ASI News
—New members: Learn about ASI at event
—Submit your work for awards consideration
—ASI website getting a makeover
—Fill out Key Words survey on business practices
—Summer Key Words out soon
—Annual meeting recognizes accomplishments, looks ahead
Chapters and SIGS
—Gardening/Environmental SIG meets in June
Associated Industry News
—Read back issue of The Indexer
Business and Marketing
—Protect data from malware, hackers
Spotlight on Meghan Wagner
ASI News
New members: Learn about ASI at event
New to ASI? You are invited to attend a virtual meet-and-greet for new members on June 18 at 10 a.m. Pacific / 1 p.m. Eastern.
In addition to the opportunity to meet fellow indexers, during this hour you will learn about:
- How membership benefits can help you grow your career.
- How to access ASI resources.
- How you can be involved in ASI and why you should be.
- Who to contact when you have questions.
If you're a new member (within the past year), you will receive a Zoom link a few days before the event. If you don't receive a link and want to attend, email Gwen Henson to request it.
Submit your work for awards consideration
ASI members have until July 25 to enter an index in the 2025 ASI Indexing Awards contest. Indexers are invited to submit a final PDF version (publisher's copy) of a book that was indexed with a publication date of 2024 for consideration in either the trade book or scholarly/technical categories.
Each first-place winner receives $500. Submissions will be accepted through July 25, 2025. There is a $35 entry fee. Complete information on the criteria, submission rules, and the judging process is available here.
Questions regarding the ASI Awards process can be directed to Amy Hall, chair of the Awards Committee.
ASI revamped its indexing awards program last year, with the competition divided into two categories: trade books and scholarly/technical books. This was to better reflect the variety of work indexers do. Written feedback will be provided to each entrant.
Read more about last year's winners here.
ASI website getting a makeover
Over the next few weeks, you may notice some changes to the ASI website. Soon it will have a fresh new face. A team has been working to make the transition as smooth as possible, but tech happens. We appreciate your patience as we go through the steps to effect this new look and new functionality.
Fill out Key Words survey on business practices
This winter, Key Words will feature a business issue. The Key Words team has put together a survey about the ways indexers manage their businesses so that they can share some group wisdom as well as see where expert commentary would be useful—on finances and software, for example. The survey is completely anonymous.
Please help Key Words work for you by filling out the survey here.
Summer Key Words out soon
The summer issue of Key Words will feature coverage of ASI's annual conference, from the pre-conference workshop to the main sessions. There will also be a Paratext column from Christine Hoskin on accidental specialties, and Index Zero will be an FAQ from Pilar Wyman on embedded indexing.
Annual meeting recognizes accomplishments, looks ahead
ASI held its Annual General Meeting online on May 17, with close to thirty members in attendance. Outgoing president Shelley Quattrochi summarized the highlights of the past year, which included:
- The establishment of a National Indexing Day to raise awareness about our profession and the value of indexes. On November 18, 2024, ASI members posted clever infographics on multiple social media platforms and in local libraries.
- The resurrection and revamping of our awards program. The ASI Indexing Awards competition is now divided into two categories to better reflect the variety of work that indexers do.
- Online educational and networking events, including two Indexing Playgrounds, two new webinars, and two well-attended flagship events: "All About Indexing" in December and the "Spring Into Action" annual conference in April.
- Representation at a major international symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Indexing. In October 2024, ASI’s international representative Devon Thomas traveled to Beijing to attend the conference hosted by the China Society of Indexers.
After Cheryl Lenser gave the treasurer’s report, the focus shifted to honoring ASI’s dedicated volunteers. This included recognition of outgoing and new board members, presentation of the Kohlrabi Awards, and a short speech from the 2025 Hines Award winner, Connie Binder, who displayed great millinery flair.
The meeting ended with the transfer of the presidency to Jen Weers, who spoke about her leadership priorities for the coming year. These include increasing efforts on membership retention and new member recruitment, creating additional networking opportunities, marketing the importance of human indexing to publishing professionals, and actively seeking and responding to member feedback.
Chapters and SIGS
Gardening/Environmental SIG meets in June
The Gardening/Environmental Studies SIG will meet online on Thursday, June 12 at 10 a.m. Pacific time / 1 p.m. Eastern time. This is an opportunity for members to connect and network while sharing ideas about the field. A Zoom link will be sent out to members.
