Year in Review 2020/2021 - BOOKNET CANADA
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BOOKNET CANADA Year in Review 2020/2021
BOOKNET
YEAR IN REVIEW: 2020/2021 CANADA
Introduction
Despite the upheaval and uncertainty the pandemic caused in F2021, it has also proven our resilience.
With the support and direction of the Board, and through the hard work of BookNet’s staff, we’ve become
a stronger organization, poised to accomplish great things next year and beyond.
Like much of the industry, and country, BNC offices closed mid-March 2020 and staff have been working
remotely since. We have adapted both our internal communications and workflows to this change, but
we’ve also successfully helped our stakeholders navigate this new reality.
• We launched a weekly At a Glance newsletter to send SalesData subscribers timely information
about sales in the Canadian market over the previous week.
• CataList helped publishers on the system so their sales reps could sell into bookstores remotely
with little interruption.
• We surveyed Canadian readers about their pandemic reading and buying behaviours and
released the results on our blog in April and May 2020.
In addition to those new, pandemic-driven initiatives, we continued with much of our previously planned
objectives. Highlights from our last year include:
• Launching our LibraryData service to all stakeholders
• Providing education and resources to help the industry with the changeover to ONIX 3.0
• Releasing Advanced Search tools on CataList
• Releasing the fourth edition of the Audiobook Use in Canada as well as our report on The State of
Publishing 2019
• Providing Tech Forum 2021 as an online-only event with 26 sessions throughout March and
April 2021
• Growing the BNC team by three new staff members
BOOKNET CANADA | MAY 2021 2
BOOKNET
YEAR IN REVIEW: 2020/2021 CANADA
The pandemic is waning, but still not yet behind us. We’ll continue to use all the tools at our disposal to
support our stakeholders in F2022.
We’re very grateful to our member organizations and partners: Association of Canadian Book
Wholesalers; Association of Canadian Publishers; Canadian Publishers’ Council; Canadian Urban Libraries
Council; Retail Council of Canada; Indigo Books & Music; and the Government of Canada for generously
providing ongoing support to BookNet through the Canadian Book Fund. These partnerships enable us to
make sure that BNC is meeting the needs of the Canadian book industry.
We invite to you review some of our achievements from the last year in the pages that follow, as we look
forward to the year ahead.
Thank you for your ongoing support,
Noah Genner
President and CEO
BOOKNET CANADA | MAY 2021 3
BOOKNET
YEAR IN REVIEW: 2020/2021 CANADA
Guiding Principles
Short- to medium-term benefit
The projects selected by the BookNet Canada Board of Directors reflect an interest in providing a
tangible return on investment within the short- to medium-term. Projects are designed to deliver benefits
throughout their lifecycle with clearly defined performance objectives and deliverables.
Facilitation during technological change
Each project is designed to address a key area of technological change, ensuring that book industry
participants remain adaptable and capable of meeting new demands in publishing, retailing, wholesaling,
and distribution.
Benefit to all stakeholders
BookNet Canada focuses on project areas that are designed to provide consistent benefit to all
participants in the Canadian industry, whether they are large corporations or small businesses.
Focus on Canadian cultural producers
Each project has components designed to “level the playing field” for Canadian cultural producers,
providing them with tools, best practices, education, and services.
Empower process improvement
BookNet Canada provides tools, services, and knowledge to help our stakeholders make process
improvements related to supply chain and technological innovation within their own organizations.
Collaboration and partnerships
Whenever possible and appropriate, BookNet Canada looks to partner and collaborate with other
associations and organizations to provide coordinated benefits to the Canadian book industry.
BOOKNET CANADA | MAY 2021 4BOOKNET
YEAR IN REVIEW: 2020/2021 CANADA
&
It was a big year for LibraryData — we officially launched the new tool to all
stakeholders at the start of F2021. LibraryData offers a suite of tools to analyze
circulation, including popular books rankings, gap analysis reports (comparing
a library’s collection to other libraries or to the retail market), and subject and
language trend analysis reports. By offering visibility into the borrowing habits of
Canadian readers, LibraryData contributes to an even more complete picture of
the national reading landscape.
