(1975)

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 Cont…
 For Monographs and books
Title
Author
Publisher and place of publication
Date
Pages
Price
Think Green. Thumb, tom, Jr. and Homer Disraeli
(ABCD Press, Muleshoe, TX) 1989,250pp.Rs1000.
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 Cont…
 For Patent
Title
Inventor
Organization
Issuing country
Patent number
Issue date

A Saugage- Stuffing Computer.” Disraeli, Homer (Disraeli Delicatessen), U.S.

0000000045, 1 April2001.

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 First step….
 Foreign Languages-
 Other Information-( e.g., “available only in
microfiche”)

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 Step two

 The content analysis of the document.

 Abstracting is the process of expressing the ideas
of other people in one’s own words.
 There are five overall indicators that the abstractor
looks for first in preparing the content analysis:
Objectives and scope
Methodology
Results
Conclusions
other information
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 Step Three
 The third step is to write the annotation
 The abstractor has notes on the highlights of the paper and has a
mental picture of the contents and concept of the papers.
 Now those concepts must be contracted into a short narrative.
 The results of the analysis must be expressed in natural
language.
 The first sentence of the abstract is critical.
 It should convey the type of inf. that allows readers to decide if
they wants to continue reading the abstract.
 The structure of the abstract should be unified and logically
developed.

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  Step Four- the last item of the abstract, the
abstractor’s name, given credit for the
abstract.

 Step Five- the last step is the arrangement

of the abstracts. A common form is
alphabetical by title, but some alternatives
are alphabetical by author, subject
descriptors, classified and dictionary. It also
require indexes (author, subject and key word
index) to support the basic file.
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 Editing
 The editing of abstracts is absolutely essential.
 Abstracts are short literary pieces they must be
edited carefully.
 Numerical data in the abstract should be
scrupulously composed with the document text
because the accuracy of such data is essential.
 The editor seen to it that standardized terminology
and nomenclature conform to the rules given to the
abstractor.
 Editors are bridges between the abstract writer and
the printer.
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 0783
Allen, Lew, et al. A guide for renewing your school:lessons
from the league of Professional Schools. San Francisco:
Jossey-Bass, 1999, 105pp.
CASE STUDIES. EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION.
EDUCATIONAL REFORM SCHOOLS.
This work is based on years of practical experience, case examples, and empirical
studies from the league of professional schools. The books guides school
practitioners through the essential steps of reform process: (1) designing a covenant
to guide teaching and learning; (2) creating a shared governance process to promote
democratic leadership and decision making; and (3) implementing action research to
assess the reform process. The book also addresses the challenges of change, such
as how to create a school climate……………………………………… to do otherwise
would not result in lasting, sustainable change in the schools, and , therefore would
have little substantive impact on the achievement of the students.

Educational Administration Abstracts vol.34 no.4(Oct.1999) p.411 (classified abstracts),

copyright 1999 by sage publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of sage
Publications, Inc.
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 Toxicology Major heading
Ref.No
Environmental and industrial Subheading
Author

Author address
23330. CARSONS, JOANNE N and JOHN O. GOULDEN (Arch
Oceanogr. Inst., Phila., Pa.19103 USA.) The effects of Article Title
chiorine pollution on growth and respiration rates of larval
lobsters (Homarus americanus).BIO RES 11(2):1433-1438.
1979. The length, dry weight and standard respiration rate of
Abstract Journal
larval lobsters (H. americanus) were measured following 20
Volume
days immersion in coastal waters surrounding a power plant. Issue
Significantly lower increases in dry weight (P<.05) and Pages
significant reductions in standard respiration rates (P<.01) were Year
measured in exposed organisms when the immersion site
contained high concentrations of free CI.

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 Examples:
 Indian Science Abstracts. New Delhi: National
Institute of Science Communication and Information
Resources.
 Indian Management Abstracts. Kolkata: Information
Research and Technology.1969-.6 issues/year
 Biological Abstracts. Philadelphia: Biosciences
Information Service, 1926- semi-monthly.
 Indian Chemical Patents. Pune: National Chemical
Laboratory.
 Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA).

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 Abstracting Services:
1. Chemical Abstract,1907-Weekly. Easton, American
Chemical Society.
Over 2.5 Lakh abstracts a year International scope.
Subject – wise Classified order
Each references provides information about subject-
heading, abstract no. title, author with address, host
document, year of publication, vol.no. page no.
language of the text, and abstractor’s name.
Indexes: Author index, Keywords, Numerical patent, ring,
Molecular formula, general subject, Patent
concordance etc.

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 Cont.
2. Biological Abstract, 1926- Fortnightly.
Philadelphia, Bio-Science Information
Service.
50% medicine sc.
150000 abstract annually
Indexes: Author, Bio-systematic, Genetic,
Concepts, and Subject Index
Arrangement: Same as before

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 Cont.
3. Economic Abstract, 1953- Fortnightly. The
Hague, Martinus Nijhoff.
Economics, finance, trade, foreign aid,
management, marketing etc. Classified
according to UDC
Alphabetical subject index given in beginning.
Author and subject indexes are cumulated
annually.

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 Cont.
4. Excerpta Medica, 1947- Monthly.
Amsterdam, Excerpta Medica Foundation.
39 sections abstract about 150000 document
yearly.
Each section has an author index.

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 Cont.
5. Engineering Index, 1884- Monthly, New
York, Engineering Index Inc.
Called “EI”
Eng. Books, reports, proceedings, journals, etc.
Subject heading and sub-headings

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 Cont.
6. Indian Library Science Abstract, 1967- Quarterly,.
Kolkata, IASLIC
Classified order according to CC
Author and Subject Indexes also
7. Indian Science Abstract, 1965- Monthly. New Delhi,
NISCAIR.
Indian literature with abroad.
600 Indian and 2000 foreign periodicals.
UDC, 9 Broad classes and 450 sub-classes.
Monthly author and a keyword index.
Annual author and subject indexes are also brought out.

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 Cont.
8. Library and Information Science Abstract,
1950- Bio-monthly. London, Library
Association.
540 journals Author and Subject Index are
given for each issue. Both of these indexes
are cumulated on an annual basis
Arrangement on classified order.

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 Cont.
9. Psychological Abstract, 1927- Monthly.
Washington, American Psychological
Association.
Covers world literature on psychology and related
subjects.
Classified order under subject headings, Entries
are arrange alphabetically by author..
Cumulated index is published for each six-monthly
volume.

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 Cont.
10. Sociological Abstract, 1952- Bi-monthly.
New York, Sociological Abstract.
Based on American Literature, Covers world
literature

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 Thanking you

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