Meaning of 'slip index'

Irina_Bol · June 19, 2020, 9:59am

Hi, I have recently come across ‘slip index’ in the following sentence (it comes about the project to develop a bibliography :
The voluntary project was kept as a slip index available for consultation in the National Library, but gradually the library grew conscious that it could become something more.
Please could you explain what the ‘slip index’ can mean here?

Torsten · June 19, 2020, 1:20pm

Hi Irina, I think it’s an index system similar to this one

Irina_Bol · June 19, 2020, 2:31pm

It’s a catalogue. As far as I understand the index is a part of book e.g. subject or alphabetical index. Maybe is it a file?

Torsten · June 19, 2020, 3:49pm

Yes, it looks similar to this paper slip index system.

Irina_Bol · June 19, 2020, 4:29pm

Does ‘slip’ mean that the sheets were unbound?

Torsten · June 19, 2020, 4:31pm

I think you can have a slip index attached to any kind of catalogue system. Let’s see what @Sumejja and @Anglophile have to say…

Irina_Bol · June 19, 2020, 4:35pm

Okay, let’s wait for them.

Anglophile · June 19, 2020, 5:03pm

I can only agree with you, Torsten. I think it’s sort of a catalogue as we have in libraries or data centres.

Irina_Bol · June 19, 2020, 6:04pm

Thank you very much, Torsten and Anglophile!

Sumejja · June 19, 2020, 6:24pm

I’m just checking in to agree with both @Torsten and @Anglophile. I’m actually considering going into library studies and yes, that’s exactly what a slip index is! It doesn’t answer the question of whether or not it’s bound, really.

Irina_Bol · June 20, 2020, 10:58am

Thank you for your reply, Sumejja!