Where the Growth Is

Metadata Musts■• age level for juvenile titles• descriptive summary• BISAC/BIC subjectsMetadata for product description. Metadata must alsocommunicate certain things about the nature of the particularproduct type, or version, of content. A book can have thesame title, author, edition, description, language, and subjectsin more than one format, but the fact that it’s in audio,digital, hardcover, or paperback matters to the reader, theseller, and the publisher.Accordingly, publishers must have specific product information(as well as specific content information) to effectivelytrack marketing campaigns and sales associated with particularformats. For example, if a book enjoys strong sales in printbut weak sales in the audio version, that has implicationsfor the publisher’s marketing strategy, analysis of consumerbehavior, and business intelligence regarding the effectivenessof various types of content in available formats.Product information is crucial for resellers as well. For example,wholesalers use information about weight, dimensions,and number of pieces to plan inventory space and anticipateshipping charges for physical items.Metadata for book content description. Good descriptionis at the heart of successful online selling for any product.Whether you’re selling shoes, refrigerators, or books, themetadata describing the product stands in for the physicalitem and must, at the very least, accurately express the natureand qualities of what is being sold.The elements below are the basic building blocks for describingthe content of a book. They refer to the work itself (thecontent of the book) and will apply to any version of thebook that has the same content. Some elements, such asthose pertaining to series and edition, are obviously essentialonly when applicable.• title (and subtitle if applicable)• author/contributor(s)• publisher (and imprint if applicable)• edition information (if applicable)• series (if applicable)• language of content• audienceVisit the IBPA Website at www.ibpa-online.org | 41