Working on an index to a book about lighthouse keepers in my attic with the rain lashing down. Atmospheric.

CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN LAUNCH: ‘Rhynie, A Powerful Place of Pictland’ Please pre-order or donate before 6 December to enable us to print this book by Professor Gordon Noble FSAScot, which will have a major impact on the study of Pictish kingship and society: www.kickstarter.com/projects/soc...

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

@djbduncan.bsky.social @baindex.org any bets about what book that might have been?

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

#ShowMeYourKnits Three Halloween beanies, one leftover Jamieson&Smith, blue/red for me, the other seasonal green and orange from King Cole, and made for band buddies Heidi and Hannah.

Thanks for promoting this Michelle, the more people that know that AI isn't going to do their book index the better. The speakers in the webinar are top-notch.

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

C17 commonplace book index belonging to Whitelock Bulstrode (MS 3244, container 1.1) @ransomcenter.bsky.social. Can’t help but think immediately of @djbduncan.bsky.social and his splendid work on the history of the book index

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

Please recommend some history podcasts that aren't about the Tudors or kings and queens.

Statement on AI and Book #Indexing from ASI: "AI is not currently capable of producing even adequate indexes. High-quality indexes that meet reader needs and expectations still require the fine-grained human judgment of a professional indexer." asindexing.org/ai-news/stat... #IndexSky #bookindexes

I'm reviewing the index for "True Color" now, and I just want to heap laurels on the indexer who read this <checks jacket copy> "kaleidoscopic journey" and noted every. single. color. name. mentioned. In a book about defining color names. The index is 6600 words long. A marvel.

It makes me wonder what we did to be in the index, let alone the text of your book. But consider that a selling point: this Australian will just have to buy the book & find out by reading it.

Does anyone know anything about old Brighton motor bike registrations?

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 principles of indexing Parliamentary proceedings are very similar to those for book indexing - you need to be thoughtful, neutral, precise, accurate and consistent #SIConf25

The index for the Complete Peanuts volumes is a source of joy. These entries are from the 1987–1988 volume.

Indexers will be gathering in Birmingham tomorrow for our annual conference. We're delighted to be welcoming presenters and participants from our sister societies around the world. Follow along with #SIConf25 #IndexSky

We also like to put reviews that mention the index, good or bad, in The Indexer www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/journal/index

If you are reviewing a book and you have thoughts on the index (good or bad or lack thereof) please include them in your review. Indexing is invisible so reminders of their existence helps to keep them from the chopping block of budget cuts. #BookSky #NonFiction #AcademicSky

'Forgotten' royal castle uncovered on Scottish isle www.bbc.com/news/article...

Well, there's always something new to learn when you're a book indexer. Today I learned about Lady Grange. OMG. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_...

#TinyJoys This handsome chap was in the shopping centre yesterday.

#TinyJoys - Indexing papers in a journal that cite people I follow here. Looking at you @katrinanavickas.bsky.social about political use of tokens. Unfortunately I don't get to index cited authors for this journal.

Indexing biographies can bring up some particular challenges. How do you deal with the subject of the book? Indexer W. Stephen Gilbert discusses biographical indexing approaches in our 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/mu1id42

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/JscbmCf

We could have saved you the bother of even trying to do this. Pro indexers are keeping a careful eye on AI and how it might take our jobs. Currently, it isn't equipped to do the job of a human being. See also asindexing.org/ai-news/whit...

Perversely cheering to re-encounter the "Index to Tears" compiled for an 1886 edition of Henry Mackenzie's #18thc novel _The Man of Feeling_. (It's reprinted in the modern Oxford edition.) 47 entries for a novel of 98 pages. I like the parenthetical annotation "Choking, &c, not counted".

Our colleagues in the US have produced a document about AI and book indexing.

"At this time, AI cannot replace professional book indexers and we are doubtful that it will be able to do so soon, or even at all." #IndexSky asindexing.org/ai-news/whit....

Worth reading: a brief evisceration of the BBC's expensive historical bin-fire #kingandconqueror. There's too many historical inaccuracies to fully list! historiamag.com/review-king-...

Hoping, probably in vain that TV will come up with something super and correct on 11th century queens and other royal women #kingandconqueror a massive missed opportunity all round. I like the ponies and the babies, not so much everything else.

Well, Porter and Stout: A Complete History has arrived. I've had a bottle of @blackisle.bsky.social Colonel Custard aging in the pantry for a few years, I think this'll be a good time to open it. Heading out so just had a quick flick through, I'm enjoying the X escalations in the index.

There's lots of interesting things in @djbduncan.bsky.social book about indexes.

Yup. The reading public deserves an index. Popular science can be a gateway to other things.

Quite like #whitstablepearl for a bit of evening telly. Got a bit confused in series 3 ep.4 when they used #Walthamstow church www.stmaryswalthamstow.org as a location.

Friday is often the day when clients and editors are looking for the right book indexer for their project. Use our professional directory to find expert professional book indexers and start a great working relationship buff.ly/N5YBs1N

@baindex.org @djbduncan.bsky.social

📣 call for applications 📣 Two part-time, paid Editorial Fellowships at History Workshop. Our fellowships support early career historians to develop expertise in public, radical and digital history & to gain experience of working in an editorial team. Please share widely! www.historyworkshop....

Are you a publishing professional who’s new to working with book indexers? Our guide to commissioning an index takes you through the whole process and helps you foster good working relationships and great indexes buff.ly/VDYF0ad

IYKYK - don't take your index for granted, a good one takes a good indexer

If you're an author and indexing turns out not to be your thing, check out @indexers.bsky.social page for authors www.indexers.org.uk/about-indexi...

And this is why (if you can afford it) you get a professional indexer to index your book. Excellent stuff for CRICK, out in November!

#TinyJoys - getting good feedback from clients - "Just wanted to pass on that the author was thrilled with the index and said you did an amazing job. Thanks again!"

On Saturday 20 September, our first #SIConf25 session is on AI and indexing. How can indexers and indexing societies adapt to the new world of AI? @tanyaizzard.bsky.social and Xiaoyuan [JoJo] Chen will present ideas and suggestions. Book at the earlybird rate until Mon 7 July at

#TinyJoys our brass band secretary extolling the virtues of the band on local radio www.mkfm.com/on-air/podca...

I occasionally work on books about Scottish places and need to dip into the data to pick up things like current administrative areas and publishers recommend using Canmore for this purpose. The new site is not easy on the eye and rather horrible to use compared to the old one. Sorry.