EDItEUR's Chris Saynor will share how Thema, the subject category scheme for the global book trade, can be used to help identify and improve the discoverability of titles suitable for a more diverse and inclusive audience. He will also touch on EDItX reports and transactional standards that are being updated for the digital age and to harmonize with ONIX 3.0 for the benefit of the book supply chain. March 20, 2019 techforum.booknetcanada.ca #TechForum

1. Diversity and inclusion:
can metadata help discover diverse voices?
Chris Saynor
EDItEUR
Tech Forum, Toronto, March 20th 2019

2. About me
• joined EDItEUR as standards editor in November 2016, working on
ONIX, Thema, EDItX
• prior to EDItEUR, worked for the ONIX solutions provider
GiantChair–OnixSuite in Paris
• active member of the CLIL commission in France and the French
Thema group, and part of BISG Metadata Committee
• prior to that worked as a bookseller in Paris and in the UK

3. About EDItEUR
• a not-for-profit membership organisation
• develops, supports and promotes metadata and identification
standards for the global book, e-book and serials supply chains
• acknowledged centre of expertise on standards and metadata for the
industry
• based in London, but a global membership of publishers,
distributors, wholesalers, retailers, subscription agents, libraries,
system vendors, rights organizations and trade associations

4. About EDItEUR
• also provides management services to ISNI International Agency and
International DOI Foundation
• Executive Director of International ISNI Agency is member of EDItEUR
staff
• EDItEUR has two full-time staff, 1.6 FTE part-time staff, plus access
to world-class consultants in both book and serials sectors
• we work closely with other standards bodies, to ensure our standards
meet the needs of their stakeholders too
• member participation is vital, to ensure that standards keep pace with
evolving business requirements

5. EDItEUR family of standards
• ONIX – descriptive metadata
• ONIX for Books
• ONIX for Subscription Products (Serials)
• other ONIX-branded message standards
• Thema – subject classification
• EDItX – transactional messages
• EDItX Inventory and Sales Reporting, EDItX Stock enquiries, Trade orders,
Invoices etc
• older EDIFACT and ICEDIS EDI messaging

6. It can feel like diverse voices are given
only the slimmest chance of being heard
– they’re not easily discovered.
How can metadata help?

7. “ if only there was an easy way
for publishers to send us
this information ”
— a London children’s bookseller

8. Diversity and Inclusion
• “Diversity is the mix. Inclusion is making the mix work.”
— Andres Tapia
• “Diversity is being asked to the party. Inclusion is being asked to
dance.”
— Vernā Myers

9. “ the independent bookstore is by far
our best friend, and underused. It’s about
getting the book to the bookseller, putting it
on the staff recommended shelf ”
— Kima Jones of Jack Jones Literary Arts publicity company,
in an NPR interview titled ‘Diversity in book publishing isn’t just
about writers—marketing matters, too’
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2016/08/09/483875698/diversity-in-book-publishing

10. http://www.willesdenbookshop.co.uk/
“ our choice of books includes many unusual and
imported titles, and has developed from our
long association with northwest London – one of the
most ethnically diverse areas of the city – and we strive
to provide books which reflect and celebrate the
rich cultures and languages of this community ”
— The Willesden Bookshop

11. It’s about giving booksellers, librarians,
educators, readers enough information
so they can make an informed choice

12. Why is metadata so vital?
• commercial value arises from ‘discoverability’
• making sure the potential reader can discover your book, and can decide
whether this is the right book they are looking for
• known-item search
• title, author, subject
• unknown item search
• subject categorisation (controlled vocabulary)
• keywords (uncontrolled vocabulary)
• descriptive text (eg table of contents, blurb)
not just
discovery –
conversion is
critical

13. What metadata?
• subject codes – Thema
• edition type – large print, Braille, bilingual, high-readability
• contributors (and associated places)
• language (especially original language of translated works)
• accessibility metadata (ONIX list 196) – is the format ‘born
accessible’? Are you excluding print-impaired readers?
• related products – what other formats exist? Is there an audio?
• supply information – can I order this title in my country? From which
supplier?