More information about the SIG is available here.
Information about all of ASI's SIGs is available here.
Associated Industry News
Read back issue of The Indexer
Each year, the UK-based Liverpool University Press makes one full issue of each journal it publishes free to read. This includes The Indexer.
The March 2022 issue of the international journal of indexing is available to read and download through the end of 2025. It features an article by ASI member Michele Combs tracing the history of the book index. Michele presented on this topic at ASI's annual conference in 2021. The issue also includes articles on how book indexers generate quotes for projects and on indexes and the educational publishing industry.
Browse through all the free journal issues offered through LUP.
Business and Marketing
Protect data from malware, hackers
Federal agencies, including the FBI, have been targeting the LummaC2 malware, which an advisory in May described as posing "a serious threat, capable of infiltrating networks and exfiltrating sensitive information."
This is only the latest in the list of cybersecurity threats that make our personal and professional data vulnerable.
The Federal Trade Commission offers tips on protecting your computers, phones and all the data they hold. Visit their website for more information on:
- Keeping software updated.
- Securing your Wi-Fi network.
- Using strong passwords and two-factor authentication to protect online accounts.
- Protecting yourself from attempts to steal your information.
- What to do if something goes wrong.
The FBI-affiliated Internet Crime Complaint Center has alerts on current threats and security breaches as well as resources.
Spotlight on Meghan Wagner
This month's Spotlight is on Meghan Wagner, owner of Two Eyes Editing and Indexing.
If you would like to be in the Spotlight, or would like to nominate someone for it, please contact Laurie Hlavaty.
Where do you live now? Where are you originally from? Do you share your home with pets or family?
I am originally from Bolingbrook, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and I have lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, pretty much since 2005. I had a brief two-year stint in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, but was regularly coming back to Ann Arbor during that period, so I never completely left. I live with my partner, Eric, and although we don’t currently have pets, we are looking to add some new furry companions to our home soon.
What is your educational background?
I have a BS in chemistry from Indiana University, an MS in chemistry from the University of Michigan, and a PhD in earth and environmental sciences from the University of Michigan. After finishing the PhD, I did a postdoc at Central Michigan University. As a grad student and postdoc, I studied mud—literally. It’s far more interesting than it sounds! I was looking at what the chemicals in the layers of mud can tell us about past climate and long-term changes in the ocean.
Do you have any hobbies, travels, volunteer work, or other interesting things to share?
I have a long-term interest in and involvement with martial arts, including doing Chinese lion dance. Lately I’ve been spending a lot more time swimming, though. I’ve always loved the water. After college I served in the Peace Corps in South Africa. That was definitely a life-changing experience. These days I’m much more of a homebody, and my summer adventures this year will consist of trying to bring more order to my garden and vanquishing the English ivy that is growing everywhere. Currently, I serve as the volunteer manager for the Academic Editing Chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association and recently joined the ASI webmaster team.
What kind of work did you do before you studied indexing? Are you still doing that or other work in addition to indexing?
I taught environment and sustainability courses and worked as a project manager in higher education until 2020, when my job as a project manager ended (it was grant funded). I started freelancing not long thereafter, and I haven’t looked back. Now I do a mix of editing, indexing, and writing.
What is a favorite strategy to help motivate or inspire when you are feeling stuck during a work project?
Like many others, I find that a short walk is wonderful for clearing my mind and solving problems. I also sometimes think about problems while swimming laps. There’s something about movement that helps to get things unstuck. On the other hand, sometimes going the other direction and taking a nap is the best thing for me. In the last few years, I’ve become a power napper.
When did you start indexing? When did you join ASI?
I started indexing in 2022, when I joined ASI so I could take the training course. I finished the course last year.
For you, what is the best advantage of ASI membership?
The people and the professional development opportunities are definitely the best parts of being an ASI member. I am really happy to be part of this community and have been blown away by the generosity and warmth of the people I’ve met through ASI.
Items to be considered for the See Also newsletter should be submitted by the 15th of the month before publication. For July 2025 issue, please email SeeAlsoEditor@asindexing.org by June 15. Thank you.
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