Society of Indexers
@indexers.bsky.social
The professional body for indexers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. We can help you find an indexer, learn about indexing and train as an indexer. Learn more at https://www.indexers.org.uk/
For today's Talking about the Past session, 19 indexers gathered on Zoom to discuss bias in indexing. We all have our prejudices, ideas and beliefs - but indexers work to make sure we are aware of them when we approach a text.
November 5, 2025 at 1:15 PM
For today's Talking about the Past session, 19 indexers gathered on Zoom to discuss bias in indexing. We all have our prejudices, ideas and beliefs - but indexers work to make sure we are aware of them when we approach a text.
Reposted by Society of Indexers
I have reached the phase of #dissertation writing where a book index (good or not as good) has the ability to move me to tears 🥲
What is happening? Do I need a nap? Or more apple cider?
What is happening? Do I need a nap? Or more apple cider?
a woman wearing a white wig and a blue sweater says i have never felt
ALT: a woman wearing a white wig and a blue sweater says i have never felt
media.tenor.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:45 AM
I have reached the phase of #dissertation writing where a book index (good or not as good) has the ability to move me to tears 🥲
What is happening? Do I need a nap? Or more apple cider?
What is happening? Do I need a nap? Or more apple cider?
You might have been asked to provide an embedded index for your book, or find an indexer who can create one. What is this thing called embedded indexing? Indexer @tanyaizzard.bsky.social explains how it works in our latest blog post:
What is embedded indexing?
While most indexes are still compiled from page proofs, some indexes are embedded, where the index entries are added as tags or codes to a manuscript file. In t
buff.ly
November 4, 2025 at 9:15 AM
You might have been asked to provide an embedded index for your book, or find an indexer who can create one. What is this thing called embedded indexing? Indexer @tanyaizzard.bsky.social explains how it works in our latest blog post:
How does a book indexing project work? What should I expect as a client? How do I find the right indexer for my project? Our blog series on index commissioning takes you through the process in helpful detail buff.ly/xI8HS6z
October 30, 2025 at 1:31 PM
How does a book indexing project work? What should I expect as a client? How do I find the right indexer for my project? Our blog series on index commissioning takes you through the process in helpful detail buff.ly/xI8HS6z
Book indexing attracts people from diverse backgrounds. Many of our members also work in proofreading, editing, librarianship or teaching. Explore our training course pages to find out more about adding indexing to your career - you can study online at your own pace: buff.ly/RMZ3Nsz
October 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Book indexing attracts people from diverse backgrounds. Many of our members also work in proofreading, editing, librarianship or teaching. Explore our training course pages to find out more about adding indexing to your career - you can study online at your own pace: buff.ly/RMZ3Nsz
Academic authors! Don’t want to index your own book? Find an expert professional indexer using our Directory. Filter on subject area and type of indexing, including embedded indexing. But book us early - our schedules fill up quickly buff.ly/ynGdrJ9
October 24, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Academic authors! Don’t want to index your own book? Find an expert professional indexer using our Directory. Filter on subject area and type of indexing, including embedded indexing. But book us early - our schedules fill up quickly buff.ly/ynGdrJ9
Cookbook indexing is a special skill. You must be selective - you can't index every mention of salt - but try to anticipate readers' likely search terms, which might be ingredients, methods chapter headings (which is perhaps what happened here) or recipe titles. Lots to chew on for the indexer!
Joy of Cooking is a great cookbook and reference book, but I do want to have a little talk with the person who alphabetized the index. You want a bread recipe? Look under Y for Yeast Breads, not under B for Bread or even Bread, Yeast.
October 23, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Cookbook indexing is a special skill. You must be selective - you can't index every mention of salt - but try to anticipate readers' likely search terms, which might be ingredients, methods chapter headings (which is perhaps what happened here) or recipe titles. Lots to chew on for the indexer!
Reposted by Society of Indexers
Recalling what a deeply human process it is to create a truly useful book index — not replicable by any automated or AI system, as it requires a theory of mind, a deep understanding of the audience & their likely needs, preferred search-terms, and points of confusion.
