Expanding Book Data for Indie Bookstores

Major updates have come to the book info pages on IndieBound.org and on IndieCommerce sites this week, greatly expanding book data and showcasing new partnerships.

Consumers, booksellers, and bloggers have made clear they want IndieBound.org to be the go-to place for books and information about books. The enthusiasm online for independent bookstores is powerful, and it is growing. And indie bookstore sites are growing along with it.

The new features on the book info pages are:

• Greatly improved book data. Many books on IndieBound.org and on ABA IndieCommerce sites now have longer, richer descriptions, as well as author biographies and other promotional copy. And many more books will receive the same treatment in the near future as ABA continues to upgrade its book data.
  
  For some examples, see Jonathan Lethem's Chronic City, The Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter, or Gail Collins' When Everything Changed.

• NPR audio content on IndieBound.org. As part of IndieBound's new partnership with NPR, NPR book reviews and other featured content will soon be appearing as embedded audio on IndieBound book pages.

These two new developments are just the most recent in the continuing evolution of the book info pages:

• In November of 2008, in time for the Holidays, IndieBound launched a book search and a basic wish list feature.

• In February of 2009, the site debuted individual book info pages.

• In April, IndieBound brought out the IndieBound for iPhone application, featuring the book lists, search, and Store Finder from the website.

• In June, greatly improved, multiple book lists, as well as widgets were added.

• In August, the site was updated with alternative weekly reviews, book videos, browsable sample pages, and other features. The new info also included Reading Group Conversation Starters.