Booknet Canada

In this podcast episode we’re bringing you a small taste of a Tech Forum presentation given by Jennifer Chen and Nikoo Sarraf from McGill University’s .txtlab. They took a deep dive into the differences between queer fanfiction and mainstream published works and shared some insights about what publishing can learn from their work.

What does BookNet Canada know about independent bookstores? A lot. In this podcast episode, BookNet Canada’s Marketing Associates Nataly Alarcón and Aline Zara share highlights from the study The State of Independent Bookselling in Canada 2020, talk about what the last five years of independent bookselling have looked like in Canada in terms of book sales and the pandemic, and share a clip from a recent Tech Forum session. Further reading/listening: -The State of Independent Bookselling in Canada 2020: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/the-state-of-independent-bookselling-in-canada-2020 -What’s in Store: The State of Independent Bookselling in Canada: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/whats-in-store -Beyond #BookTok: When social media and publishing collide: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2021/7/27/podcast-beyond-booktok-when-social-media-and-publishing-collide -The State of Social Media in Canada 2020: https://socialmedialab.ca/2020/07/13/the-state-of-social-media-in-canada-2020-a-new-survey-report-from-the-ryerso

January 4 was World Braille Day and to celebrate we sat down to talk with Kerry Kijewski and Marcia Yale, two of the five authors of the study Improving Braille Availability in Canadian Public Libraries to learn more about the study and what the book industry can do to improve braille accessibility in Canada. Further reading/listening: -Improving Braille Availability in Canadian Public Libraries: https://nnels.ca/braillestudy -How to improve braille accessibility in Canada: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2022/1/4/how-to-improve-braille-accessibility-in-canada

The BookNet staff recaps 2021 in terms of book sales in the Canadian market, BookNet staff reading habits, and all the other book news fit to share. Further reading/listening: - See this as a webinar on YouTube: https://youtu.be/j5Ef4vImS2o - Subject spotlight blog series: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog?tag=subject+spotlight - Backlist blog posts: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog?tag=backlist - Canadian Book Consumer survey blog posts: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog?tag=canadian+book+consumer+survey - BookNet reading: Stats and staff picks 2021: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2021/12/13/booknet-reading-stats-and-staff-picks

We sat down with Kiley Turner, 49th Shelf’s Managing Editor, to have a conversation about the work she and her colleagues do to promote Canadian books, the role metadata plays in discoverability and marketing, the ways publishing and non-publishing people can use 49th Shelf, and much more. Further reading: -49th Shelf website: https://49thshelf.com/ -49th Kids website: https://kids.49thshelf.com/ -Identifying Canadian Authorship user document: https://booknetcanada.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/UserDocs/pages/1378508/Identifying+Canadian+Authorship -Canadian authors: The whys and hows of identifying them in your data: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2020/5/26/canadian-authors-the-whys-and-hows-of-identifying-them-in-your-data -Easier with BookNet: Sending interior images to supply chain partners via BiblioShare: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2021/11/16/easier-with-booknet-sending-interior-images-to-supply-chain-partners-via-biblioshare -Kiley’s article, “The one thing that can double your book sales”: http

A conversation with Fazeela Jiwa from Fernwood Publishing about sensitivity readers — what that term means, the shortcomings of using them, Fernwood’s approach, and what the future might have in store for sensitivity reading. Further reading: - Fernwood Publishing: https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/ - Authenticy reading. Part 1: What editors need to know: https://blog.ciep.uk/authenticity-1/ - Authenticity reading. Part 2: Becoming an authenticity reader: https://blog.ciep.uk/authenticity-2/ - A dog named Lavender by Vivek Shraya: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/poetry/dog-named-lavender

In this month’s episode, we give you a behind the scenes look at life as a BookNet staff member, aka a BookNetter. Join us for a chat with Project Manager Monique Mongeon, Product Coordinator Hannah Johnston, and Software Developers Ben Farrall and Madeleine Griggs to learn a bit about themselves and all about their work with us at BookNet Canada. Further reading/listening: Monique's backlist blog posts: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2021/5/4/everything-old-is-new-again-backlist-sales-growth-in-2020 & https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2021/8/13/aged-like-a-fine-wine-whats-the-ideal-age-for-a-backlist-title Hannah's LibraryData: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/librarydata Ben's BiblioShare: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/biblioshare Madeleine's Bibli-O-Matic: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2021/2/4/bibli-o-matic-the-metadata-extension-you-didnt-know-you-needed