In response to COVID-19, we put together a weekly SalesData newsletter, At a
Glance, to provide a quick overview of the Canadian trade book market. Also
launched this year was our monthly library focused newsletter, The Borrowers,
focused on borrower behaviours and preferences, public library insights, and
information about readers in general.
The SalesData & LibraryData team
“The site is user friendly made improvements to automated
and clearly laid out. reporting in F2021 — new delivery
Great job!” frequencies allow saved and scheduled
reports to be delivered on monthly,
Customer Satisfaction quarterly, or annual basis along
Survey 2020 with the weekly delivery previously
implemented. Our automated reports
saved the industry over 1,500 hours
this year; approximately 44 weeks of
full-time work!
“I have to say I’m very
grateful for Library Data; We also increased Contributor Roles in
it’s been a really great
our bibliographic data — from four in
tool over the past year
F2020 to over 100 by the end of F2021.
to see how the recovery
has been progressing
And finally, we added over 20 new stores to the reporting panel since the onset of
with library usage and
the pandemic. Shoutout to our gutsy bookselling friends getting resourceful and
make it possible for me
to communicate that with creative during challenging times!
our internal stakeholders.”
Scholastic Canada
LibraryData user
• Automated reports saved the industry over 1,500 hours this year
(approx. 44 weeks of full-time work)
• 20 new stores and 47 new library branches added to the reporting
panel since the onset of the pandemic
• Over 800,000 ISBNs in the retail market and 8 million library items
reported weekly
BOOKNET CANADA | MAY 2021 5BOOKNET
YEAR IN REVIEW: 2020/2021 CANADA
&
What’s next for SalesData & LibraryData:
In the coming year, the SalesData & LibraryData team will focus on recruiting,
onboarding, and training new subscribers and data providers for both SalesData &
LibraryData.
With an eye to libraries, we’ll be working on integrating digital collections data (i.e.,
ebooks, digital audiobooks, etc.) with existing physical collections data. We’re also
working toward a Sierra ILS integration for LibraryData in early 2022.
We’re planning on adding additional Canadian Contributor filtering on our Gap
Analysis, Market Comp, and Market Share Reports as well as adding new filters to
some of our reports, such as Age Range and Dewey Number.
The team will also be making improvements to Market Comp and Market Share
reporting to allow for greater insights in fewer steps.
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YEAR IN REVIEW: 2020/2021 CANADA
The BiblioShare dataset continued to grow this year with an emphasis on the
migration to ONIX 3.0 data. The ONIX 2.1 dataset grew by 200,000 new records
while the 3.0 dataset grew by 240,000 new records — a 65% increase. The
BiblioShare team’s main focus this past year was planning the migration of our
services and tools to support the ONIX 3.0 dataset.
We released a new and improved version of our Bibli-O-Matic plugin with a slight
tweak in branding (new look and new name: Bibli-O-Matic) and big tweaks in
usability! The plugin is now available for both Chrome and Firefox browsers and
includes the exposure of new data points like the increasingly important Thema
subject.
The team also worked on the Shopify Bookstore Builder App to enable support for
ONIX 3.0 data.
“[L]ove Bibli-O-Matic
for this sort of thing
(researching publisher’s Bibliographic data distribution
metadata, seeing where On the distribution side of the data, we saw a record number of web service
things are going wrong), requests with accounts increasingly leveraging all of the services including
but it’s also a great especially our back cover service and our BISH Assets. In total, 148,706,985 web
teaching tool … really user requests were made in 2020.
friendly.”
In terms of development work in F2021, the team developed two custom
Bibliographic Metadata
solutions, and a new web service, for workflow and discovery stakeholders.
Consultant
• 200,000 new ONIX 2.1 records and 240,000 new ONIX 3.0 records were
added
• 47 new ONIX 2.1 data providers and 22 new ONIX 3.0 data providers
• Cover images increased by 240,000 (8% increase year over year)
• 28% increase in interior images received
• Over 148 million web service requests served
• 97% increase in excerpts and samples received
BOOKNET CANADA | MAY 2021 7BOOKNET
YEAR IN REVIEW: 2020/2021 CANADA
The CataList team in F2021 spent time reacting to COVID-19 and coming up with
responses that would help stakeholders navigate new ways of doing business.
