Social Tagging and the Next Steps for Indexing

Advances in Classification Research, Vol. 17: Proceedings of the 17th ASIS&T SIG/CR Classification Research Workshop, 2006

15 Pages Posted: 4 Dec 2016

See all articles by Joseph Tennis

Joseph Tennis

University of Washington - Information School

Date Written: November 4, 2006

Abstract

Social tagging, as a particular type of indexing, has thrown into question the nature of indexing. Is it a democratic process? Can we all benefit from user-created tags? What about the value added by professionals? Employing an evolving framework analysis, this paper addresses the question: what is next for indexing? Comparing social tagging and subject cataloguing; this paper identifies the points of similarity and difference that obtain between these two kinds of information organization frameworks. The subsequent comparative analysis of the parts of these frameworks points to the nature of indexing as an authored, personal, situational, and referential act, where differences in discursive placement divide these two species. Furthermore, this act is contingent on implicit and explicit understanding of purpose and tools available. This analysis allows us to outline desiderata for the next steps in indexing.

Keywords: indexing, social tagging, subject cataloguing

Suggested Citation

Tennis, Joseph, Social Tagging and the Next Steps for Indexing (November 4, 2006). Advances in Classification Research, Vol. 17: Proceedings of the 17th ASIS&T SIG/CR Classification Research Workshop, 2006, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2879030

Joseph Tennis (Contact Author)

University of Washington - Information School ( email )

Seattle, WA 98195
United States

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