Vanda Broughton’s book Essential Thesaurus Construction is a great introduction to the thesaurus. Gleaning material from the MA in Information and Library Studies course that Broughton teaches at University College London, the volume provides an insight into the principles and practice of thesaurus construction, as well as providing broader application principles for vocabulary and retrieval tools.
Outlining the difference between a thesaurus used in information work, and a thesaurus providing synonyms and antonyms, Broughton provides a basic manual in indexing tools for both LIS students and practitioners alike. Highlights include: classification schemes; special thesauri; building and maintaining a thesaurus – structures, hierarchy and software.
Broughton, V. (2006). Essential Thesaurus Construction. London: Facet Publishing.