Originally presented at the BEA Conference session in 2014, this presentation covers ISNI, ONIX 3, and Thema.

1. Understanding New
Developments in Metadata
BEA Conference 2014

2. Richard Stark, Moderator
Director of Product Data
Barnes & Noble
Laura Dawson, Speaker
Product Manager, Identifier Services
Bowker
Chris Saynor, Speaker
Metadata Manager and Project Manage
GiantChair
Kempton Mooney, Speaker
Research and Analytics Director
Nielsen Book

3. ISNI
Disambiguating Public Identities

4. What Is ISNI
• ISO Standard, published in 2012
• International Standard Name Identifier
• Numerical representation of a name
– 16 digits
– Assigned to public figures, contributors of content –
researchers, authors, musicians, actors, publishers,
research institutions – and subjects of that content (if
they are people or institutions).
– Example: 0000 0004 1029 5439

5. Who is ISNI
• Founding members
– IFRRO (International Federation of Reproduction
Rights Organizations)
– CISAC (International Confederation of Authors and
Composers Societies)
– SCAPR (Societies’ Council for the Collective
Management of Performers’ Rights)
– OCLC
– CENL (Conference of European National Librarians),
represented by the British Library and the National
Library of France
– ProQuest, represented by Bowker

6. Members
Quality Team
Board of Directors
ISNI Organizational Structure
Registration Agencies
Ongoing
assignments/
general public

7. How Does ISNI Registration Work
• Publisher submits names for assignment through a Registration
Agency
• RA works with the publisher to ensure the data feed is well-
formatted, and sends that feed to the Assignment Agency
• AA assigns as many ISNIs to the names in the feed as it can, using
complex algorithms and business rules that evolve with each feed
• AA returns a file of names with ISNIs attached to them
– This may not be the full file of names
– Ambiguous names are held for review by Quality Team
– QT assignments and other exceptions (assignments as a result
of improvements to the algorithm) are returned to RA quarterly
– Process is not instant. Assignment may be immediate if the
name and other information is unique, but frequently
assignments take a week or two.

8. Stage One
Customer
submits data to
Registration
Agency
Registration
Agency sends
file to
Assignment
Agency
Assignment
Agency assigns
as many ISNIs
to the names as
it can

9. Stage Two
Assignment
Agency sends
assigned file to
Registration
Agency
Registration
Agency sends
assigned file to
Customer
Customer reviews,
QAs, ingests

10. Stage Three
Assignment
Agency sends
updates on a
monthly basis
Registration
Agency disperses
files to appropriate
Customers
Customers ingest
updates

11. Display
• Only minimal metadata is displayed
• Not meant as a comprehensive profile
• ISNI is a tool for linking data sets, collocation, and
disambiguation
• Enhancements to the record can be made but not
required

12. Sample Public ISNI Record

13. ISNI links
12

14. Who is using ISNIs?
• Wikipedia/Wikidata
• VIAF
• Access Copyright
• Scholar Universe and Pivot
• British Library
• JISC
• Musicbrainz
• Macmillan (Digital Science)
• Booknet Canada (piloting)
• Authors Guild (piloting)

15. Einstein’s Wikipedia Page

16. How many names in the ISNI database?
• Over 8,300,000 assigned
• 10,112,931 provisional (awaiting a match from another
data set for corroboration)
• Your author names may well already have ISNIs.
http://www.isni.org/search.

17. Use Case: Publisher

18. Use Case: Cross-Domain Linking

19. Use Case: Cross-Domain Linking

20. Data Quality
• Based on matching names to existing records in
database (over 18 million names)
• Strict criteria for assigning ISNIs to names
• Quality team oversight (manual edits)
– British Library
– National Library of France
– OCLC
19

21. Assignment Criteria
• If on the common surname list:
– Birth date
– Death date
– ISBN(s)
– Title(s)
– Co-authors or institutional affiliation
• If not on the common surname list
– Title(s)
– Birth date
– Death date
– Any other distinguishing factors (“is not”)
• If unique
– Immediate assignment
20

22. ISNI and ORCID
• ORCID numbers are a subset of ISNI’s database
• Working towards alignment, with ultimate goal of single
assignment
• There is ISNI representation on the ORCID Technical
Steering Group, and ORCID representation on the ISNI
Technical Committee
• A researcher may have both an ORCID and an ISNI
21

23. Do You Have An ISNI?
22

24. Laura.Dawson@bowker.com

25. Understanding New
Developments in Metadata

27. ???

