Gibson Publishing Connections

"If you’re a publisher, what other information could you include in your data file that would help readers - or librarians, or educators - find your books?

How about expanded author information such as a detailed bio, a photo, and the author’s nationality? Or rich descriptive content like review quotes, extended book descriptions, or excerpts? Did the book get nominated for or win any awards? Every publisher has this information. Relatively few include this rich content in their data feeds, but it’s time to do so."
...More at Turner-Riggs Blogspace.

Basic Metadata

Publishers' ONIX files are the best source of basic metadata. All metadata supplied to distributors should originate with ONIX. While Excel is the most common format for the transfer of metadata to distirbutors, these files should be generated from ONIX. We recommend that Collection Point users populate their systems with ONIX-originated metadata at least semi-annually to make sure that data sent to distributors is synchronized with internal data.

The components of basic metadata used by digital distributors include bibliographic fields, supply-chain fields and rights fields.

But as stated in the quote above, publisher data needs to be expanded and normalized in order to support the most effective digital distribution programs. Gibson Publishing Connections assists Canadian publishers in building this base.

MARC Records

MARC is the communication standard for library use of publisher metadata. All titles included in the Canadian Electronic Library are furnished with MARC records. These are created by Special Libraries Cataloguing, located in Victoria, BC.

Publishers participating in CEL may view and download these records on the CEL Archive site.

The search window allows for search by title or publisher. Publishers are welcome to export and use these records for their own purposes; to export records a password is required. Please contact SLC for a password.

SLC is also ready to supply additional MARC records on a custom basis for electronic titles not included in the CEL at the price of $5.00/record. Contact SLC for more detail.

All metadata for titles passing through GPC conversion services are relayed to OCLC for enhancement. OCLC will add publisher metadata to WorldCat, making it available to libraries and end users on the web. OCLC will mine WorldCat to enrich publisher metadata, and the resulting improvements will be delivered by GPC to the publisher in ONIX form. More detail on OCLC enhancement services.

Bowker Enhancement Services

Gibson Publishing Connections is working with Bowker to increase the visibility of Canadian publisher content through Bowker’s full digital content indexing program for Books In Print™, Syndetic Solutions™ and Summon™. These products increase the discoverability of participants’ titles among retailers, librarians and school book-sourcing systems.

There is no charge for this service. To participate, GPC clients need only grant Bowker permission to receive and index their books. As part of the conversion process, we will supply the titles to Bowker. For a fee, publishers may order and incorporate the Bowker-created enhancements with their metadata.

To set up the process, please sign and return this agreement.

Onix

As the standard for publisher supply-chain metadata, Onix is a universal format which may be used for transfer of data to QuickStart or any other distribution partner. We will accept your Onix and store it in the system for redistribution with your digital files. If you do not currently use Onix, we can assist you in building an Onix database. As an Onix development tool, we highly recommend OnixEdit, a Canadian application which has received wide support among publishers worldwide. More information on OnixEdit.