Press Releases

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BIC reminds industry of date for BIC Standard Subject Categories scheme end-of-life.

Further to its 2022 announcement, BIC today issued a reminder to the UK book industry that the outdated BIC Standard Subject Categories scheme (BSSC) is being made obsolete by the end of February 2024, as it continues its efforts to encourage the UK book industry to fully adopt Thema (the international, multi-lingual subject category scheme for the global book trade) in its place.

Colour photo of Ruth Jones

BIC announces appointment of Ruth Jones, Director Global Sales, Digital Services at Ingram Content Group as Chair of its new Board of Directors.

Book Industry communication (BIC) today announced the appointment of Ruth Jones, Director Global Sales, Digital Services at Ingram Content Group as Chair of its newly formed Board of Directors.

BIC announces date for BIC Standard Subject Categories scheme end of life

Book Industry Communication (BIC) today announced its plan to make obsolete the outdated BIC Standard Subject Categories scheme (BSSC) by the end of February 2024, as it scales up efforts to encourage the UK book industry to fully adopt Thema (the international, multi-lingual subject category scheme for the global book trade) in its place.

BIC Launches its Metadata Capabilities Directory 

BIC is delighted to announce the launch of its Metadata Capabilities Directory (MCD), a new facility powered by BIC members for BIC members, enabling participants to share information with each other about their own use of metadata within the supply chain. The MCD has been created as part of BIC’s Metadata Map project.
The MCD is the first facility available to UK book trade organisations, (and organisations trading with UK book trade organisations), to record and describe what actually happens within their own metadata activities. All participants in the MCD will provide a full response to an extensive survey which provides a detailed record of their own metadata policies and practices. By recording, aggregating, and sharing actual behaviour across our industry, the MCD will provide an overview of the whole, which will enable contributors to benchmark and calibrate their own activities and help identify development priorities for the future.

BIC Launches UKSLC 1.2

BIC announced today that it has launched a refreshed UK Standard Library Categories (UKSLC) scheme which is now based on the international Thema subject categories, where previously it was based on BIC subject categories. Version 1.2 constitutes a significant update of the scheme since it was launched in 2008 as e4Libraries Subject Category Headings.

BIC Launches BIC Realtime for Libraries

BIC announces launch of a new set of industry standard APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) through its BIC Realtime for Libraries initiative.

Using these new XML web communications, library businesses will now be able to communicate with trading partners quicker and more effictively, and get real-time, immediate replies to requests rather than having to depend on processing of data transactions in batches.

BIC Launches Refreshed Product Data Excellence Award Accreditation Scheme

BIC is delighted to announce the launch of its refreshed Product Data Excellence Award (PDEA) Accreditation Scheme.
Metadata underpins our digital age. It drives discoverability and sales, and therefore demands careful attention in terms of its initial creation and ongoing maintenance. BIC’s PDEA scheme currently awards accreditation to more than 50 publishers for the quality of their metadata. The updated and refreshed accreditation scheme is the result of an extensive, in-depth review of BIC’s current scheme, which was last updated in 2010, and encourages further improvements in metadata supply across the industry.