Professional Book Indexing

The Last Word specializes in creating professional back-of-the-book indexes for publishers, packagers, organizations, and authors. I'm a member of the American Society for Indexing and I have the qualifications to ensure that your index will be thoughtful, accurate, and well-crafted.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about book indexing or my services. If you would like to request a quote, my quote request form may be emailed, faxed, or simply used as a guide when you call to discuss your project.

What exactly is an index?

An index is much more than an alphabetical list of topics with page numbers attached... at least, it should be. A good index is a road map that leads both experts and novices to every pertinent piece of information, regardless of the point of departure and without dead ends or detours."

- American Society for Indexing

An index is a systematic arrangement of terms selected to help a reader locate information efficiently. A carefully crafted index will reflect the voice of the author and anticipate the needs of the reader.

For more information there is a helpful article about the Uses and Benefits of a Good Index provided by the Pacific Northwest Chapter of ASI.

Words of Wisdom

"A reference or teaching book is only as good as its index."

~ Julia Child

"The inclusion of an index is, of course, not enough in itself. It must be a good index."

~ The London Times
May 8, 1957

"If you're an artist, you don't create a masterpiece by starting on one side of the canvas and painting linearly to the other side. You don't start at the top of the canvas and paint 'til you reach the bottom. Rather, you develop the masterpiece in bits and pieces at a time; then you stand back, get a broader perspective, and start to pull it all together. Indexing is like that, too."

~Lori Lathrop

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