Welcome to 2011 ANZSI Conference
The September Conference is approaching fast. It will be held over three days from Monday 12 September to Wednesday 14 September at the Brighton Savoy, Brighton, Victoria. The title for this conference is ‘Indexing see change’. To help tempt you to come to the Conference I thought I would highlight some of the things on offer.
Who should attend?
It is tempting to just say everyone. For some the thought of attending a conference conjures up the image of lecture type presentations on theory or high level discussions aimed at ‘experts’. Indexing conferences are not like that. There are usually about 75 attendees from all sorts of backgrounds and levels of indexing experience. While there will be ‘experts’, there are so many aspects to indexing I’m sure even they would agree they learn new things at conferences.
There will be a few presentations, but also several workshops and small group discussions that will enable you to ask questions and learn new skills. It is hoped that the conference will open your eyes to other ways indexing skills can be used rather than just back-of-book or database indexing.
Small group discussions
Building on the success of the small group discussions held in Sydney in 2009 there will be several small group discussions. This will be a great opportunity for you to learn the tricks involve in indexing in different languages, subjects or even different types of indexing. Topics for discussion include indexing in French and German, Indonesian and Islamic languages, law, music, art, craft, gardening, family history, annual reports, children’s books, manuals, religion and local history journals.
All group leaders have been asked to highlight some of the tips and traps for indexes new to that particular area of indexing. They will lead the discussion on the topic so it is a great chance to have your questions answered. It is also a great opportunity to meet others interested in that area of indexing.
Workshops
This time we have decided to include workshops in the conference program and include them in the cost. There are a few workshops being held during the conference. Glenda Browne and Mary Coe will lead a workshop on marketing, networking and the web. Max McMaster will be discussing how to quote for an indexing job. I will be examining when and how to index footnotes or endnotes and cited authors. We will also be having a workshop explaining the basics of a thesaurus and how to create one.
Indexing objects
Indexing objects is a very different area of indexing. It can overlap with archiving. At the conference there will be discussion on indexing quilts, both as an object and as geometric patterns. At another session school archives will be discussed and how they are used to interest students in history. The session on Atlas of Living Australia will look at biodiversity information and the databases used. The visit to the Brighton Historical Society will also demonstrate indexing objects.
Taxonomy and thesaurus
These are often attached to databases, both journal databases and online databases containing all sorts of information. Indexing with a thesaurus is indexing with predetermined terms. Who uses them? What skills are needed to develop them? Matt Moore will be discussing answers to these questions.
Web 3.0 allows users to assign keyword tags of their choice to web content. This leads to folksonomies. The term was coined by Thomas Vander Wal in 2004 in response to a question about what to call the new informal social classification comprising user-defined tags on information-sharing websites. Anna Gifford will be discussing how they are used and their limitations.
Indexes as the start of something new
Modern technologies, particularly the web, take an index and turn it into something else. An obvious example is a well indexed e-book that contains links that lead to information in the e-book, or information in other e-books, such as a dictionary, or direct you to a website for up to date information. Susan Hawthorne, from Spinifex Press, will be a keynote speaker and will explain e-books from a publisher’s point of view, and the role of indexes in them.
But what about the various mashup examples available on the web. Take the Mapping our Anzacs as an example (http://mappingouranzacs.naa.gov.au/). This took a simple database of basic biographical details for Anzacs and mapped the location of birth and enlistment on a map. Suddenly the information takes on a whole new look. One of the people behind this project was Tim Sherratt. He will be a keynote speaker and will give other examples of what can be done with an accurate index.
Atlas of Living Australia is another project involved in using web technologies to improve access to biodiversity information. We are fortunate to have two speakers to explain various aspects of this project.
All of these are possible because there is an accurate index behind the scenes. We need to think of an index as having the potential to be the beginning of something new, instead of the end of a project, as in the case of a published book.
Indexer’s office
Max McMaster will be leading a panel discussion with Ruth Pincoe, Pilar Wyman and Maureen MacGlashan to determine what is in an indexer’s office. What can’t you do without? Why not bring photos of your office? It could be a revealing session!
Volunteering and Pro Bono work
In the genealogy and local history areas, without the dedicated work of hundreds of volunteer indexers, there would not be the marvellous printed and online indexers available to researchers. Volunteering to index something is often the way indexers have started out. It gives them indexing experience as well as contacts for future paid indexing jobs.
