Who should index your next book? If you are the author, your answer may well be, “I should. After all, who knows more about this book than I do?” You are right that no one is as familiar with the subject as you are, but have you considered the purpose of the index? The index must be written from the reader’s point of view. A well-written index is the reader’s guide to the contents you, the author, have so carefully researched and written. As the author, you may have lost objectivity and therefore are not the best guide for your reader. There is still another factor: burnout. There is a letdown when you reach the end of your writing: you do not want to deal with the book any more. Even professional indexers often hire other indexers to write the indexes for their books.

The professional indexer, however, is trained to represent the reader’s needs and ensure a fresh approach. A professional indexer is well educated, widely read, knowledgeable of publishing practices and standards, and experienced at working under tight time constraints. The indexer has the proper equipment to ensure the delivery of a complete and accurate index on time and in the proper format. Most important of all, the professional is trained in the art of indexing.