1. A machine-implemented method for preparing an inverted index for storage on a storage medium, the method comprising: scanning items containing terms from which an ordered inverted index is to be prepared; generating a postings list of scanned items containing a particular term; ordering the scanned items in the postings list in a retrieval order; inserting the scanned items from the postings list into the ordered inverted index in the retrieval order; retrieving the scanned items from the ordered inverted index in the retrieval order; preparing a live inverted index of live items not previously scanned, wherein the live inverted index is separate from the ordered inverted index of scanned items; and retrieving the live items from the live inverted index before retrieving scanned items from the ordered inverted index for a reguestor via an output device.