• Provided an increased focus on training as more sales activity shifted to online.
• Added a publisher promotions list to support publishers and retailers.
• Upgraded the change tracking tools to help communicate changing publication
dates for 2020 releases.
• Streamlined the CataList on-boarding processes to make it easier for new
accounts to sign-up.
• Increased the available supply-chain data for retailer and library use, to
minimize data entry time during this critical time when retailers were shifting
their businesses to online and curbside models.
Amidst all the COVID support, the CataList team also forged ahead with the
development plans put in place prior to the pandemic. Search capabilities were
expanded with the new Advanced Search form, which allows people to more easily
explore all publisher listings on CataList using multi-select dropdown options,
boolean search capabilities, and a variety of other filters and range-setting tools.
Changes were also made to the customizable grid column view and export tools
at the individual level. Users can now also choose from additional grid columns,
including size and weight measures, age range, availability, and Thema subject.
• Over 60 new retailer sign-ups between Jan. 1, 2021 and March 31, 2021
— more than double the retail sign-ups for the same period in 2020
• 6,200+ samples, excerpts, table of contents, and guides available on
Catalist titles
• A 14% increase in page views over FY2020
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YEAR IN REVIEW: 2020/2021 CANADA
A recruitment push in F2021 lead to an ongoing steady increase in retail sign-
ups — a mix of existing bookstores moving to online, new bookstores, and gift
or general merchandising stores looking for book products. We added major
publishers to CataList this year: HarperCollins, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, and Douglas
& McIntyre / Harbour; plus seven additional publisher accounts. And we had 21
new library sign-ups.
What’s next for CataList:
In F2022 the team will be working toward the release of many new stakeholder
requested features including, support for accessibility data on digital products and
the integration of stock availability data from supplier position files.
We’ll also be adding additional search functionality including the ability for users to
save searches, improvements to ordering functionality, and increased support for
the Thema subject standard and publisher ONIX 3.0 data.
We’ll continue work on the integration of BTLF’s Memento French data and
subscription service on to the CataList platform.
As always, we will continue to solicit and implement further user-driven
improvements as prioritized through client feedback and regular User Group
activities.
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YEAR IN REVIEW: 2020/2021 CANADA
The Loan Stars program was not immune from COVID-19 impacts: the program
was temporarily paused from June to August 2020 in response to increased
demands on library staff time due to the pandemic and closures of library
branches across the country as part of social distancing efforts. However, the Loan
Stars team were able to still run nine Adult lists and four Juvenile lists in F2021.
“Love it — think it’s a To further increase engagement, we implemented several changes to our
great Reader’s Advisory marketing efforts:
tool for staff to promote
and participate in and a • featuring Canadian-authored titles in special catalogues and promoting these
great way for customers in our newsletter;
to learn about new up and
• increasing the frequency of social media posts and redesigned the posts to
coming books and authors
better suit each platform with more calls to action; and
from trusted library
• focusing on channels with high engagement — primarily Instagram, Twitter,
staff!”
and Facebook.
Loan Stars Winter 2020
User Survey What’s next for Loan Stars:
In F2022, Loan Stars will focus on enhancing publisher participation in the
program. We’ll be putting effort into improving how publishers can work with the
Loan Stars program and use it to promote titles.
The Loan Stars team would also like to platform diverse authors. The Marketing
team will be working on identifying a strategy for amplifying diverse titles.
The team will also increase our outreach to library staff in provinces that are
underrepresented and offer more training to librarians.
• Genre breakdown: 25% of titles that made the lists were Thrillers; 12%
were Literary Fiction; and 10% were Biography & Autobiography
• 22 Canadian-authored titles were featured on Loan Stars lists in F2021
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YEAR IN REVIEW: 2020/2021 CANADA
In F2021, BookNet completed a hardware upgrade for Pubnet EDI ensuring that
users will continue to have interruption-free access to the service as they have
come to expect.
