Library Activity_Using Index

Using an index

L.I. - Library/Research skills

Using an index to find information quickly

Most non-fiction books have an index.  Like a table of contents, it lists the books contents and relevant page numbers, but in much more detail.  It presents the topics in alphabetical order to help your search.  Below is an example from a health book.

INDEX aerobics                    2-14 breathing                 9-10 carbohydrates      36 co-ordination         20-25 cycling                       32 diet                              30-40 diseases                   45-65 doctor                       40-44 drinking                    63 drugs, harmful      70-75 drugs, medical       60-65 exercise                    11-20 fat                               35 fatigue                      76-79 good health            80-90 happy                       91-92 hospital                    40-44, 48-65 hygiene                    93-94

illness                           45-65 incapacitated           45-65 injuries                         60-65 inoculation                 96-98 lungs                             9-10, 60-64 medicine                      45-65, 96-98 mental illness            99-120 moods                          99-104 pharmacist                 60-65 physical activities     121-150 rest                                 151-155 self-discipline              115-120               smoking                       121-124 sport                             15-20 strength                      12-14 vigour                           140-150 vitamins                       64-65 weight                           30-35

Before you start highlight 4 words you don’t know and look them up in the dictionary.

hospital -An institution providing medical and surgical treatment and nursing care for sick or injured people.

fatigue-Extreme tiredness, typically resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness.

happy -Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.

hygiene-Conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, esp. through cleanliness: "poor standards of food hygiene".

Why are there two index entries for drugs?

fatigue                      76-79

drugs, medical       60-65

Which two entries will help you find out about tiredness and how to cope?

injuries                         60-65

mental illness            99-120

Which pages would you turn to in order to find out about injuries?

vitamins                       64-65

good health            80-90

Which two entries would you use to find out more about healthy eating?

vitamins                       64-65

good health            80-90

Which pages would you turn to in order to find out about the bad effects of smoking?

smoking                       121-124

On which pages would you find out about hospital life?

hospital                    40-44, 48-65

rest                                 151-155

doctor                       40-44

medicine                      45-65, 96-98

Why do you think there are two ranges of page numbers for lungs?

lungs                             9-10, 60-64

On which pages would you find out more about the healthy effects of sport?

sport                             15-20

strength                      12-14

vigour                           140-150

weight                           30-35

exercise                    11-20