A speaker takes applause. Photo by Jaime Lopes on Unsplash

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.

Conference slide with two photos of index entries and the header: Partridge index entries Society of Indexers [logo] and footer: Humour and bias in indexing Bain and Kingdom #SIConf25 [photo 1] Willoughby, Holly 115, 242 Winkleman, Claudia 268 Witter, Rosie 19 woggles, golden 21, 22, 23 wokeness 58n women angry circle of 98, 213 assistants 171 in Bodyform advert 135-6 broadcasters 42, 220, 237 ephemeral 79 friends (six) 89 lady action heroes 230 #MeToo movement 168-70 Qatari rights quibbles 153, 168 rigid hairdos of politicians 124 superb intuition about 264 trying to disrobe 120 Yentob, Alan 124 [photo 2] Seaview B&B 108-9, 113, 159 Secombe, Harry, man who looks like 99, 213 Seldom (dog) origin story 249, 251-2 first meeting 252-3, 253n first birthday 254 Coca-Cola preference 255 diet of eggs 2 diet of meats 2, 254n, 255 emergency mince 255 friendship with 76, 254-5 as Royalist 262 in Scissored Isle 131 tricky temperament 2, 3, 12n, 131, 254-5, 271 funfair incident 2-4, 12, 34, 255, 282 grief for 11-12, 12n, 28, 67n, 211, 255-6, 261, 262 heavenly transport 78 as lighthouse name 48, 277 post-death messages 34, 46, 271, 282-3 legacy 114, 282 Sex Pistols 88

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

Paula Clarke Bain presenting at Society of Indexers #SIConf25 conference in Birmingham on ‘Humour and bias in indexing’ by a screen slide showing the front cover of Alan Partridge: Big Beacon, which she indexed. She is wearing a book-print dress.

A display screen in an empty conference room showing a blue and white slide with the text: Welcome CIEP Conference 2025 The Value of the Editorial Profession CIEP logo Our sponsors PerfectIt (logo) Society of Indexers (logo)

A closed door with room number G23 and a display board with text: An extra trick up your sleeve: adding book indexing to your editorial skills portfolio Paula Clarke Bain 9.15am-10.15am CIEP logo

Paula Clarke Bain presenting at Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading #CIEP2025 conference in Milton Keynes on ‘Another trick up your sleeve: adding book indexing to your editorial skills portfolio’, under 24 hours later. She is by a slide showing her meeting various people through indexing connections such as Nick Cave, Dennis Duncan, Sam Leith, Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan in full character), Alex Peace and Caroline Sanderson. Paula is wearing a different book-print dress.

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.

Ann Kingdom presenting at Society of Indexers 2025 conference in front of her introductions slide and a photo of Brilliant Creatures by Clive James.

Paula Clarke Bain presenting at Society of Indexers 2025 conference in front of her introductions slide and a photo of Murder Inc performers at A Laugh In Stockport comedy club.

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.

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 PowerPoint title slide with illustration of the two comedy and tragedy drama masks, with the laughing mask in green and the crying mask in purple. Humour and bias in indexing Paula Clarke Bain and Ann Kingdom Society of Indexers logo information from A to Z And footer: Humour and bias in indexing Bain and Kingdom #SIConf25

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

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.

Tanya Izzard in person and JoJo Chen on screen presenting on AI issues at the Society of Indexers 2025 conference.

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!

A purple and white Penguin Books tote bag in the lap of an indexer in a book print dress, with the following books spilling out: But Doctor, I AM a Collection of Comic Strips by Paul Savage Fab Fools by Jem Roberts How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World by Francis Wheen The Frankfurt Kabuff eds Beth Driscoll and Claire Squires Big Beacon by Alan Partridge Index, A History of the by Dennis Duncan Laughter and Ridicule by Michael Billig

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

Foggy view of the usually glorious Ouse Valley

Copy of Paul Scraton's A Dream of White Horses

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.

Views of the exterior of the library of Birmingham. Modern facade decorated with interconnected metal circles.

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.

Promo image with a background photo of the exterior of a modern conference centre. Society of Indexers logo #SIConf25 Society of Indexers 2025 conference ‘The Heart and Mind of Indexing’ Friday 19 to Sunday 21 September 2025 The Writers’ Suite, Edgbaston Park Hotel & Conference Centre, University of Birmingham www.indexers.org.uk/conference-2025

Promo image with inset circular speaker photo: CIEP logo Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading I'm speaking at the CIEP Conference 2025 20–22 September Milton Keynes & online Speaker Paula Clarke Bain www.ciep.uk #CIEP2025

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

Conference 2025: ‘The Heart and Mind of Indexing’ The Society of Indexers 2025 conference will be an in-person residential conference at Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre at the University of Birmingham from Friday 19 September to Sunday 21 ...

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

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

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