28. What is ONIX?

29. • ONIX stands for ONline Information eXchange.

30. • ONIX stands for ONline Information eXchange.
• There are over 200 data elements.

31. • ONIX stands for ONline Information eXchange.
• There are over 200 data elements.
• ONIX is an international metadata standard for communicating book
product information.

32. • ONIX stands for ONline Information eXchange.
• There are over 200 data elements.
• ONIX is an international metadata standard for communicating book
product information.
• This electronic information is distributed between publishers,
distributors, wholesalers, bookstores, online retailers, libraries, book
data aggregators and anyone else involved in the supply chain.

33. • ONIX stands for ONline Information eXchange.
• There are over 200 data elements.
• ONIX is an international metadata standard for communicating book
product information.
• This electronic information is distributed between publishers,
distributors, wholesalers, bookstores, online retailers, libraries, book
data aggregators and anyone else involved in the supply chain.
• ONIX allows global communication regardless of language.

34. • ONIX stands for ONline Information eXchange.
• There are over 200 data elements.
• ONIX is an international metadata standard for communicating book
product information.
• This electronic information is distributed between publishers,
distributors, wholesalers, bookstores, online retailers, libraries, book
data aggregators and anyone else involved in the supply chain.
• ONIX allows global communication regardless of language.
• Book information can be communicated between organizations with
different technical infrastructures.

35. • ONIX stands for ONline Information eXchange.
• There are over 200 data elements.
• ONIX is an international metadata standard for communicating book
product information.
• This electronic information is distributed between publishers,
distributors, wholesalers, bookstores, online retailers, libraries, book
data aggregators and anyone else involved in the supply chain.
• ONIX allows global communication regardless of language.
• Book information can be communicated between organizations with
different technical infrastructures.
• ONIX is not a database, but uses XML to organize data storage.

36. ONIX. A history.
With the growth of the internet and e-commerce in the 1990s
there was a compelling need to create a standard digital format
to communicate book information.
The goal was to create a universal, international format with
which publishers large and small could exchange information
about their books.

37. • ONIX was developed jointly in the late 1990s by Editeur with Book
Industry Standards Group (BISG) in the US and Book Industry
Communication in the UK.

38. • ONIX was developed jointly in the late 1990s by Editeur with Book
Industry Standards Group (BISG) in the US and Book Industry
Communication in the UK.
• ONIX for books 1.0 was published in January 2000.

39. • ONIX was developed jointly in the late 1990s by Editeur with Book
Industry Standards Group (BISG) in the US and Book Industry
Communication in the UK.
• ONIX for books 1.0 was published in January 2000.
• ONIX for books 2.1 (revision 02) was published in 2004.

40. • ONIX was developed jointly in the late 1990s by Editeur with Book
Industry Standards Group (BISG) in the US and Book Industry
Communication in the UK.
• ONIX for books 1.0 was published in January 2000.
• ONIX for books 2.1 (revision 02) was published in 2004.
• ONIX for books 3.0 was released in January 2009.

41. • ONIX was developed jointly in the late 1990s by Editeur with Book
Industry Standards Group (BISG) in the US and Book Industry
Communication in the UK.
• ONIX for books 1.0 was published in January 2000.
• ONIX for books 2.1 (revision 02) was published in 2004.
• ONIX for books 3.0 was released in January 2009.
• ONIX is governed by an International Steering Committee with local
committees providing information, support and feedback
internationally.

