The Indexer 

Abstract: ‘Continental Connections’ was an international indexing conference organised jointly by the Netherlands Indexing Network (NIN), the German Indexing Network (DNI) and the Society of Indexers (SI), in cooperation with the German Society for Information and Knowledge (DGI). It was held in Berlin, Germany, on 17–18 October 2022. The International Committee of Representatives of Indexing Societies (ICRIS) held their triennial meeting the day before. Both the conference and the meeting were held in a hybrid format, with a combination of in-person and virtual presentations and attendance. Madelon Nanniga was there in person and reports that it was a highly successful post-pandemic reunification of indexers from all over the world.

Abstract: The previous article in this series outlined the chequered history of indexing The Indexer, emphasising the apparent lack of concern for standardisation and consistency and the failure to establish a thesaurus or controlled vocabulary. Here we focus on the guidance on journal indexing available in the various indexing standards and manuals, and also in the pages of The Indexer itself, and consider the extent to which an agreed set of recommendations can be identified. A brief look at several different journal indexes suggests that users in different disciplines may have different needs, and that one size does not fit all, but who are the users of The Indexer’s indexes and have their views been taken into account?

Abstract: A detailed and very personal account of a long-term project indexing a massive collection of historical documents (the Joseph Smith papers) relating to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (colloquially known as the Mormons) explains what made this such a successful collaboration between indexer and client. The project had been meticulously planned and the indexer herself had the ideal academic background and experience, including several other large indexing projects and books in similar subject areas. Digitization of the documents and their index was a collaborative project between client and indexer, leading to an accurate system being established that was easy for the indexer to use. Communication between indexer and client throughout this project was a model of how such relationships can and should be conducted, leading the indexer to adapt her practice for subsequent projects, to the advantage of both partners, and reducing the need for queries from clients with a limited understanding of the indexing process.

Abstract: Dennis Duncan’s latest book, Index, a history of the, has received much coverage since publication in September 2021, as has its index by Society of Indexers member Paula Clarke Bain. Dennis and Paula have presented at many of the main indexing conferences over the year, together and solo as author and indexer. In this article, Paula Clarke Bain reflects on their recent presentations at the Society of Indexers (UK), the American Society for Indexing (ASI) and the Indexing Society of Canada/Société canadienne d’indexation (ISC/SCI) conferences, and looks ahead to the international indexing conference in Berlin in October 2022, where they will be back presenting together again.