The real world of bibliographic data: managing and exchanging marketing data at Arsenal Pulp Press

This report explores how Arsenal Pulp Press participated in a bibliographic data exchange network with its online retail and data aggregation partners in Canada from May 2005 to May 2006. Looking specifically at the data requirements of Amazon.ca, BookManager, Bowker’s Books In Print, and Indigo Books & Music, this report observes the challenges faced by this midsize, independent publisher when it used a bibliographic database management system to store and distribute industry-standard marketing data (cover images and book descriptions). The conclusion of the report proposes recommendations to Canadian and international book industry institutions—BookNet Canada and EDItEUR—supply chain partners, database system developers, and Arsenal Pulp Press itself for improving the standards and procedures for exchanging comprehensive and accurate marketing data while reducing the managerial workload for the publisher.