BookNet added 20 new retailers and two new publishers to the network in F2021.
Overall network traffic increased 2% and Purchase Order traffic increased 23%.
What’s next for Pubnet EDI:
In F2022, we’ll continue to recruit new retailers to use EDI as their ordering
solution through the expanding of Pubnet ordering tools for retailers. There will
also be a renewed focus on using EDI documents for the book returns process.
• 20 new retailers and two new suppliers added to the network in F2021
BOOKNET CANADA | MAY 2021 11BOOKNET
YEAR IN REVIEW: 2020/2021 CANADA
BookNet Canada staff remained active this year maintaining Canadian interests
in book industry standards through membership, and involvement in numerous
international organizations and standards bodies, including the Book Industry
Study Group (BISG), EDItEUR, International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI),
and GS1 Canada.
BookNet continues to be very active in promoting the provision, and expansion of
quality metadata. During F2021, our staff:
• participated in numerous virtual international committees and working
groups related to standards for metadata and other areas of the book
supply chain;
• oversaw the Canadian Bibliographic Committee;
• formed a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group to look at the
possibilities for ethical metadata on authors with recommendations
expected Fall 2021;
• offered education opportunities through virtual sessions, podcasts, and
blog posts to help the Canadian book industry take advantage of existing
standards in their businesses;
• held in-depth bibliographic reviews with data providers; and
• held sold out Tech Forum workshops by EDItEUR staff on ONIX and Thema.
The state of metadata
Thema Version 1.4 was released adding 692 new codes, 1,132 clarifications, and
included better support of diversity values. Of particular note to our market is
improved support for Indigenous peoples.
The 2020 BISAC Subject also improved diversity values adding Fiction codes
for “Own Voices” coding and 155 new codes for geographically based “World
literature.” Canadian-raised concerns resulted in updating Literals to replace
“Native American” with “Indigenous Peoples of the Americas” for all codes not
specified for US use.
There was accelerated growth of the ONIX 3.0 standard in the Canadian book
supply chain in F2021. Best practices and education on using ONIX 3.0 were a
major focus during this year and are expected to remain one for the next.
• Over 5,000 unique page views of blog posts about standards,
metadata, and ONIX in F2021 — more than double from last year
BOOKNET CANADA | MAY 2021 12BOOKNET
YEAR IN REVIEW: 2020/2021 CANADA
Research
At the beginning of the pandemic, the research team developed an ad-hoc survey
about readers’ borrowing, buying, and reading habits during and after the first
COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020. We released the results of that survey on the blog
in April and May 2020.
The research team also released the
fourth edition of the Audiobook Use in
Canada study in June 2020. The report
was accompanied by our first ever
research course delivered via email
to participants. These courses aim to
provide short sections of our reports
paired with actionable data.
“I have shared BookNet
research reports with Other studies we released this year:
students and colleagues. The The State of Publishing 2019 survey
information is valuable and fielding was extended because of
helps us ask good questions the impact of the pandemic. The
about the work we’re doing as corresponding study and email course
editors and publishers.” were released in September 2020. We
shared the results of our quarterly
Customer Satisfaction Canadian Book Consumer surveys in
Survey 2020 two separate blog series throughout
2020 and 2021. We also made some
updates to The Canadian Book Market
2020 in order to increase usability and
clarity of the publication.
What’s next for Research:
Upcoming research reports in F2022 include the annual Canadian Leisure and
Reading survey, which was fielded in January 2021. Early results were shared in
Noah Genner’s Tech Forum 2021 presentation. The study and email course will be
released in spring 2021. Well be releasing an updated study on what readers think
about diversity in the Canadian book market in spring 2021. The survey was fielded
in February 2021. The second The State of Bookselling report is also forthcoming and
is expected to be published in fall 2021.
• Over 17,400 reads of research blog posts
• Our free reports were read over 5,200 times
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YEAR IN REVIEW: 2020/2021 CANADA
Education
As we mentioned in last year’s report, due to COVID-19, Tech Forum 2020 was not
able to go on as planned as an in-person event. However, we did manage to pivot
much of the event online and you can find videos of 25 sessions on our YouTube
channel.
