As publishers, we need to think about our users, and what is it that metadata allows them to do?
Recorded at the 2019 London Book Fair
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For publishers undertaking initiatives to upgrade or update content workflow and knowledge management, metadata becomes the great gremlin. As technologist David Weinberger has noted, our choices will reflect not only the world but also our interests, our passions, our needs, our dreams.
Such an encyclopedic approach seems overwhelming when resources and time are limited. A shortcut to success can begin with defining Minimum Viable Metadata – the set of bare minimum information necessary to describe each element of content. The MVM itself will reflect a mix of internal and external factors, from IT systems to compliance requirements.
“Ultimately, we as publishers need to think about our users, and what is it that metadata allows them to do? And that comes down to what sort of publisher are we?” Ian Synge of UK-based Ixxus explained on a recent London Book Fair panel.
“If you’re a trade publisher producing fiction, maybe all you need is author, title and something which enables Amazon to go and surface your content pretty readily. If you’re an engineering publisher, maybe you need to go into a lot more detail, so you can wrap all of your content to make it smart content that could be integrated into systems to make it much, much more powerful,” he told CCC’s Chris Kenneally.
Speakers on the panel included –
Marie Bilde Rasmussen, an independent consultant in the publishing industry, where she works with publishers, retailers and aggregators on metadata and supply chain issues. She represents the Danish ONIX and THEMA user groups in Editeur’s steering committees.
Brian O’Leary, executive director of the Book Industry Study Group, a US-based trade association that works to create a more informed, effective, and efficient book industry supply chain. He oversees the work BISG does to disseminate information, create and implement standards, conduct research, and grow membership from companies working throughout the supply chain.
Ian Synge, a Principal Consultant at Ixxus (a CCC subsidiary) with particular specialisation in knowledge management, taxonomies, and categorisation.
Joshua Tallent, the Director of Sales and Education at Firebrand Technologies. Joshua also serves on multiple industry committees and working groups and teaches at publishing conferences throughout the year.
