Building the AgNIC Resource Database Using Semi-Automatic Indexing of Material

Abstract

This article describes the procedures used in the computer-aided semi-automatic indexing of records using the National Agricultural Library (NAL) Thesaurus. It provides step-by-step instructions that will be useful for anyone wishing to follow the procedures to assist them in their indexing efforts to submit material to the Agriculture Network Information Collaborative (AgNIC) portal. The method automatically checks the specified fields against the NAL Thesaurus to identify the number of times a word from the Thesaurus appears in the document. This process mainly serves as a first step in assigning the NALT Subjects, Top Concepts, and Categories. These then must be verified by an indexer to decide which of the terms are most applicable to be included in the metadata for the record. The procedures described are not only limited to the NAL Thesaurus. They can be used in a similar manner utilizing any machine readable thesaurus and any number of fields described in the metadata.