Computer-aided indexing in the arts: the case for a thesaurus of art terms

Abstract

Although many levels of computer-aided indexing exist, most art indexers use the computer at a rudimentary level, to perform little more than alphabetising services. This problem is compounded by the lack of standardised vocabulary or thesaurus. Each indexing project has developed its own subject list. Even those which attempt some co-ordination with a standard source like Library of Congress Subject Headings find themselves modifying existing terms and adding new ones. The National Endowment for the Humanities and the Council on Library Resources funded a project to establish the need for a comprehensive art and architecture thesaurus and, as the first phase of a projected three-stage plan, to construct an architecture thesaurus.

This paper is written from the point of view of the indexer. Its intent is to describe how subject indexing activities in art are being aided by the use of computers. This discussion notes the current state of disarray among art subject indexing systems and suggests that the availability of a standardised vocabulary for art will provide an important adjunct to computerised indexing. This paper was delivered to the ARLIS/NA conference at San Francisco on 22 February 1981.