New York, NY (February 17, 2010) – As part of its commitment to promote and acknowledge the use of quality data throughout the book industry, the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) today unveiled an enhanced Product Data Certification Program (PDCP), offering for the first time:
- descriptive qualitative feedback at the ISBN level
- new data categorization as good, excellent or ideal using three new certification levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold
- special acknowledgement for those using ONIX 3.0 and/or including additional marketing detail
“In the digital reselling space a publisher’s metadata is exponentially important,” said Neil DeYoung, Director of Digital Media for Hachette. “It’s the responsibility of all publishers to become certified by BISG so downstream recipients can build to standards that will reduce sales reporting errors, improve the search and discoverability process for books and make the entire industry more efficient.”
As a means of quantifying the quality of product data against industry best practices, BISG’s Product Data Certification Program gives applicants an objective evaluation of their ONIX or Excel data files via a panel of leading North American data recipients, including Baker & Taylor, Barnes & Noble, Bowker, Ingram and the Library of Congress. Applicants whose data files meet the best practice criteria for data content and timeliness are certified by BISG as Quality Information Providers.
“To compete effectively today, data has to be right and it has to be on time,” said Scott Lubeck, BISG’s Executive Director. “With literally millions of new products competing for buyers’ attention, you can’t afford a missing title or cover image, or an incorrect price. The Product Data Certification Program plays an essential role in helping publishers, distributors and retailers—both online and bricks-and-mortar—improve the quality of this critical information.”
Companies interested in applying to become Quality Information Providers under BISG’s Product Data Certification Program should contact Karen Forster, BISG Associate Director, at karen@bisg.org or 646-336-7141. The deadline for applications for the next review cycle is March 5, 2010.
For general information about the program visit http://www.bisg.org/what-we-do-3-4-product-data-certification-program.php.
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Media Contact:
Karen Forster
Associate Director
Book Industry Study Group, Inc.
646-336-7141
About the Book Industry Study Group, Inc.
The Book Industry Study Group, Inc. (BISG) is the U.S. book industry’s leading trade association for policy, standards and research. The mission of BISG is to create a more informed, empowered and efficient book industry supply chain for both physical and digital products. Membership consists of publishers, manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, librarians and others engaged in the business of print and electronic media. For over 30 years, BISG has provided a forum for all industry professionals to come together and efficiently address issues and concerns to advance the book community. Learn more about BISG at www.bisg.org.
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