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How To Handle An Indexer Pierke led a very good and practical workshop for editors on how to deal with indexers. The workshop was attended by six editors, a typesetter and two indexers. In her workshop Pierke discussed the basics of indexing, types of indexes, the way indexers work, the (software) tools indexers use, and the planning and financing of indexes. She also extensively addressed the needs and expectations of indexers towards editors and vice versa. Most of the editors present seemed quite aware of the indexing basics. They were particularly interested in how indexing fees are built up, in the training of indexers and in indexing software. With regard to the latter, editors wondered why most indexing programmes do not offer the possibility to link PDF’s to them. Editors therefore did express their interest in TExtract. An interesting, but also precarious point was that most editors confessed they rarely check submitted indexes on typing errors and other mistakes. Pierke stressed the importance of this and also emphasised points of attention on how to judge a good index. She also advised editors to give indexers the chance to check their indexes after typesetting. Pierke wondered if it happens a lot that editors write the index instead of hiring a professional indexer. This appears rarely the case, but editors have experience with authors wanting to write their own index. Editors wondered if it would make the indexing process more efficient if authors provide indexers with suggestions for indexing terms. The conclusion was that it can be useful to have a list of suggested terms, but this should be used rather as an addition to than as a basis for the index. Pierke also pointed out that in cases of translations, revisions or updates of publications, it is usually much more efficient to write a new index rather than translating and repaging it. Towards the end of the workshop Pierke presented the editors with a top 5 wish list indexers have: Pierke also pointed out what things editors may expect of indexers, such as meeting deadlines, delivering an end result as agreed upon, the indexer being flexible, and the indexer informing the editor about any (typing) errors found in the text. Subsequently Pierke asked if the editors could come up with a top five as well. Apparently the editors present were already pretty much satisfied, as they couldn’t compose such a list. The only thing mentioned again at this point was the possibility of a link between PDF’s and indexing software. After the workshop Pierke has been asked by various publishers to organise this workshop again in-house. This shows that editors are really interested and see the benefit of it. Perhaps also an idea for our fellow SI-colleagues to consider offering these workshops!
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Verslag geschreven door Jacqueline Pitchford van de workshop voor redacteuren en uitgevers, gegeven door Pierke Bosschieter op 31 September in de Roosevelt Academy te Middelburg. |