In this month's podcast episode we’re talking about social media and its influence on bookselling, what the popularity of these online communities built around books mean for the industry, how backlist titles are having second chances thanks to TikTok, and more. Further reading/listening: - BookNet’s Canadian Leisure & Reading Study 2020: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/canadian-leisure-and-reading-study-2020 -BookNet’s Canadian Book Consumer Study 2020: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/canadian-book-consumer-2020 -Ryerson University’s Social Media Lab report The State of Social Media in Canada 2020: https://socialmedialab.ca/2020/07/13/the-state-of-social-media-in-canada-2020-a-new-survey-report-from-the-ryerson-social-media-lab/ -Bookstagrammer @spinesandvines: https://www.instagram.com/spinesvines/?hl=en -Buzzfeed's 24 Black Bookstagrammers list: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ariannarebolini/black-bookstagram-authors-book-lovers-to-follow -Shereads' BookTubers' to watch in 2021 list: https://shereads.com/

This month we’re talking about Thema and exploring how you can use this international book classification for describing diverse books. Join BookNet Canada’s Marketing Associate Aline Zara, with appearances by EDItEUR’s Chris Saynor and BookNet Canada’s Bibliographic Manager Tom Richardson, alongside a worked example of Tanya Boteju’s book Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens, just in time to wrap up Pride month. Further reading/listening: - Thema version 1.4: https://www.editeur.org/151/Thema-v1.4/ - Chris Saynor’s Tech Forum presentation Using Thema and ONIX to boost discoverability: https://youtu.be/hCDdN_CSlNg - Tom Richardson’s webinar Thema Refresher: https://youtu.be/KXDlX4fsokA - Thema worked examples: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog?tag=Thema%20worked%20examples

Last month we shared highlights from Tech Forum 2021. This month we’re sharing one thought-provoking panel in particular. The idea for this panel was inspired by an essay from Annahid Dashtgard a renowned author, changemaker, and co-founder of Anima Leadership, a boutique consulting company specializing in issues of diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism. This essay, called Foreign Object in the House of Canadian Literature, was about her experience as an author of colour and her reception in Canadian publishing. Annahid was joined by Chelene Knight and Léonicka Valcius to discuss author care and creating safe spaces for BIPOC authors. Links - Foreign Object in the House of Canadian Literature essay by Annahid Dastgard: https://rungh.org/foreign-object-in-the-house-of-canadian-literature/ -Foreign object in the house of Canadian literature Tech Forum presentation:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe-1yxT1O3k&list=PLRthkZj3fAc3XJln6vHSoQZ5BzFgTS38d&index=13&t=1012s - Léonicka Valcius on Instagram: https://www.in

In this month’s podcast episode, we’re bringing you some highlights from some of our fantastic sessions. This year’s programming had a mix of topics that ranged from crisis management, the impact of the pandemic on booksellers and publishers, bibliographic standards, diversity, equity and inclusion, and much more. The recordings from the sessions we’ll be talking about today are available on our YouTube channel — you can find the link in the episode notes. - Session 1: Come taste the difference good management can make in your crisis!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJBXso5h_lw - Moving pieces: Industry initiatives you don't want to miss: https://youtu.be/ZeyvmAid4Pg - Serving communities in crisis: The bookseller’s role: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hP2G2nZkLA - If we knew then what we know now: COVID-driven initiatives with staying power: https://youtu.be/t03YfhqE95Q - How to combat racial gaslighting in the workplace: https://youtu.be/4LZCN78SysQ - Tech Forum 2021 YouTube playlist: https://www.youtu

The newly formed Canadian Independent Booksellers Association (CIBA) is hitting the ground running. In this podcast episode, we sat down to talk to Doug Minett, the Executive Director, to learn how it came about, what initiatives they’re tackling in their first year, what they see for the future post-COVID, and what they’ll need to do to be successful. Further reading: - Canadian Independent Booksellers Association (CIBA): https://cibabooks.ca/ - What’s in Store: The State of Independent Bookselling in Canada: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/whats-in-store

Join BookNet Product Coordinator Hannah Johnston and Marketing Associate Nataly Alarcón as they share sales data for print books about anti-racism and social justice in 2020, a brief overview of the efforts related to equity, diversity, and inclusion made in the Canadian book industry, as well as a number of resources available to you — from research reports to Tech Forum presentations — that touch on these topics. Further reading/listening - Blog post covering the updates made to BISAC subject codes: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2020/12/21/2020-bisac-subject-codes-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new -BookNet YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv62canXJChXqjegPv9H9-A -BookNet Canada podcast: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/podcast -Research by BookNet: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/bnc-research -Blog posts related to equity, diversity, and inclusion: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog?tag=diversity -Demand for Diversity study: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/demand-for-diversity -Tech Forum 2021 we

A look at book sales and reader behaviour in the Canadian market in 2020. Show notes: eNews sign up: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/newsletter-sign-up#enews BookNet blog: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/ Niche subject explorations on the BookNet blog: Signs & Spells: Astrology, crystals, tarot, and witchcraft in the Canadian book market: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2020/5/11/signs-amp-spells-astrology-crystals-tarot-and-witchcraft-in-the-canadian-book-market Get that bread: The cooking subcategories that are selling like hotcakes: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2020/5/19/get-that-bread-the-cooking-subcategories-that-are-selling-like-hotcakes Stars and stanzas: Social media, stardom, and poetry in 2020: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2021/1/7/stars-and-stanzas-social-media-stardom-and-poetry-in-2020 Checkmate: How the popularity of a TV show is impacting book sales in Canada: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2020/12/8/checkmate-how-the-popularity-of-a-tv-show-is-impacting-book-sales-in-canad

