Introduction to Book Indexing

Instructor: Joanne Sprott

Dates: August 7 to September 1, 2017

Credits: 1.5 CEUs

Price: $175

This four-week, asynchronous online course provides an introduction to, and hands-on practice in, the indexing process for a closed-system text (as opposed to periodicals or databases). The main objective is to provide the student with a beginning skill set in producing a traditional back-of-the-book index. The intellectual and technical skills used will also be applicable to the indexing of online materials of various sorts. Topics will include: plumbing the indexer mind; how users approach and use indexes; index term selection (names and subjects); index entry formation; publisher requirements and considerations; double-posting and cross-referencing conventions; and editing the index for conciseness, completeness and usability. The course will also explore, as time allows, some best practices for indexing modular materials as well as the challenge and use of embedding index terms in electronic documents.

Joanne Sprott has been a freelance book indexer, copy editor, and proofreader since 1995. She holds a BA in Linguistics from the University of New Hampshire. Joanne’s background in instruction includes developing and presenting the six-hour Basic Indexing Workshop given at the American Society for Indexing's (ASI's) annual conference (1998–2002), and editing materials and managing exam administration for ASI's Training in Indexing course (2009–2014). Prior to starting her editorial and indexing business, Joanne worked in university administration at Brown University in Providence Rhode Island (1986–1990). 

This is an online class that is taught asynchronously, meaning that participants do the work on their own time as their schedules allow. The class does not meet together at any particular times, although the instructor may set up optional sychronous chat sessions. Instruction includes readings and assignments in one-week segments. Class participation is in an online forum environment.

You can register in this course through the first week of instruction (as long as it is not full). The "Register" button on the website goes to our credit card payment gateway, which may be used with personal or institutional credit cards. (Be sure to use the appropriate billing address). If your institution wants us to send a billing statement or wants to pay using a purchase order, please contact us by email to make arrangements: [log in to unmask]

For a list of all of the courses being offered next month, please go to:

Library Juice Academy

P.O. Box 188784

Sacramento, CA 95818

Tel. (916) 905-0291

Fax (916) 415-5446

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