Tagging Loan Stars picks in your ONIX feed

Marketing tips using metadata in ONIX 2.1 & 3.0

Endorsements and reviews are handled distinctly in ONIX because they represent two distinctly different types of marketing and have different rights implications. Retailers often display them together, but that doesn't mean they should be submitted together. The best practice is always to use the correct coding in ONIX supported by the expected elements because fully granular metadata is more useful in the long run.

So what's the difference?

An endorsement is typically released before the book is published, and is gathered via a direct request or from a previous correspondence with a notable individual, with the understanding that the quote will be used for this purpose. Beyond the statement itself, what matters in terms of marketing is the endorser's name, the identification of their book (for cross-promotion purposes), and the author's affiliation if applicable (for credibility). This information is normally appended as part of the Text Author block.

A review, on the other hand, is released post-publication (for the most part) and is published independently, so what matters is ensuring that the source and the date are recorded as well as who wrote the review. A retailer assumes any review in ONIX has been supplied so it can be displayed in support of a book record, so it is typically excerpted by the publisher to ensure its use is covered under fair use guidelines.

In ONIX, an endorsement is supported by Text Author, while a review should be supported by a Text Author (if available), the name of the publication (Text Source), and the date it was published.

Loan Stars is an endorsement. Though it can be thought of as an award, the true essence of the program is to obtain the recommendation or endorsement of Canadian library staff collectively. By using the endorsement tags, your Loan Stars status will be featured in CataList.

Here's how to properly denote a Loan Stars pick as an endorsement:

The ONIX 2.1 Method
List	Code	Name	When to use	Notes	Example content	What it looks like in ONIX 2.1	What it looks like in CataList
33	30	Unpublished Endorsement	Title becomes a Loan Stars pick	In this case, the designation of a Loan Stars top pick acts as an endorsement. Your title was endorsed by Canadian library staff.	Loan Stars September 2018 Top Pick
33	30	Unpublished Endorsement	Participating library staff leaves a review.	Usually a quote from a direct source, as opposed to a publication (e.g., a quote from a celebrity/fellow author, librarian, expert, etc.). You must always attribute the source of the endorsement.	Loan Stars October 2018 Top Pick "A book that a wide cross-section of my patrons will enjoy!" - I.M. Librarian, Springfield Public Library
33	08	Review Quote	Your book has garnered a review.	Your review quote selection should adhere to the Canadian Fair Use Guidelines.	The Book was Chewy? by Homer S. Published on: Sept. 3, 2018 in The Springfield Shopper "This book is like a big bowl of pasghetti with lots of momatoes."
The ONIX 3.0 Method
List	Code	Name	When to use	Notes	Example content	What it looks like in ONIX 3.0
153	09	Unpublished Endorsement	Title becomes a Loan Stars pick.		Loan Stars September 2018 Top Pick
153	09	Unpublished Endorsement	Participating library staff leaves a review.		Loan Stars October 2018 Top Pick "A book that a wide cross-section of my patrons will enjoy!" - I.M. Librarian, Springfield Public Library
153	06	Review Quote	A publication reviews your book.		The Cedar House Rules  by Critic McCriticson A well-defined, heart-wrenching tribute to Arbour Day. 4 out of 5 Maple Leaves - The Walnut Street Standard, April 3, 2018