:: What is an Index?

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Who Reads Indexes?

Successful authors recognize that readers prefer to buy books with well written
and organized indexes. A good index has a "perceived value" because it gives the
readers quick access to information within a book.

• The index is for readers who read the book but want to look up specific terms used
  by the author without having to leaf randomly through the book in hope of finding what
  they want.
  
  
• The index is for readers who do not read the book but who are seeking information
  by searching for various key words in the index, quickly and efficiently.
  
  
• The index is for readers with very specialized knowledge, who use the book
  essentially as a reference book, to search for specific terms and concepts quickly
  and efficiently.
  
  
• The index is for readers with little time or patience to read the whole book.
  
  
• The index is for book browsers wanting to compare books and decide which to buy.
  
  
• The index is for librarians who make recommendations on purchases of books, and
  who search for information for their clients. Librarians prefer books with indexes.
  
  
• The index is for academics and scholars who rely on indexes to find very specific
  information critical to their research.

• A book with a quality index experiences increased book sales. Books published
  without an index are not taken as seriously by readers, reviewers or librarians,
  and book sales reflect its absence.

  An index written to generally accepted indexing standards performs flawlessly,
  and provides quick efficient access to information. The reader finds what he/she
  is looking for and doesn't give the index a second thought. However, if the index
  is poorly written, the reader becomes frustrated and will very likely move on to
  the next book.