✍️📖💡
#AmEditing #AmIndexing
✍️📖💡
#AmEditing #AmIndexing
October 19, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Recalling what a deeply human process it is to create a truly useful book index — not replicable by any automated or AI system, as it requires a theory of mind, a deep understanding of the audience & their likely needs, preferred search-terms, and points of confusion.
✍️📖💡
#AmEditing #AmIndexing
✍️📖💡
#AmEditing #AmIndexing
Need an indexer for your non-fiction book? Our Professional Directory can be filtered by subject and type of publication to find the right indexer for your project buff.ly/ynGdrJ9
October 17, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Need an indexer for your non-fiction book? Our Professional Directory can be filtered by subject and type of publication to find the right indexer for your project buff.ly/ynGdrJ9
For today's SI Coffee Morning 16 indexers met to debrief after last month's #SIConf25. This gave us a chance to hear about those sessions we didn't get to; some will be developed further into articles for @indexer.bsky.social, our members' newsletter SIdelights, and future Coffee Morning sessions.
October 16, 2025 at 12:14 PM
For today's SI Coffee Morning 16 indexers met to debrief after last month's #SIConf25. This gave us a chance to hear about those sessions we didn't get to; some will be developed further into articles for @indexer.bsky.social, our members' newsletter SIdelights, and future Coffee Morning sessions.
What makes a good book indexer? Our blog post explains what you need to work in this fascinating and varied job. Indexers come from all sorts of professional backgrounds and many work part-time alongside other jobs buff.ly/788iKOi
October 15, 2025 at 8:30 AM
What makes a good book indexer? Our blog post explains what you need to work in this fascinating and varied job. Indexers come from all sorts of professional backgrounds and many work part-time alongside other jobs buff.ly/788iKOi
Reposted by Society of Indexers
Gimme a book with an INDEX. 😌
October 14, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Gimme a book with an INDEX. 😌
Are authors the best indexers of their own work? In our latest blog post, indexer and true crime author David Green - who has indexed his own books - explores the problems and issues that can arise:
Authors as Indexers
Should authors index their own books, or is the job best left to professional indexers? In this post, indexer and author David Green explores the pros and cons of self-indexing. Are authors the best people...
buff.ly
October 9, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Are authors the best indexers of their own work? In our latest blog post, indexer and true crime author David Green - who has indexed his own books - explores the problems and issues that can arise:
Thinking that surely book indexing is something AI could do? Think again. @asindexing.bsky.social has released its statement on indexing using LLM-based AI tools - these tools simply don't do a good job of indexing. For a quality index, use a human indexer. buff.ly/X7Vuesc
October 7, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Thinking that surely book indexing is something AI could do? Think again. @asindexing.bsky.social has released its statement on indexing using LLM-based AI tools - these tools simply don't do a good job of indexing. For a quality index, use a human indexer. buff.ly/X7Vuesc
Reposted by Society of Indexers
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
October 1, 2025 at 2:38 PM
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
Reposted by Society of Indexers
A fascinating little video of the making of a book, via @levparikian.bsky.social's Six Things newsletter (buff.ly/upBRl6y)
buff.ly/QEVKapN
buff.ly/QEVKapN
September 23, 2025 at 12:01 PM
A fascinating little video of the making of a book, via @levparikian.bsky.social's Six Things newsletter (buff.ly/upBRl6y)
buff.ly/QEVKapN
buff.ly/QEVKapN
Reposted by Society of Indexers
I just returned from Birmingham, where I spoke at the Society of Indexers (@indexers.bsky.social) conference #SIConf25. It was a great conference!
September 22, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I just returned from Birmingham, where I spoke at the Society of Indexers (@indexers.bsky.social) conference #SIConf25. It was a great conference!
Reposted by Society of Indexers
Another day, conference, and 9.15am presentation. 😬 Now at Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes for @the-ciep.bsky.social’s #CIEP2025. I’m running a breakout session on ‘Another trick up your sleeve: adding book indexing to your editorial skills portfolio’, with a live indexing exercise for all.
