BIC: In Practice – Metadata and Classification
Our ‘BIC: In Practice’ focus for July is Metadata and Classification, the crucial framework underpinning the efficiency and smooth-running of the book industry through accurate and timely sharing of data between organisations.
Organisations can go a long way towards achieving this by streamlining and standardising their processes through using and promoting best practice and industry recognised and approved standards. BIC, in association with partner organisations such as EDItEUR, aims to support this through a number of projects, schemes and training.
BIC’s work in this area and how your organisation can benefit
Metadata is woven through everything BIC does, including some of our core projects, standards and best practices such as the Metadata Capabilities Directory (MCD), Thema, Out of Print Best Practice, Industry Returns Initiative (IRI) and UK Standard Library Categories (UKSLC).
Collectively, the outputs of these and other BIC projects help organisations and the wider industry to:
- Drive discoverability and sales
- Improve reliability and trust in search results
- Support minimising returns and waste
- Reduce miscommunication throughout the supply chain
- Improve the efficiency of problem resolution and resources
There are a raft of additional areas also covered by BIC, including Weights & Dimensions, Price and Availability, Children’s Books Marketing Classification (CBMC) codes, Discount Group Codes and many more.
How to find out more and get involved
The best way to get an overview of the far-reaching scope of Metadata and Classification across BIC’s work is to view and download the ‘BIC: In Practice’ PDF document which in addition to the above also includes links to further useful BIC resources. You can also share the PDF with your colleagues and wider industry acquaintances. Details of how to access BIC’s work and becoming actively involved are found within the PDF.
We will be sharing a new ‘BIC: In Practice’ area each month this year (except for August), so ensure you’re signed up to our mailing list and following us on social media (Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn) to receive the information as soon as it’s available.
Our first ‘BIC: In Practice’ document focusing on Greening the Supply Chain, was published in June and is available in the Resource Centre.