42. • ONIX was developed jointly in the late 1990s by Editeur with Book
Industry Standards Group (BISG) in the US and Book Industry
Communication
in the UK.
• ONIX for books 1.0 was published in January 2000.
• ONIX for books 2.1 (revision 02) was published in 2004.
• ONIX for books 3.0 was released in January 2009.
• ONIX is governed by an International Steering Committee with local
committees providing information, support and feedback internationally.
• There are national ONIX groups in Australia, Belgium, Canada, China,
Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, The Netherlands,
Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the USA. It is also used in
many other countries.

43. Why use ONIX?

44. • ONIX is a message – not a database.

46. • ONIX is a message – not a database.
• ONIX is a standard – a common language.

47. O N I X

48. • ONIX is a message – not a database.
• ONIX is a standard – a common language.
• ONIX is international.

50. • ONIX is a message – not a database.
• ONIX is a standard – a common language.
• ONIX is international.
• ONIX can communicate your title information with everyone.

51. ???

52. Why ONIX 3.0?

53. • With the growth of new digital formats ONIX needed revision.

54. • With the growth of new digital formats ONIX needed revision.
• ONIX 2.1 had a lot of depreciated elements left over from earlier
versions of ONIX 2.

55. What is different about
ONIX 3.0?

56. • ONIX 3.0 reflects the changed global book market.

57. • ONIX 3.0 reflects the changed global book market.
• ONIX 2.1 and 3.0 share many common traits. About 66% of a
typical ONIX 2.1 message does not need significant changes made
to make it valid ONIX 3.0.

58. • ONIX 3.0 reflects the changed global book market.
• ONIX 2.1 and 3.0 share many common traits. About 66% of a
typical ONIX 2.1 message does not need significant changes made
to make it valid ONIX 3.0.
• Outdated and depreciated elements have been removed.

59. Product supply information
now better reflects the global nature
of market

60. • ONIX 3.0 pushes you to express all market data even if it is to say
“Not known for these countries”.

61. • ONIX 3.0 pushes you to express all market data even if it is to say
“Not known for these countries”.
• Can express much more detailed pricing information on a global
scale.

62. • ONIX 3.0 pushes you to express all market data even if it is to say
“Not known for these countries”.
• Can express much more detailed pricing information on a global
scale.
• Can express dates and availability by market.

63. Percentage of
population who
Speak English
Source: wikipedia

64. ?
? ?
?
?
?
?
?
??
?
?

66. Digital products can now be
described more completely

67. • Formats changed to express method of delivery.

68. • Formats changed to express method of delivery.
• Information on DRM and usage constraints.

69. • Formats changed to express method of delivery.
• Information on DRM and usage constraints.
• Accessibility information.

70. • Formats changed to express method of delivery.
• Information on DRM and usage constraints.
• Accessibility information.
• Rental information and conditions.

71. “Set” and “Series” replaced by a more
general notion of “Collections”
• It is easier to express a shared identity.

73. Title information can be expressed
and defined more clearly

74. In Search of Lost Time
Volume 1
Swann’s Way

75. A Storm of Swords
A Song of Ice and Fire
Book 3
Game of Thrones

76. Better expression of data for
marketing material

77. • Text content – any text included in your metadata.

78. • Text content – any text included in your metadata.
• Cited content – any third party content you make reference to that
could improve sales.

79. • Text content – any text included in your metadata.
• Cited content – any third party content you make reference to that
could improve sales.
• Supporting resources – any material a publisher wishes to make
available in their metadata to support the sale of the title.

80. “I always wanted
to be a writer.”

81. Multilingual data

82. • Can repeat and send textual information in different languages and
different scripts.

83. • Can repeat and send textual information in different languages and
different scripts.
• Add a note about a product in English, French and Spanish.

84. • Not suitable for children under 36 months, due to small parts
• No apto para niños menores de 36 meses, debido a las piezas pequeñas
• Ne convient pas aux enfants de moins de 36 mois, en raison de petites
pièce
• Nicht geeignet für Kinder unter 36 Monaten, wegen verschluckbarer
Kleinteile
• Не подходит для детей в возрасте до 36 месяцев, в связи с мелких
деталей

85. • Can repeat and send textual information in different languages and
different scripts.
• Add a note about a product in English, French, Spanish etcetera...
• Send your author’s biography in English and Spanish.

86. • Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra; 29 September 1547 (assumed) – 22 April 1616) was a
Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. His magnum opus, Don Quixote, considered to
be the first modern European novel, is a classic of Western literature, and is regarded
amongst the best works of fiction ever written. His influence on the Spanish language
has been so great that the language is often called la lengua de Cervantes ("the
language of Cervantes"). He was dubbed El Príncipe de los Ingenios ("The Prince of
Wits").
• Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (Alcalá de Henares,29 de septiembre de 1547 – Madrid,
22 de abril de 1616) fue un soldado, novelista, poeta y dramaturgo español.Es
considerado una de las máximas figuras de la literatura española y universalmente
conocido por haber escrito Don Quijote de la Mancha, que muchos críticos han descrito
como la primera novela moderna y una de las mejores obras de la literatura universal,
además de ser el libro más editado y traducido de la historia, sólo superado por la
Biblia. Se le ha dado el sobrenombre de «Príncipe de los Ingenios».

87. Block updates

88. • Send updates for part of the product instead of sending the whole
product file.

89. • Send updates for part of the product instead of sending the whole
product file.
• So updates can be sent as smaller files.

90. Even better resources
• Very comprehensive ONIX 3.0 Global Best Practice and
implementation documents available.
• For developers, ONIX 3.0 has XSD and RNG schemas.

91. More about best practices
• BISG – Best Practices for Product Metadata: Guide for North
American Senders and Receivers.
• BISG – Best Practices for Keywords in Metadata: Guide for North
American Senders and Receivers.
• Editeur – Implementation and Best Practice Guide

92. To find out more about ONIX
www.editeur.org
www.bisg.org
http://www.booknetcanada.ca/

94. Thema:
The First Global Subject
Category Codes
May 2014
*Contains information from Howard Willows LBF 2014 Presentation

95. Thema… What is it?
How will it help?
What are its implications?
What does it look like?
94

96. Thema: What is it?
• Thema is a subject category classification system.
• Thema is made for all members of the supply chain to use.
• Thema is meant for use with physical and digital products.
• Thema is an international standard for the global book trade.
95

97. Thema: How will it help?
• Book trade subject schemes tend to be national, not international
• We can now clearly communicate all product data – except subject
classification
• Thema can replace the need for endless mappings & conversions
It is live!
Version 1.0 was released November 2013
Sunrise Date was December 2013
96

98. Thema: How will it help?
• Facilitate international transactions
• Increase understanding in
international markets
• Reduce subject code confusion
• Increase discoverability
97

99. Technical Committee
Review Committee
National
Work Group
National
Work Group
National
Work Group
National
Work Group
Thema Committee Structure
a subcommittee of
98
(Maintained by EDItEUR)

100. 99
Thema countries: LBF 2014

101. AIE
Amazon
Australian PA
Baker & Taylor
Barnes & Noble
BIC
BISG
Bokrondellen
Booknet Canada
Bowker
BTLF
CB
Danish PA
Dilve
Editis
Electre
Elkotob.com
Elsevier
Giant Chair
Guild of Book Dealers
(Russia)
Hachette
HarperCollins
Informazioni Editoriali
Ingram
Japan Publishers
Organisation
Kobo
Kogan Page
Libri
MVB
Nielsen Book
Norske Bokdatabasen
NTCPDS China
Penguin Random House
Springer
Waterstones
100
Current Participants
* As of London Book Fair 2014

102. Implications for BISAC Subject Heading Users
• Thema will reduce mappings to BIC, BISAC, CLIL, etc.
• Thema and BISAC will operate in parallel.
• No timeline for BISAC being deprecated.
• There is a BISAC-to-Thema mapping.
101
(Can use BISAC to select a Thema code.)

