Abstract:
The purposes of this thesis are to examine the periodical indexing of the libraries in Thailand and to study its problems and obstacles. The result of this research can be utilized as a means for the person concerned in solving the periodical indexing problems. The research methods used in this thesis are documentary research through books, periodicals and other printed materials concerning the periodical indexing and 59 questionnaires are sent to the central and the faculty libraries of the universities, the teachers college libraries, the libraries of the government departments in general, the public libraries, and the bank libraries. 55 answered questionnaires (93%) are returned. Research results can be concluded as follows: 67.30% of the libraries have only one indexer who is also responsible to other kinds of routine work. There are only 14.64% of the librarians whose main duty is periodical indexing. 45.58 % of the libraries make a social science index, 25% science, another 25% an all-subject index, and the rest, anthropology. Most of the libraries (80%) provide a Thai periodical index. As for subject heading tools, the tool of the Thai Library Association is used most by 60.31% of the libraries. Furthermore, the 40% periodical indexing can cover current issues. 85.45 % of the libraries independently provide their own indexes because of lacking co-operation among the libraries. Moreover, only 27.28% of the indexes have been published. Problems of periodical indexing are : the librarians have a little time to do the indexing or they are not a subject specialist; there are not enough assistants to help in indexing; the subject heading tools are not up-to-date; the library users do not realize the usefulness of the periodical index and do not know how to use the index properly. Suggestions for improvements are as follows : Increasing the personnel, encouraging the librarians who are responsible to periodical indexing to further study and to be trained in specific subjects, advising the library users how to use the index, and co-operating with other libraries in indexing.