"First, do no harm": five years of book-industry data sharing with BookNet Canada SalesData

This report will discuss the genesis of BNC SalesData and the role of BookNet Canada in bringing about data sharing within the Canadian book publishing industry. Although there are clear benefits to an aggregated sales database, a neutral third party like BNC with a policy to “do no harm” is needed to facilitate collaborative commerce for the greater good of the industry as a whole. To assess the impact of data sharing through BNC SalesData, this report will outline the history of the service, describe how it currently functions, show BNC’s process and tactics in transforming data from private to shared, and discuss the limits of this system in an increasingly digital supply chain.