Tech Forum 2021 was planned as an online-only event and we had over 1,000
people register (an average of 56 registrants per session), and 778 attendees
(an average of 41 attendees per session), meaning that an impressive 79% of
registrants attended sessions.
We ran 26 sessions throughout March and April 2021 and had content
“I like the diversity of partnerships with EDItEUR and the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association.
content and commentators on The 30 speakers we hosted this year exceeded expectations for the 50/50 speaker
the blog.” initiative and earned Tech Forum the International Badge of Recognition from the
organization. Our sessions were all free with the option of a pay-what you-can
Customer Satisfaction donations. We succeeded in raising $1,476 from our audience, which was matched
Survey 2020 by BNC and distributed to the following orgs:
• epubcheck at W3C (non-profit)
• BIPOC of Publishing in Canada (non-profit)
• The Festival of Literary Diversity (charity)
“Absolutely great! A real • A Different Booklist Cultural Centre (ADBCC) – The People’s Residence (non-
reso urce — I look forward to profit)
receiving [eNews].” • Indigenous Literary Studies Association (non profit)
• MaRS Discovery District (non-profit)
Customer Satisfaction
Survey 2020 Our blog posts continue to resonate with our stakeholders with over 92,000
unique page views in F2021. The most read blog post in F2021 was (same as
last year) our 2017 post, 150 bestselling books by Canadian authors. The most
popular blog post published in F2021 was Bestselling Canadian books in 2020. Our
audience knows what they like.
“Great content, well
organized. Thanks!”
Tech Forum
event survey 2021
BOOKNET CANADA | MAY 2021 14BOOKNET
YEAR IN REVIEW: 2020/2021 CANADA
Board of Directors
The BookNet Canada Board of Directors is comprised of a cross-section of
representatives from firms across the publishing supply chain and the industry’s
professional associations.
CHAIR
David Millar Robin Hoogwerf
VP, Sales and Marketing, Simon & General Manager,
Schuster Canada United Library Services
Canadian Publishers’ Council Association of Canadian Wholesalers
Rania Husseini
VICE-CHAIR SVP Print, Indigo Books & Music Inc.
Lindsey Hunnewell
Production Coordinator, Wilfrid Laurier Athmika Punja
Association of Canadian Publishers Director, Operations, Penguin Random
House Canada
Canadian Publishers’ Council
SECRETARY-TREASURER
Lita Barrie
Chief Executive Officer, Burlington
OBSERVERS
Public Library Kate Edwards
Canadian Urban Libraries Council Executive Director,
Association of Canadian Publishers
DIRECTORS Jefferson Gilbert
Catherine Gerbasi Executive Director,
Owner & Publisher, Portage & Main Canadian Urban Libraries Council
Press
Association of Canadian Publishers Jodi White
Manager, Membership Services, Retail
Chris Hall Council of Canada
Co-owner,
McNally Robinson Booksellers David Swail
Retail Council of Canada Executive Director,
Canadian Publishers’ Council
BOOKNET CANADA | MAY 2021 15BOOKNET
YEAR IN REVIEW: 2020/2021 CANADA
BookNet Staff
Nataly Alarcón Hannah Johnston
Marketing Associate Product Coordinator
Ben Farrall Vivian Luu
Software Developer CataList Product Coordinator
Mickey Fontana Tim Middleton
Financial Administrator Project Manager & Retailer Liaison
Jackie Fry Monique Mongeon
Director of Product Project Manager
Development
Tom Richardson
Noah Genner Bibliographic Manager
President & CEO
Ainsley Sparkes
Tom Gerrard Marketing & Communications Manager
Senior Software Engineer
Lauren Stewart
Carol Gordon Director of Customer Relations,
Project Manager Conferences & Operations
Madeleine Griggs Andy Thomas
Software Developer UI/Web Designer & Developer
Shimona Hirchberg Aline Zara
Research Associate Marketing Associate
Bill Holt
Director of Software Development
BOOKNET CANADA | MAY 2021 16You can also read