14. Subject categorisation
• subject classification of books, audio books and e-books is one of the
keys to improved merchandising, discoverability, sales and market
intelligence
• informs purchasing
• a key access point for search and discovery (alongside title and author)
• aims to increase sales by highlighting books most appropriate to what a
customer seeks

15. Thema is the subject category scheme
for a global book trade
https://ns.editeur.org/thema/

16. JBFA – Social discrimination & equal
treatment
JBFB – Social integration & assimilation
KJMV22 – Diversity, inclusivity in the
workplace

17. VSPM – Assertiveness, motivation, self-
esteem & positive mental attitude
JBSF1 – Gender studies: women & girls
VSC – Advice on careers and achieving
success
DNC – Memoirs

18. AK – Industrial / commercial art &
design
JBFM– Disability: social aspects

19. YXA – Children’s / Teenage personal &
social topics: body & health
YXP – Children’s / Teenage personal &
social topics: diversity / inclusivity
5AG – Interest age: from c 6 years

20. YBCS – Picture storybooks
YNRP – Children’s / Teenage general
interest: Islam
YNMF – Children’s / Teenage general
interest: Girls & women
5AD – Interest age: from c 4 years

21. YBCS – Picture storybooks
YXHP – Children’s / Teenage personal &
social topics: friends & friendship issue
YNRJ – Children’s / Teenage general interest:
Judaism
YNRP – Children’s / Teenage general
interest: Islam
5AD – Interest age: from c 4 years
5HPK – Ramadan
5HPW – Rosh Hashanah

22. YFS – Children’s / Teenage fiction: School
stories
YXZM – Children’s / Teenage personal &
social issues: Migration & refugees
YXHB – Children’s / Teenage personal &
social topics: friends & friendship issues
YXP – Children’s / Teenage personal &
social issues: Diversity & inclusivity
1DDU-GB-ESL – London, Greater London
5AH – Interest age: from c 7 years

23. YFS – Children’s / Teenage fiction: School
stories
YXHB – Children’s / Teenage personal &
social topics: friends & friendship issues
YXK – Children’s / Teenage personal &
social topics: disability & special needs
5AQ – Interest age: from c 14 years

24. YFM – Children’s / Teenage fiction:
Romance, love & relationships stories
YXLD – Children’s / Teenage personal &
social topics: mental health
YXHB – Children’s / Teenage personal &
social topics: friends & friendship issues
YNC – Children’s / Teenage general interest:
Music
5AQ – Interest age: from c 14 years
5LF – Relating to adolescence / teenage years
5PGP – Relating to Islamic people & groups
5PT – Relating to transgender people

25. YFM – Children’s / Teenage fiction:
Romance, love & relationships stories
YXB – Children’s / Teenage personal &
social issues: LGBT
YXG – Children’s / Teenage personal &
social issues: death & bereavement
YXHB – Children’s / Teenage personal &
social topics: friends & friendship issues
5AQ – Interest age: from c 14 years
5PS – Relating to gay, lesbian & bisexual
people
5PB-US-C – Relating to Latin / Hispanic
American people

26. FBA – Modern & contemporary fiction
FXS – Narrative theme: Social issues
FYT – Fiction in translation
JBFC – Poverty & precarity
JBFK – Violence & abuse in society
1DDF-FR-S – Picardy
3MPQZ – c 1990 to c 1999
3MRBA – c 2000 to c 2009
5PSG – Relating to Gay people

27. FLG – Science fiction: time travel
FXS – Narrative theme: Social issues
JBFA – Social discrimination & equal treatment
NHTS – Slavery & abolition of slavery
1KBB-US-WPCA – Los Angeles
1KBB-US-SEM – Maryland
3MNBF – c 1810 to c 1819
3MRPQV – c 1970 to c 1979
5PB-US-C – Relating to African American
people

28. FBA – Modern & contemporary fiction
FXR – Narrative theme: Sense of place
1MBF-AU-Q – Queensland
5PB-AU-A – Relating to Australian
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders

29. YBCS – Picture storybooks
YNMC – Children’s / Teenage
general interest: Countries, cultures
& national identity
1KJWJ – Jamaica
<EditionType>BLL</EditionType> <!-- Bilingual -->
<Language>
<LanguageRole>01</LanguageRole>
<LanguageCode>eng</LanguageCode> <!-- English -->
</Language>
<Language>
<LanguageRole>01</LanguageRole> <!-- Somali -->
<LanguageCode>som</LanguageCode>
</Language>

30. YBCS – Picture storybooks
YNM – Children’s / Teenage general
interest: Places & people’s
1A – World
5AF – Interest age: from c 5 years
Sample of ONIX
<Language>
<LanguageRole>01</LanguageRole>
<LanguageCode>eng</LanguageCode> <!-- Language of text -->
</Language>
<Language>
<LanguageRole>02</LanguageRole> <!-- Original language -->
<LanguageCode>fre</LanguageCode>
</Language>

