Super article about the very important indexer Nancy Bailey @indexers.bsky.social

History of Parliament@histparl.bsky.social · last wk.

🚨New Substack🚨 Did you know that one of Hansard's first indexers was a woman? In the latest post for Scribble Book, @jhdavey.bsky.social explores the fascinating life and career of Nancy Bailey.

Do you have something to say about collaboration in book indexing? Propose a plenary talk, a breakout session or a lightning talk for #SIConf26! This takes place online on 11 & 12 November, and our theme is collaboration. Find out more and submit your proposal via buff.ly/rE0nbGI

Conference 2026 ‘On the Same Page’

Call for contributions The Society of Indexers invites contributions for our 2026 online conference, taking place via Zoom on 11–12 November 2026. We will have

indexers.org.uk

For this morning’s Talking about the Past Zoom session, 22 indexers – with about 300 years of cumulative indexing experience between them – met to discuss passing mentions.

This is what professional indexers are here to prevent. Don't bang your head on the keyboard or start on some demon drink, get an indexer! Sorry for you, James, if you need any help or tips, just ask.

James Wright@jpwarchaeology.bsky.social · 3w ago

Two days of indexing The Buildings Archaeologist...

Indexer on a train, July 2026. Heading to London to represent @indexers.bsky.social in a publishing vodcast / video podcast. Will share more details when it’s out. #IndexSky

If you're intrigued by indexing, you can explore our online distance-learning training course and see how you might enter this fascinating line of work. Study at your own pace, with feedback and support from experienced professional indexers: buff.ly/kwhStax

As an indexing client, what do I need to know about the process? From first contact and booking your indexer to reviewing the index, our blog series on index commissioning takes you through all the stages of an indexing project in helpful detail buff.ly/QrtdYp0

What are the distinctive challenges of indexing books about music or dance? Our Coffee Morning on 16 July looked at this topic, with presentations by Marian Aird, @baindex.org, and Pauline Hubner.

Yes, book indexers do have to read the book and sometimes it can be challenging and/or upsetting. @tanyaizzard.bsky.social has some advice on how to work on such material.

Society of Indexers@indexers.bsky.social · 4w ago

How can indexers work best with books that cover challenging or upsetting subjects? Indexer @tanyaizzard.bsky.social discusses ways to support yourself if you're working with material you find difficult: buff.ly/GMf5ZeX

I'm indexing a book about the Holocaust at this very moment, so will be taking my own advice. This post grew out of an @indexers Coffee Morning - thanks to all those who shared their experiences there.

Society of Indexers@indexers.bsky.social · 4w ago

How can indexers work best with books that cover challenging or upsetting subjects? Indexer @tanyaizzard.bsky.social discusses ways to support yourself if you're working with material you find difficult: buff.ly/GMf5ZeX

How can indexers work best with books that cover challenging or upsetting subjects? Indexer @tanyaizzard.bsky.social discusses ways to support yourself if you're working with material you find difficult: buff.ly/GMf5ZeX

Indexing difficult topics

There are all sorts of books about topics that indexers might find difficult. There are histories and memoirs of atrocities and traumas; medical textbooks descr

indexers.org.uk

Thinking about book indexing as a career? Our online distance-learning training course will take you from beginner to accredited professional indexer, ready for your first commission. Explore the course modules and assessments in more detail through our blog post:

Becoming an indexer 2: the Society of Indexers training course modules

Are you thinking about training as an indexer? This is the first of three blog posts that give an overview of the Society of Indexers training course. It gives

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An enjoyable Coffee Morning Zoom today with @indexers.bsky.social (with thanks to host Ruth Martin). Marian Aird, Pauline Hubner and I presented on indexing books on music and dance. Here’s a few of my trickier indexes on Stephen Dodgson, Josephine Baker and Katherine Dunham. #IndexSky

How do you find the right book indexer for your book? Use our Professional Directory and you'll find an indexer with the right expertise and experience for your project buff.ly/SYKV5Qw

Become a book indexer. Read books, write indexes, get an intellectual workout, work flexibly from home, get paid. Find out more about our indexing training course buff.ly/kwhStax

And another vote here for ‘Yes, we do have to read the whole book’. @indexers.bsky.social #IndexSky

Society of Indexers@indexers.bsky.social · last mo.

In today's Ask the Indexers blog post, our panel tell us what they wish people understood about our niche job - mainly, that it really is a job, and that no, a computer/AI can't do it. Read more here: buff.ly/VREMHpE #IndexSky

Index doing its job showing readers what is and what is not in a book.

a kat@hartknyx.isawesome.net · last mo.

great news!!!!! they released a new edition of queer shakespeare however.

In today's Ask the Indexers blog post, our panel tell us what they wish people understood about our niche job - mainly, that it really is a job, and that no, a computer/AI can't do it. Read more here: buff.ly/VREMHpE #IndexSky

Ask the Indexers: what’s the thing you wish everyone understood about indexing?

In our latest Ask the Indexers blog post, our panel members offer insight into the sometimes hidden world of indexing. Samantha Clark, Advanced Professional Mem

indexers.org.uk

Not often that you see an “Snacks” in a book index. Not often enough! 🤣

In the absence of an index, simply read the book cover to cover several times, advises William Robb, enfeebled author.

Hey, nonfiction and academic publishers, how about uploading the table on contents to your book listings? And the index? These are selling tools! 🗃️📚

Book indexers get paid to read books, write indexes, get an intellectual workout and work flexibly from home. We work with authors and publishers on all sorts of books and journals. Find out more about our indexing training course buff.ly/kwhStax

Not all authors enjoy indexing. Find the right indexer for your book in our Directory. Filter on subject area and type of indexing, including embedded indexing. But book us early - our schedules fill up quickly buff.ly/j248fTF

This morning’s Talking About the Past Zoom session was about indexing local history. Ann Hudson, who has years of experience of indexing this area, talked us through the issues and shared some fascinating examples from her own work.

Many of our members combine book indexing with other work, including proofreading, editing, librarianship and teaching. Explore our training course pages to find out more about adding indexing to your career buff.ly/biIlySq

Readers disappointed by the lack of an index, a regular series:

Matthew Kirschenbaum@mkirschenbaum.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I note that Cory Doctorow’s new book has neither notes nor sources nor an index. I’d venture that one way of pushing back on reverse centaurization is by foregrounding one’s apparatus as testament to the actual work of writing.

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/j248fTF

In our latest blog post, our panel of expert indexers discuss pushing their professional boundaries. When is it a good idea to stretch yourself and take on something different or challenging? And conversely, when is it a good idea to know your limits?

Ask the Indexers: pushing your professional boundaries

For today’s blog post, we asked our panel of indexers about projects outside their comfort zone – whether in terms of the type of book, type of indexing or subj

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I recently looked up a gardening question IN A BOOK. I wanted to know how cold hardy a plant was. Went to the index, found the plant name, turned to the page. There’s a meme for this - a library is the true AI.

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/vqM1Riw