[Genealib] Reprinted books without indexes

[Susan Scouras]

I think indexes can be copyrighted.  Publishers who would do the work of
adding an index to a book in the public domain would have copyright
protection on the index, at least.  

We have some older titles, mostly county histories, that members of our
staff have indexed as a matter of self-protection at the Reference Desk,
I think.  The indexes are cataloged with the same number as the full
book, with "INDEX" added to the last line of the call number, then a
label stating "Index in separate volume" is added to the full book. 

We also have some local/county histories and county census
transcriptions that were not indexed originally, but were indexed later
by local societies who did well selling the indexes for a few years. We
also cataloged these as described above.

I also strongly agree that all non-fiction books should have indexes,
and the indexes should include geographic names and major event
references as well as individual names included.  We have a lot of
books, both new and old, that only have name references in the indexes,
when a lot of times the patron is searching for a specific town or
county, not just a family.

Susan Scouras
Librarian
WV Archives and History Library
The Cultural Center
1900 Kanawha Blvd. East
Charleston, WV  25305-0300
(304) 558-0230, Ext. 742
 


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From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
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Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 1:58 PM
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Subject: [Genealib] Reprinted books without indexes
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Why do publishers reprint some books without adding indexes?  Also, why
do genealogical publishers print new works without indexes?  I would be
happy to pay more to make the information in these books easily
accessible.

Sharen Lee
Live Oak Public Libraries
Savannah, GA
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