The Digital Publications Indexing SIG is one of several special interest groups affiliated with the American Society for Indexing (ASI). It is a membership group open only to current members of ASI or one of its sister indexing societies in other countries. The American Society for Indexing is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1968 as the American Society of Indexers (changed to American Society for Indexing in 2008) to promote excellence in indexing and increase awareness of the value of well-written indexes. Find information about joining ASI and/or the Digital Publications Indexing SIG on the Affiliated SIG Information page.
The Digital Publications Indexing SIG has the same objectives as ASI, in promoting excellence in indexing and increasing awareness of the value of well-written indexes, specifically for digital publications. It is a forum for indexers who are concerned with all aspects of indexing and indexes for digital publications, including, but not necessarily limited to, indexing for digital-only publications, indexing in print-to-digital or print-and-digital workflows, as well as specific issues of embedded indexing, ebook indexing, indexing for websites, and mounting of indexes on the web. The focus of index creation is of back-of-the-book-style indexes with browsable main entries and subentries that are linked to tags or anchors (or embedded) within one or more files which may be in HTML, XML, Word, InDesign, or other publishing software formats.
The objectives of the Digital Publications Indexing SIG are to provide:
- resources and information about the various forms of digital publications indexing, through content on or linked from the website
- educational opportunities to members, such as through webinars
- a discussion forum for members to share ideas and knowledge
- a method to promote freelance indexer services in various forms of digital publications indexing
The Digital Publications Indexing SIG had its origins in what was called the Web Indexing SIG. The SIG was originally founded in 1998 as the Web Indexing SIG. After a survey of members indicated a preference for a broader scope, the SIG was renamed the Web and Electronic Indexing SIG in 2010. With the rise of web content management systems to build and organize large websites, freelance work in website indexing, which was never very much, further declined. In the summer of 2016, a survey of members was conducted regarding what focus the SIG should take. The results indicated interest in a SIG broadly defined as digital/electronic indexing, including embedded indexing, ebook indexing, web/HTML indexing, and online documentation indexing. The current name, approved by the ASI Board in November 2016, came out of member discussions and surveys.
Find out more about the various forms of digital publications indexing:
Join the discussion:
Indexes for Digital Publications LinkedIn Group – an open group for both members and nonmembers to share and comment on news, blog posts, useful links, conferences and events, other announcements, etc., pertaining to all forms of digital publications indexing. Those in the publishing industry may also use this forum to ask questions about indexes and indexing.
Digital Publications SIG Google Group – a closed group for SIG members, primarily indexers, to ask questions and seek advice about indexing from their colleagues in a supportive community. Announcements may also be posted in this group. New members will receive an invitation from the SIG manager to join the group.
The webmaster can be reached at webmaster@digital-publications-indexing.org.