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.

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?

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

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

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!

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

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.

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

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:

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

We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.

A fascinating little video of the making of a book, via @levparikian.bsky.social's Six Things newsletter (buff.ly/upBRl6y) buff.ly/QEVKapN

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

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.

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.

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?

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

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

This afternoon's sessions at #SIConf25 have included sharing expertise on embedded indexing and cross-reference, the opportunity to unwind with mindful collage, and next we have a panel discussion on working with authors with @carosanderson.bsky.com, @djbduncan.bsky.social and Jane Calvert.

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.

Before lunch at #SIConf25 we shared tips on the various forms of indexing software. Whether indexers use Sky, Cindex or Macrex, it's always useful to learn from our colleagues about timesaving techniques so we can work more efficiently.

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

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.

We finished up Day 1 of #SIConf25 with two breakout sessions, one for newer indexers, and one for the more experienced. It's always good to discuss with other indexers how we manage our careers, develop and maintain our skills, and solve problems.

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

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

And we're off, with a welcome from our Honorary President @carosanderson #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.

As @indexosaurus.bsky.social says, this is so helpful, not just to readers who are often frustrated by poor or absent indexes, but to indexers too. Plus you might get a citation in @indexer.bsky.social's regular Indexes Reviewed column.

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

Readers displeased by the lack of an index, the latest in a long series:

It is wonderful to have received the index for my book this afternoon 🥳 Usually, in biographies of Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth is mentioned a handful of times. In my book (all about HER!) she will have several entries in the index. Pictured are just a few of them.

Attended a book launch like no other at the Ironmongers' Company last night. I indexed the latest history of the Company earlier this year; last night, Penelope Hunting's book was launched by the Grenadier Guards beating the retreat at London's Guildhall, followed by supper at the Ironmongers' Hall.

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

Bad indexes disappoint readers. Indexer Ruth Martin explains what we try to avoid in book indexing

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

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/VfJe4lI