Pro bono work means offering your indexing expertise for free. This may include being called in to assist in developing an indexing project or to train volunteer indexers to help ensure the quality and consistency of the index.
This session will highlight the benefits of volunteering, discuss what it is like to be a volunteer and describe projects achieved with volunteers.
Tuesday afternoon
Conferences can be quite demanding, absorbing all the information, remembering names, etc. So after afternoon tea on Tuesday afternoon the organisers have opted for something a bit different. You can either opt to have time out to take a walk, nap, swim, do some retail therapy, or whatever; or you may like to visit the Brighton Historical Society.
The Brighton Historical Society is run by volunteers and focuses on local history. The visit will be a great opportunity to learn firsthand how organisations of this type are run, the sort of things they collect and how they make their material available.
Network
What does ‘network’ actually mean? My Macquarie Dictionary has nine different meanings for ‘network’, but the one of interest here is ‘to establish social contact with particular people so as to share ideas and information, establish useful contacts, etc.’ Conferences provide a wonderful opportunity to network, both formally at the sessions, but also informally over coffee or a meal.
One of the things I have found interesting about indexers is that we all arrive at indexing from very different directions. There is no one path that leads to indexing. We are not all librarians, editors, proofreaders, or archivists. There is a vast array of other professions represented, and we are all at very different stages of life. The 2007 ANZSI Council Survey pointed out about 75% of respondents still work in areas other than indexing. This is one aspect of networking I enjoy. Finding out how someone arrived at indexing, what type of indexing they do, and the subject they enjoy indexing the most, will give you an interesting start to a conversation with a fellow indexer.
Conference location
The Brighton Savoy is just across the road from the sandy Brighton beach and the bathing boxes depicted on the conference webpage. The view from the hotel is across Port Phillip Bay, so there will be spectacular sun sets with the Melbourne city sky line in the distance. When inspecting various conference venues this was certainly a deciding factor in picking the venue. It also offers the usual hotel and conference facilities, as well as free parking for those attending the conference or the dinner.
Brighton is a well established, fashionable suburb of Melbourne with several stately residences and buildings. As a result there are several interesting walks in the area on offer with a historical, coastal or even artistic nature. This section of the Bay was a popular spot for early Australian artists. The local council has produced informative maps in a sleeve attached to a lanyard. These will be included in your satchel, so pack some comfortable walking shoes.
The venue is a short walk from Middle Brighton railway station on the Sandringham Line. Links to airport buses, train timetables, fares and maps are on the website at http://www.anzsi.org/site/2011Conference.asp.
By the way, if you decide you would like one the bathing boxes, a couple sold last month for over $200,000 each. The other catch is you have to live in the area.
Accommodation
Brighton Savoy has conference deal for Bed and Breakfast for $199. This is for delegates only, partners pay additional $24 for breakfast. When you book be sure to mention you are attending the conference. As I mentioned earlier they offer free parking to all attendees. There are links to alternative accommodation on the website.
Dinners
Can’t make the conference, but want to join in. Why not attend one of the dinners? The Conference dinner will be on the Monday night and, if you are attending the full conference, the cost is included in your registration. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights we will be booking tables at restaurants nearby. You are welcome to join us, at own expense.
Other parts of the conference
The Conference brings members together enabling us to hold some ‘official’ events. We will be holding the ANSZI Annual General Meeting on the Wednesday morning. Also the Conference Dinner is a wonderful opportunity to present the ANZSI Medal. By the way, you only have until 31 July to send in your applications for the Medal.
More?
Yes, there is more! Frances Lennie will be examining the visual impact of the index; Alan Walker will be comparing political biographies; Ruth Pincoe with be discussing indexing music. I think I’ll stop there. Examine the program on the web for the complete list of sessions.
Tempted?
I do hope you are now tempted to seriously consider attending the 2011 Conference. Registration is now available via the website (http://www.anzsi.org/site/2011registration.asp) with secure links for credit card payment and a registration form if you prefer to pay by cheque. Cost for the full conference, including the official dinner on Monday evening is $575 (incl. GST). If this will be your first ANZSI Conference and/or you are new to indexing please let us know as we will make you feel extra special by organising discussions over lunch.
Subsidies
Vic Branch is offering two half-registration subsidies for the conference. The sponsorships are open to Victorian regional, interstate or New Zealand members. See page 5 of the July Newsletter
I look forward to welcoming you all to the conference in September.
Mary Russell
ANZSI President