103. What does Thema look like?
F Fiction & related
FJ Speculative fiction
FJB Dystopian fiction Use for any fiction set in
dysfunctional or degraded
society; use with FL or FB
codes if appropriate
Code Heading Notes
HIERARCHY
Because of hierarchy, F is implied in FJB.
Subject Headings
102

104. What does Thema look like?
Code Heading
Subject Headings – More Examples
103
AGA History of art
FRX Erotic romance
XAMC Manga: Kodomo
NHW Military history
QRRF Zoroastrianism
KJMP Project management
LWKF Shariah law: family relations
MKE Dentistry
UGB Web graphics & design
WBB TV / celebrity chef cookbooks
YBC Children's picture books

105. What does Thema look like?
1K The Americas
1KBB United States of America, USA
1KBB-US-NAKC New York City
Geographic Code Heading
Qualifiers
3M c 1500 onwards to present day
3MPQS c 1960 to c 1969
3MPQS-US-P USA: Civil Rights Movement
Time Period Code Heading
104

106. 1K The Americas
1KBB United States of America, USA
1KBB-US-NAKC New York City
3M c 1500 onwards to present day
3MPQS c 1960 to c 1969
3MPQS-US-P USA: Civil Rights Movement
What does Thema look like?
Geographic Code Heading
Qualifiers
Time Period Code Heading
105

107. Geographic 1HFGU Uganda
Language 2ACSC Icelandic
Time Period 3MD 16th century, c 1500 to c 1599
Education 4GH For International GCSE (IGCSE)
Interest 5AG Interest age: from c 6 years
Artistic Style 6BA Baroque
What does Thema look like?
Code Heading
Qualifiers – More Examples
106
Type
(about, not in)

108. Diving Deeper: Technical specs
Summary of Elements
107
Element Code
begins
May contain Length Mandatory /
Optional
Categories A-Y A-Z 1-9 1-8 Mandatory
Geographical Qualifiers 1 1 A-Z - 2-19 Optional
Language Qualifiers 2 2 A-Z - 2-19 Optional
Time Period Qualifiers 3 3 A-Z - 2-19 Optional
Educ Purpose Qualifiers 4 4 A-Z - 2-19 Optional
Interest Qualifiers 5 5 A-Z - 2-19 Optional
Artistic Style Qualifiers 6 6 A-Z - 2-19 Optional
Thema in Onix: Use following values from code lists 26 & 27
93 Thema subject category
94 Thema geographical qualifier
95 Thema language qualifier
96 Thema time period qualifier
97 Thema educational purpose qualifier
98 Thema interest age / special interest qualifier
99 Thema style qualifier

109. Diving Deeper: Technical specs
• Only a Subject Category is mandatory; Qualifiers are optional.
• The first Subject Category entered is the primary subject.
• Thema is recognized in ONIX, and can be sent as part of any ONIX 2.*
and ONIX 3.* messages, using standard ONIX practice for subject
classification metadata.
• In product records and message formats (such as ONIX), only the code
is required to be communicated.
• There is no defined upper limit of the number of Subject Category
values or Qualifier values that may be assigned.
• It is expected that a maximum of 10 of each type would sufficiently
cover all reasonable circumstances.
• Systems designers working with systems which require limits to be
placed on data element lengths and/or number of occurrences are
advised to provide for the full length of codes and recommended
maximum number of occurrences.
108

110. Notes on Implementation
• The schema is now available via the EDItEUR website.
• Documentation on structure definitions is available.
• A document of basic user instructions is available.
• A BISAC-to-Thema mapping is available.
It is live! Version 1.0 was released November 2013
• Mappings from BIC & BISAC schemes completed
• Full translations into French, German and Norwegian
• Workshops & presentations for publishers in Germany
• Other groups working on translations into Italian, Spanish, Swedish etc…
• In the US, various supply chain partners have said they are working
towards transmitting and receiving Thema
109

111. More on Thema
110
Official Thema Documentation
http://www.editeur.org/151/Thema/
The US Thema Working Group
www.bisg.org
BISAC to Thema Translator
http://bisactothema.biblioshare.org/
Kempton MooneyResearch and Analytics Director, Nielsen