Indexers & Librarians have common goals
Both information and knowledge professionals dedicated to serving the needs of readers (customers, users) by identifying content of books (e.g. subject headings). Both are about helping people to find information.
#MetaFutures
Paula trained in indexing while working as a freelance proofreader and copy-editor. The same publishing contacts gave out indexing work too. - She has a background in publishing, but many other indexers have a librarianship background
#MetaFutures
Indexes save the reader time and hassle
They provide access to information within book
Computer search is not the same – a computer doesn’t read like a human, and so it can’t index like one
AI problems: lead to ‘spicy autocomplete’ rather than deep, thoughtful reading #MetaFutures
Now to "Indexers and information professionals: crossovers and co-operation" with Paula Clarke Bain @baindex.org from Society of Indexers @indexers.bsky.social #MetaFutures
A twist on the disappointing lack of an index: teasing the reader with the prospect of an index, but not delivering #IndexSky
View from a train window of white clouds and green fields and trees with the ridge of the Malvern Hills in the distance.
Indexer on the latest of many trains in March 2026. Off to Clifton in Bristol for the @cilipmdg.bsky.social #MetaFutures conference, where I’m presenting tomorrow on the links between the work of @cilip.bsky.social and @indexers.bsky.social. Nice to see the Malvern Hills again on the way. #IndexSky
Great to see some new index users getting started! Indexing books for children is a specific skill - see buff.ly/SgdRGrZ for more information on this fascinating area of work #IndexSky
Having a bit of a moment looking at the index of an archaeological report done by someone who has archaeological experience but has not been trained as indexer and it shows. No names, no pack drill, but this is why it is important to have someone trained and knowledgeable doing your indexes.
Market your book with its index...
Our #IndexDay workshops on 31 March in London at the Publishers Association are filling up. Book now to make sure of your place at these workshops and learn more about this key aspect of book publishing
Promotional graphic with black-and-white speaker headshot photo on a purple background image of Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. I'm speaking at CILIP MDG CONFERENCE 2026 Indexers and information professionals: crossovers and co-operation Paula Clarke Bain Chair and Fellow, Society of Indexers #METAFUTURES | 11-13 MARCH 2026 | ENGINEERS' HOUSE, BRISTOL MDG Metadata & Discovery Group logo
Glad to be speaking at the CILIP MDG #MetaFutures conference in Bristol next week on ‘Indexers and information professionals: crossovers and co-operation’ and links between @cilipmdg.bsky.social @cilip.bsky.social and @indexers.bsky.social. Keen to tackle the evening pub quiz too. 🤓 #IndexSky
I had a super time talking about how much I enjoy indexing archaeological site reports, and keeping up with current research with @currentarchaeology.bsky.social (although a fair few of the articles are about books I have already worked on). And I got to talk about poo again! Fecal steroids!
Many thanks to Nicola for sharing her expertise, to Ann for facilitating the discussion, and to everyone else for their insightful questions.
There are relatively few indexers working on archaeology so indexers should be booked early – our Professional Directory gives details of indexers who specialise in this work. buff.ly/HHOtK0L
Both Nicola and Ann Hudson, also an archaeology indexer, recommended the magazine Current Archaeology if members are interested in learning more about the topic; Nicola shared a longer list of very useful resources for indexers interested in this area of work.
We discussed the decision-making process for term selection in these texts and how to deal with the different text sections, and the level of expertise an indexer might need to deal with reports on sites outside the UK.
Because of the range of potential readers, multiple points of entry and/or cross-references are very important, and you need good indexing software skills to manage these. These books also need careful cross-checking between texts and images – and therefore a consistent, patient approach is vital.
To be a good archaeology indexer, you need to understand the time periods involved, the terminology used, and have a basic appreciation of the scientific techniques.
Archaeological reports have become increasingly scientific, but the language is usually very clear and accessible – and as these methods are described in many reports, they soon become familiar to the indexer.
Nicola gave an overview of the typical sorts of headings that might help meet the needs of those readers, including historical periods, materials, scientific techniques and the people involved with the site or the project.
These books can have a broad range of readers. As well as archaeologists and archaeology students, they may be read by clients, consultancies, scientists and people with a general interest in the topic or place discussed.
These books are often produced to a very high standard, with a lot of illustrations, charts and diagrams; space available for the index is usually quite generous. While these books include a large amount of detail that is daunting at first, the broader themes are often very clearly explained.
They usually follow a fairly standard format with an introduction, account of fieldwork, reports of findings and a discussion section explaining the significance of the project. This can be used to create a useful index structure from the outset.
Our March session featured indexer @nicolaking.bsky.social talking about indexing archaeology texts. These are published by a range of organizations – consultancies, societies, universities, museums as well as publishers.
Yup, even popular non-fiction needs an index. Readers notice and want better.
Another World Book Day treat. SI member @susanpennyindexing.bsky.social combines her indexing career with work as a bookseller, seeing the book trade from two very different perspectives:
For World Book Day, enjoy our President @carosanderson.bsky.social's celebration of the human art of indexing. Every non-fiction book needs an expert, professionally produced index. buff.ly/bfZfDw4
Are you a publishing professional who needs to know more about book indexing? Join us for our #IndexDay workshops in London @publishersassoc.bsky.social on 31 March. Learn about indexing and technology, what makes a quality index, and try indexing for yourself. Book at
Glad to be part of @indexers.bsky.social National Indexing Day #IndexDay event team again with @tanyaizzard.bsky.social and Rachel Gee. Non-fiction publishing professionals, we’d love you to join us there to talk about how we can make book indexes and indexing processes better together.
Meet the speakers for our #IndexDay workshop on 31 March
@publishersassoc.bsky.social
: @baindex.org on the value of human indexing, Rachel Gee on how indexes make information accessible, and
@tanyaizzard.bsky.social
on technology and AI. Book your place at www.indexers.org.uk/posts/nation...