This month’s episode is tailored to booksellers. In it, we go over some key things you should think about before facing the peak of the holiday bookselling season, as well as a series of tools, products, and resources from BookNet and other organizations that can help you take your business to the next level now or beyond the gifting season. Links: -Weathering the COVID-19 storm blog series: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog?category=Publishing+%26+COVID-19 -Prepare for the 2020 holiday season now: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2020/10/22/prepare-for-the-2020-holiday-season-now -Blog posts relevant to booksellers: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog?category=Bookselling -BookNet Canada research: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/bnc-research -Subscribe to the Let’s Sell Some Books newsletter: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/newsletter-sign-up#lets-sell-some-books -BookNet Canada contact information: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/contact-us -Digital Main Street: https://digitalmainstreet.ca/ -Retail Council of Canad

It's Canadian library month, so LibraryData team members, Hannah Johnston and Monique Mongeon share some data about Canadian library circulation stats, genre trends, and more. Further reading/listening LibraryData: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/librarydata Loan Stars: https://www.loanstars.ca/ Borrow, Buy, Read: Library Use and Book Buying in Canada: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/borrow-buy-read LibraryData sign up form: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/librarydata

In this episode, BookNet Marketing & Communications Manager, Ainsley Sparkes, shares insights about the status of the publishing industry in Canada. What impact has COVID-19 had on readers' habits? Have book buying behaviours changed? What subjects are selling the most? All these answers and more in this edition of the BookNet Canada podcast. Links: Canadian book market half year review blog post: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2020/8/27/2020-canadian-book-market-half-year-review The State of Publishing in 2019 infographic and blog post: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2020/9/8/infographic-the-state-of-publishing-in-canada-2019 The impact of COVID-19 on reading blog post: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2020/4/15/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-reading The State of Publishing in Canada in 2019 full report: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/state-of-publishing

It would be fair say that we’re fascinated by audiobooks and learning about their production, distribution, and everything else involved in the process. Last month we interviewed Jamie Dupras and Jeff Guillot from Deyan Audio in Los Angeles, but for this month’s podcast episode, we brought the conversation to Canada. Ann Jansen, Director of Audiobook Production at Penguin Random House Canada, and David Caron, Co-Publisher at ECW Press, joined BookNet Canada Research Associate Shimona Hirchberg for a conversation about the state of the audiobook industry in Canada and what’s on the horizon for this rapidly evolving chapter of publishing. Links: -BookNet Canada's Press Play: Audiobook Use in Canada 2020: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/press-play-audiobook-use-in-canada-2020 -ECW Press' office land acknowledgment: https://ecwpress.com/pages/about-us -Longest audiobook Ann has ever worked on, First Snow, Last Light by Wayne Johnston: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/549668/first-snow-last-light-by-wayne-joh

For last month’s podcast episode we had planned to include bits of an interview BookNet Canada Research Associate Shimona Hirchberg had with Jamie Dupras and Jeff Guillot from Deyan Audio but the conversation was so rich we decided to share the full interview in this month’s episode. Among other things, they talked about -the nitty-gritty of audiobook production and distribution; -audiobooks in languages other than English; -casting and working with diverse narrators; and -the Canadian audiobook market. Links: -BookNet Canada's Press Play: Audiobook Use in Canada 2020: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/press-play-audiobook-use-in-canada-2020 -ACP symposium report Audiobooks: Building Capacity for Canadian Creation and Publishing: https://publishers.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ACP_audiobook_report_FA_05-11-2020_SM.pdf -ACP and eBOUND's Accessible Publishing Research Project: https://www.eboundcanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ACP_eBound_AccessibilityReport_final.pdf -Audiobook quality control service Pozotr

Our biennial study on audiobook use among Canadians is here! Join BookNet Canada Research Associate Shimona Hirchberg and President & CEO Noah Genner as they go over how Canadian audiobook listeners discover, use, and feel about audiobooks, including what they like to listen to, when they like to listen, and how they obtain their audiobook content. Links: - BookNet Canada's research: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/bnc-research - Press Play: Audiobook Use in Canada 2020: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/press-play-audiobook-use-in-canada-2020 - Canadian Leisure & Reading Study 2020: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/canadian-leisure-and-reading-2020 - Noah Genner's Audiobooks in Canada presentation: https://youtu.be/t9CTydJMRrk - The Impact of COVID-19 On Reading survey results on the BNC Blog: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2020/4/15/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-reading - Inaugural Press Play email course sign up: https://booknetcanada.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4576b1cb7fdce43af498937a5&id=fd163659c8