September 22, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Another day, conference, and 9.15am presentation. 😬 Now at Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes for @the-ciep.bsky.social’s #CIEP2025. I’m running a breakout session on ‘Another trick up your sleeve: adding book indexing to your editorial skills portfolio’, with a live indexing exercise for all.
The indexers have dispersed now as #SIConf25 is over. Profuse thanks to the Conference Committee: @baindex.com, Caroline Diepeveen, @nicolaking.bsky.social, Ann Kingdom, Sharon Laverick and Beverley Winkler for creating such an enjoyable conference, and to all the presenters & participants.
September 22, 2025 at 8:15 AM
The indexers have dispersed now as #SIConf25 is over. Profuse thanks to the Conference Committee: @baindex.com, Caroline Diepeveen, @nicolaking.bsky.social, Ann Kingdom, Sharon Laverick and Beverley Winkler for creating such an enjoyable conference, and to all the presenters & participants.
Reposted by Society of Indexers
We did it! @annkingdom.bsky.social and I speaking on ‘Humour and bias in indexing’ at @indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25 conference. I got @alaughinstockport.bsky.social
and @murderinccomedy.bsky.social in there. 😀
and @murderinccomedy.bsky.social in there. 😀
September 21, 2025 at 3:22 PM
We did it! @annkingdom.bsky.social and I speaking on ‘Humour and bias in indexing’ at @indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25 conference. I got @alaughinstockport.bsky.social
and @murderinccomedy.bsky.social in there. 😀
and @murderinccomedy.bsky.social in there. 😀
Fascinating session at #SIConf25 from Ruth Martin on indexing emotions and the emotions of indexing. Ruth identifies the human qualities of empathy and intuition as indexing superpowers.
September 21, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Fascinating session at #SIConf25 from Ruth Martin on indexing emotions and the emotions of indexing. Ruth identifies the human qualities of empathy and intuition as indexing superpowers.
Reposted by Society of Indexers
I enjoyed chairing this author panel session featuring Society of Indexers Honorary President @carosanderson.bsky.social, Jane Calvert, and the always-welcome @djbduncan.bsky.social at @indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25. Some excellent discussions here between the authors and the indexers.
It is kind of terrifying having one of your clients speak during the "working with authors" panel discussion, but this worked out really well! Thank you, Jane, for your kind words! #SIConf25
September 21, 2025 at 7:28 AM
I enjoyed chairing this author panel session featuring Society of Indexers Honorary President @carosanderson.bsky.social, Jane Calvert, and the always-welcome @djbduncan.bsky.social at @indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25. Some excellent discussions here between the authors and the indexers.
Our first keynote for Day 3 of #SIConf25 is on humour and bias in indexing with @baindex.org and Ann Kingdom. When can we use humour in indexing, and when shouldn't we?
September 21, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Our first keynote for Day 3 of #SIConf25 is on humour and bias in indexing with @baindex.org and Ann Kingdom. When can we use humour in indexing, and when shouldn't we?
Reposted by Society of Indexers
A great challenge to index The Claremont Run: Subverting Gender in the X-Men by J. Andrew Deman @claremontrun.bsky.social.
Eight indexers have made indexes to this, with author permission, including original indexer @closereadingie.bsky.social. An amazing experience.
@indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25
Eight indexers have made indexes to this, with author permission, including original indexer @closereadingie.bsky.social. An amazing experience.
@indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25
For our next keynote, we had a panel discussion where Jolanta Komornicka, Ruth Martin, Rob Gibson and @baindex.com have all indexed the same text, a scholarly book about gender in the X-men comic series. As always, it's fascinating to see how individual indexers approach a text #SIConf25
September 21, 2025 at 7:03 AM
A great challenge to index The Claremont Run: Subverting Gender in the X-Men by J. Andrew Deman @claremontrun.bsky.social.
Eight indexers have made indexes to this, with author permission, including original indexer @closereadingie.bsky.social. An amazing experience.
@indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25
Eight indexers have made indexes to this, with author permission, including original indexer @closereadingie.bsky.social. An amazing experience.
@indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25