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

It's not just me with a new cryptic on MyCrossword this weekend! We'll be solving a couple live at 12 noon, set by Umpire @mpcryptics.bsky.social and Flush @4flush.bsky.social #CrypticSunday twitch.tv/crypticsunday

The Cure tickets for Manchester 2026 are in the bag. 🕸️ *celebratory twirl*

Super Furry Animals reuniting for a tour is my Oasis.

I really enjoyed answering @mathewlyons.bsky.social's questions about my favourite books, which brought out patterns I hadn't noticed in the things I like. I'd recommend to anyone having a think about how you'd answer. open.substack.com/pub/mathewly...

I’m glad to get back to joining in with this live today. Being on the other side of recent conference(s) chaos now frees up more headspace for cryptic crosswording again. Yay!

Spectacular setting in Stockport Parish Church – St Mary's in the Marketplace for a gig and a dance at the Mercury Climbing festival finale. 💜

A few index entries to end the week from our ‘Humour and bias in indexing’ session at @indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25. From my published index to Big Beacon by Alan Partridge (@neilgibbons.bsky.social, Rob Gibbons and Steve Coogan). #IndexSky

Join us this Thursday for another fine evening of live comedy at Thread in Stockport’s historic market place! Thursday 25th September, 7.45pm wegottickets.com/event/668645 #Stockport #comedy #comedyclub #theheatons #marple #edgeley #offerton #cheadle #levenshulme #manchester

"The indexers have dispersed now . . . ." On the day before the rapture thing? Ominous. Who made it on to the main- and sub-headings lists then? #IndexerHumor

Seeing all the posts about the @indexers.bsky.social conference has made me realize how much I enjoyed the @indexerscanada.bsky.social conference this summer. It's so rare for me to drop into a group of strangers and immediately feel comfortable. Hoping to go to the SI one someday!

Back from a wonderful weekend at @indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25 and @the-ciep.bsky.social #CIEP2025. Big general thanks for now to all involved. It’s been hard but fun to give two different presentations at two conferences in under 24 hours, and glad to complete the challenge. Now for a big sleep.

I just returned from Birmingham, where I spoke at the Society of Indexers (@indexers.bsky.social) conference #SIConf25. It was a great conference!

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.

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.

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. 😀

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.

First up on the third and final day of @indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25 are @annkingdom.bsky.social and me on ‘Humour and bias in indexing’. We hope to entertain, make people think, and keep everyone awake at 9.15 on a conference Sunday morning.

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.

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

Excellent start to @indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25 day 2 with ‘Adapting with Agility: How Indexing Societies are Responding to Al Challenges’ from @tanyaizzard.bsky.social plus JoJo Chen from the China Society of Indexers via Zoom. We are coordinating approaches as individuals and societies.

Our first keynote for Day 2 of #SIConf25 looks at how indexers and indexing societies can respond to the change and challenges of AI. JoJo Chen and Tanya Izzard give the Chinese and UK perspectives.

Anya Somerville from the House of Commons Library gives our first keynote, on indexing the proceedings of Parliament #SIConf25

Arrived in Birmingham for #SIConf25 yesterday evening. Lovely to see friends again and talk about nothing but #indexing for the next three days!

On the road to Edgbaston Park for @indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25. Here’s a sneak peek into my book bag for what I’ll be talking about in my ‘Humour and bias in indexing’ session with @annkingdom.bsky.social. See everyone soon! #IndexSky

Leaving a foggy Sussex on my way to Birmingham for @indexers.bsky.social's #SIConf25. Reading this beautiful novel which is, appropriately, mostly set on trains.

Today I have been exploring Birmingham ahead of the @indexers.bsky.social #SICONF25 conference which starts tomorrow. My first stop was the Library of Birmingham, including a visit to the rooftop terrace and a meander round the book rotunda indoors. Good start to a book-focused weekend.

Busy conference weekend ahead at @indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25 (I’m presenting on humour in indexes, among other hats), then @the-ciep.bsky.social #CIEP2025 (with ‘An extra trick up your sleeve: adding book indexing to your editorial skills portfolio’). See you here or there! #Edibuddies #IndexSky

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

Looking forward to my presentation at the 2025 CIEP Conference! I will talk about those editing interventions that go beyond grammar and spelling. #CIEP2025 #AmEditing @the-ciep.bsky.social

I pre-ordered Dennis Duncan‘s _Index, A History of The_ long ago, but I’ve fallen way behind on my 📚, so I’m only just now reading it — and this chapter on index satire + sabotage is hilarious! 🤣 I think we should revive punk book criticism in the form of mock indexes :)

One week till @indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25. With: @carosanderson.bsky.social @djbduncan.bsky.social @tanyaizzard.bsky.social on AI @closereadingie.bsky.social peer-review panel @annkingdom.bsky.social and me on humour, and more. Look forward to presenting, learning and much catching up! #IndexSky

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".

