Metadata Committee Charter (2026)

Defining Metadata: What it is and why it matters

Metadata is the information used by publishers to communicate to the global supply chain about a book (in any format) and book-related items. If you think of the publishing supply chain as a circulatory system, then metadata is the blood carrying all of the information that the system needs to function and complete its mission, joining readers to books.

Metadata is used by printers, distributors, retailers, educational institutions, libraries, and consumers. Across all segments of the supply chain, metadata provides the bibliographic, marketing, and commercial guidance that enables publishers to create and booksellers to sell their books.

The elements of metadata: BIBLIOGRAPHIC METADATA builds on multiple standards, such as identifiers or subject classifications. as well as data fields specific to a certain title, author, series, or purpose, like physical specifications for printers. MARKETING METADATA includes promotional copy, territory, rights, and other fields that define the audience the book is intended to reach. COMMERCIAL METADATA provides the distribution arrangements,  price, discounts, and other terms relevant to selling a book. All three areas are critical components of how a book is discovered and purchased.

Metadata is broader than BISAC, leading people to a book (discovery), informing the decision to purchase (conversion), and making the global supply chain more efficient. This committee helps shape and communicate metadata standards such as ONIX 3, Thema, ISBN and ISNI. A separate committee maintains and updates the BISAC Subject Codes list. 

Current State

Current priorities are: identifying and sharing ways to better manage metadata across the supply chain; helping the industry provide timely, high-quality metadata; and using metadata to better market and sell books, in part by ensuring that the end user is able to discover relevant and desired content. The work of the committee is structured to close the gap between BISG policies and recommendations and industry practice.

Metadata helps the US supply chain future-proof its ability to meet the changing requirements of international trade. Rules around origin of products, raw materials, liabilities, import / export, product safety, and more can be met with effective metadata management. Metadata can also be used to communicate physical specifications to on-demand printers and audiobook suppliers, enabling production. For physical products, e-books and digital audio, many publishers deliver metadata using the ONIX 3 standard, driven in part by industry requirements. Widespread adoption of ONIX 3 can help.

Objectives

• In the U.S. and Canada, educate about and promote the consistent use of metadata, including identifiers, between trading partners across the book publishing industry. Efforts to educate and promote the use of standards are targeted at companies of any size or supply chain role, recognizing global applications where relevant.

• To help the industry better create and manage metadata and identifiers, the committee works to strengthen documentation of information flows across the supply chain, identify weaknesses in the current approaches, and make recommendations for operational improvements to metadata or structural changes in the information supply chain that would address any shortcomings.

• Build on BISG best-practices recommendations to help providers and recipients of metadata, including identifiers, provide timely, high-quality metadata for all book formats.

Stakeholder Impact/Benefits

This committee addresses metadata requirements across the supply chain, representing the interests of stakeholders including publishers, manufacturers, retailers, libraries, distributors, software vendors and intermediaries, so that readers have access to the information they need to inform their decisions. Benefits of the committee’s work include:

• Improved understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the current metadata supply chain

• Promote the wider use of best practice, reducing rework and improving the quality of information available across the supply chain (e.g. accuracy of measurements, prices)

• Recommendations for changes that would improve the way metadata is managed between trading partners, providing education where needed

• Support for the essential use of metadata to promote discovery and purchase

• Guidance on the implementation of ONIX 3.x and industry identifiers

Deliverables

In 2026, the Metadata Committee will: 

1. Update, republish, and socialize BISG Policy Statement POL-1101 on identification of digital products. The final product may include guidance on best practice to implement recommendations.

2. Review and publish the updated Metadata Best Practices Guide

3. Advance and support Book Publishing Next, leading other committees in the effort to develop and modernize industry standards

4. Provide continued support for accessibility metadata implementation

   1. Conduct research on the value of accessibility metadata in making products discoverable across the supply chain, particularly for publishers transitioning to ONIX 3.x. For example, examine uptake of accessibility metadata by libraries.

   2. Following the closure of the Accessibility Working Group in May, continue providing industry support for compliance with the EAA, ADA Title II updates, and any subsequent legislative requirements. 

5. Working with the Subject Code committee, determine the value of keywords in the face of AI and other search optimization developments. Consider whether to update and publish a new edition of Revised Best Practices for Keywords in Metadata

Blockers

• Ability to recruit committee members from across the supply chain

• Ability of committee members to commit sufficient time to tackle multiple projects in the planned timeframe

• Ability or willingness of supply-chain participants to implement recommendations to improve the metadata supply chain