Summarization as an activity of subject representation in librarian professional practice

Abstract

Considering the summary as an element of the subject representation of information, it aims to analyze to what extent the document summaries are created during the technical processing of materials in libraries, as a way to support the indexation and guarantee a complete subject representation of the materials. This paper make use of data collection through questionnaire with closed questions, applied by Google Forms to 30 librarians active in different types of information units in Goias. A statistical systematization is carried out. The results show that the processes of summarization and abstracting are not common practices by the librarians, to the detriment classification and indexing. The summary is created only in 16,7% of the information units, but seen in its importance by 96,7% respondents. There are several difficulties in conducting these activities as indicated by the respondents. We concluded that document summaries and abstracts, in spite of the professional's recognition of their importance, are not effectively being used in libraries as part of the subject representation of information activities.