Looking to address the problem of confusion in the marketplace around product identification, the Book Industry Study Group is publishing a Policy Statement that outlines best practices for assigning ISBNs to digital content. Developed over the last 18 months, BISG Policy Statement POL-1101 outlines practices that are applicable for content distributed in North America and elsewhere.
Endorsed by BookNet Canada, and the National Information Standards Organization and the Independent Book Publishers Association, the best practices Policy Statement can be downloaded at the BISG Website. BISG is encouraging all members to adopt the new guidelines no later than March 2012 for new product releases.
Phil Madans, director of publishing standards and practices for Hachette Book Group and chair of BISG’s Identification Committee, which was charged with developing the Policy Statement, said, “we were able to deliver a set of practical recommendations supported by real world examples and applications. As digital books are still evolving, we intend to continue to refine and supplement the recommendations over time, building up a practical, fluid guide to how digital books should be identified.”