Another good Zoom with @indexers.bsky.social on ‘What I know now that I wish I knew then’ (thread below, to be continued at #SIConf25). Attendees ranged from trainees to some who began indexing in the 1970s. Many of us like the job so much that we do it for a long time (20+ years for me). #IndexSky

We like an index joke, and here's a good example of the "use the whole span of the book to make a point" index joke #IndexSky

Last chance to book for #SIConf25 The Heart and Mind of Indexing, 19-21 September, at The Writers’ Suite, Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre, Birmingham, UK. Booking closes today, Monday 18 August - ensure your place at #SIConf25 via buff.ly/8tvslBl

Most read in @indexer.bsky.social this week 📖 'Taxonomies, folksonomies, ontologies: what are they and how do they support information retrieval?' by Madely du Preez Find it on the LUP website: bit.ly/INDEX-Preez @indexers.bsky.social @cilip.bsky.social @djbduncan.bsky.social @baindex.org

Last few days to reserve your place for Society of Indexers @indexers.bsky.social 2025 conference ‘The Heart and Mind of Indexing’ in Birmingham. Booking closes on Monday 18 August. I’ll be there in various guises. See also you at #SIConf25? #IndexSky

Live stand-up comedy in #Stockport Market Place, Thurs 28th August, Daliso Chaponda, Paul Savage, Lulu Simons, Paul Sheehan & Danny Sutcliffe! 😃 🎟️ Tickets: wegottickets.com/event/659760 #comedy #comedyclub #manchester #offerton #edgeley #theheatons #reddish #marple #hazelgrove

For a #FollowFriday #FF: here’s my starter pack of freelance book indexers and indexing societies on Bluesky. There’s room for more if you wish to be included too. #IndexSky

I've been the "Design Indexer" in rez at the Cooper Hewitt library this 😎. On Sept 10 we'll explore library resources that frame the INDEX itself — the Index of 🇺🇸 Design (the prjct's namesake), the index card, the manicule 👈, etc — as a material, designed thing, esp contra AI's indexical flattening

Scathing personal critisism via an indexn has excellent entertainment value. Courtesy of 'Index, A History of the: A bookish adventure' by @djbduncan.bsky.social

Another good @indexers.bsky.social session (thread below). The ‘passing mention’ issue never goes away. I mentioned Emma Warnken Johnson’s handy flowchart and colour-coding to aid decision fatigue from @indexerscanada.bsky.social conference. Those ambers are always tricky. 🚦

Two weeks left to book for @indexers.bsky.social #SIConf25. With: @carosanderson.bsky.social @djbduncan.bsky.social @tanyaizzard.bsky.social on AI @closereadingie.bsky.social peer-review panel @annkingdom.bsky.social and me on humour plus more. Join us! #IndexSky www.indexers.org.uk/conference-2...

Some lovely examples of index creativity in this thread begun by @shannonmattern.bsky.social, including one or two of my own. #IndexSky @indexers.bsky.social

Ozzy Osbourne funeral procession through Birmingham is being led by musicians playing Iron Man 🤘🥺🙏

Don't miss your chance to attend our 2025 Conference, The Heart and Mind of Indexing, 19-21 September, at The Writers’ Suite, Birmingham. We have a full programme for indexers at all stages of their careers. Book your place at #SIConf25 via buff.ly/agRO01Q

The brain is a fascinating thing. Whenever I see this list of Google entries in this index, I catch a glimpse of the appropriate colours (It is an appropriately excellent index by Paula Clarke Bain, attached to Dennis Duncan's enjoyable "Index, A History of the")

Rob Rouse: Funny Bones – UK Tour Show – coming to Thread #Stockport Thursday 9th April 2026 🔥 Star of BBC’s Upstart Crow, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Friday Night Project and Dave’s One Night Stand. “He’s a man with genuinely funny bones” — The Sunday Times 🎟️ On sale now! wegottickets.com/event/668551

Still time to book for our 2025 Conference, The Heart and Mind of Indexing, 19-21 September, in person in Birmingham. We have a full programme of sessions and social events for indexers at all stages of their careers. Book your place at #SIConf25 via buff.ly/agRO01Q