31. FBA – Modern and contemporary fiction
1HFMW-ZW-A – Harare
<Contributor>
<ContributorRole>A01</ContributorRole>
<PersonNameInverted>Huchu,
Tendai</PersonNameInverted>
<ContributorPlace>
<!-- Citizen of -->
<ContributorPlaceRelator>08<ContributorPlaceRelator>
<!-- Zimbabwe -->
<CountryCode>ZW<CountryCode>
</ContributorPlace>
</Contributor>

32. FBC – Classic fiction
FYT – Fiction in translation
NHTQ – Colonialism & imperialism
1HBL – Libya
1HFGE – Eritrea
Sample of ONIX
<Contributor>
<ContributorRole>A01</ContributorRole>
<PersonNameInverted>Hailu, Gebreyesus</PersonNameInverted>
<ContributorPlace>
<ContributorPlaceRelator>01<ContributorPlaceRelator>
<CountryCode>ER<CountryCode> <!-- Eritrea -->
</ContributorPlace>
</Contributor>
<Language>
<LanguageRole>01</LanguageRole>
<LanguageCode>eng</LanguageCode>
</Language>
<Language>
<LanguageRole>02</LanguageRole>
<LanguageCode>tir</LanguageCode> <!-- Tigrinya -->
</Language>

33. FBA – Modern & contemporary fiction
FYB – Short stories
<Prize>
<PrizeName>OCM Bocas Prize for
Caribbean Literature</PrizeName>
<PrizeYear>2016</PrizeYear>
<PrizeCode>01</PrizeCode> <!-- Winner -->
</Prize>

34. Stonewall Book Award
Arab American Book Award
Children’s Africana Book Awards New Voices Award
The Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award
Caine Prize for African Writing
Schneider Family Book Award
International Prize for Arabic Fiction
OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature
John Llewellyn Rhys Prize
European Union Prize for Literature
SI Leeds Literary Prize
9mobile Prize for Literature
Pura Belpré Award
Coretta Scott King Award
Lambda Literary Award
Ferro-Grumley Award
Blue Metropolis Violet Prize
Dayne Ogilvie Prize
EBRD Literature Prize

35. Sample of ONIX
<AudienceRange>
<AudienceRangeQualifier>17</AudienceRangeQualifier> <!-- Interest Age -->
<AudienceRangePrecision>03</AudienceRangePrecision>
<AudienceRangeValue>12</AudienceRangeValue>
<AudienceRangePrecision>04</AudienceRangePrecision>
<AudienceRangeValue>16</AudienceRangeValue>
</AudienceRange>
<AudienceRange>
<AudienceRangeQualifier>18</AudienceRangeQualifier><!-- Reading Age -->
<AudienceRangePrecision>01</AudienceRangePrecision>
<AudienceRangeValue>8</AudienceRangeValue>
</AudienceRange>
YFR – Children’s / Teenage fiction: Sporting stories
YNWD1 – Children’s / Teenage general interest: Ball games &
sports: Association football (Soccer)
5AR – For reluctant or struggling readers (children / teenagers)
5AN – Interest age: from c 12 years

36. <EditionType>BRL</EditionType> <!-- Braille -->
YBLC – Early years: numbers & counting
5AC – Interest age: from c 3 years

37. Sample of ONIX
<EditionType>LTE</EditionType> <!-- Large Print Edition —>
FBA – Modern & contemporary fiction
FQ – Contemporary lifestyle fiction
FYT– Fiction in translation

38. VFJB6 – Coping with Alzheimer’s &
dementia
WTM – Places & peoples: general &
pictorial works
5AZ – For people with learning /
communication difficulties

39. Sample of ONIX
<ProductFormFeature>
<ProductFormFeatureType>09</ProductFormFeatureType>
<ProductFormFeatureValue>10</ProductFormFeatureValue>
</ProductFormFeature>
<ProductFormFeature>
<ProductFormFeatureType>09</ProductFormFeatureType>
<ProductFormFeatureValue>01</ProductFormFeatureValue>
</ProductFormFeature>
<ProductFormFeature>
<ProductFormFeatureType>09</ProductFormFeatureType>
<ProductFormFeatureValue>14</ProductFormFeatureValue>
</ProductFormFeature>

41. chris@editeur.org
www.editeur.org