The Purple Pen Contest for New Indexers

The Institute of Certified Indexers (ICI) announces the opening of this year’s Purple Pen competition for newer indexers. The contest information and entry form for 2023 is on the website www.certifiedindexers.com

This is the tenth year of the contest and it will be the final year. Entrants need to have completed indexing training from January 1, 2018 to June 1, 2023.

Contest submissions are being accepted from July 15 to September 15, 2023 (midnight Eastern Time Zone). All entrants will receive detailed feedback from the judges. The entry with the highest score will be deemed the winner, and its indexer will receive $100 in prize money and a one-hour Zoom session with the judges to discuss the index, indexing techniques, the business of indexing, etc.

The entry fee remains at $50 USD again this year.

The judging is done anonymously. Entries and questions should be sent to Connie Binder
Please see more detailed instructions on the ICI website

2023 Tamarack Award: Ronnie Seagren

The Indexing Society of Canada / Société canadienne d’indexation (ISC/SCI) is pleased to announce the 2023 recipient of the Tamarack Award. Ronnie Seagren (Toronto) is being recognized for her contribution and commitment to the society.

Ronnie was chosen for her unflagging dedication to the society, willingness to always lend a helping hand, and dedication to diversity and inclusion in indexing.

Ronnie’s colleagues had the following to say about her:

[Ronnie’s] warmth of spirit and optimism are infectious and make the society a better place for all.

Ronnie brings hard work and joy to so many committees inside (and outside!) ISC/SCI. It’s been a pleasure to work with her.

I’m so pleased [Ronnie was] chosen to be the recipient of this year’s Tamarack Award. It is truly a well-deserved award.

“We are thrilled to present this award to Ronnie, and we are honoured to have her as a member of our society,” said Alexandra Peace and Jolanta Komornicka, Co-Presidents. “Thank you, Ronnie, for all you have given to the society and its membership.”

The Tamarack Award was instituted to recognize members who go “above and beyond the call of duty” in their volunteer work for the Society. Past recipients can be found on the website here: https://indexers.ca/tamarack-award-2/.

Lending Library

We are excited to announce that the ISC/SCI Lending Library is now open!

As of today, May 1st, our ISC/SCI website contains a page for the lending library. You may access it here.

On this page, you will find:

  • a book list;
  • the library policy;
  • and the request form.

Please remember to take the time to review the policy before you submit your request form.

Don’t see a resource that you were hoping to? Email us. We can add it to the list of books we are looking to add to the collection.

Do you have books taking up shelf space that you think would provide great information to your fellow indexers? Email us. We would be grateful to talk you about a possible donation.

Due to cost and copyright laws, this membership benefit is only available to members who reside in Canada.

We are excited to launch this new program and we hope that you are too!

The ISC/SCI Library Committee

ISC/SCI Members Receive the DReam to Index Scholarship

Congratulations to Jess Herdman, Jessica Dee Humphreys, and Wendy Savage of ISC/SCI, Anna Aridome of ISC/SCI and ASI, and Lara Abed of ASI on their win of the DReam to Index Scholarship.

From the DReam to Index team:

The winners will all receive a scholarship to attend indexing conferences. David K. Ream provided invaluable support to indexers, publishers, institutes and corporations, government offices, and the information industry at large. His significant accomplishments continue to have impact for all his clients and all who benefited from his skills and knowledge. He strongly supported the education of those entering the field of indexing and would be proud to know that these new indexers are benefiting from his legacy.