BitLit Chooses Bowker Bibliographic Data to Power Shelfie

NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J., May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- BitLit, creators of an inventive app that enables publishers to offer ebook bundles to readers, has selected Bowker Global Books In Print® database to power its new "Shelfie" function. Readers use the app to take a photo of their bookshelf (a "Shelfie"). Computer vision algorithms then identify titles on the shelf that are available to the reader at a free or discounted price from publishers participating in BitLit's bundling service. BitLit will use Bowker Global Books In Print as the bibliographic database of Shelfie, enabling accurate matches of a book's spine with its metadata.

"We are very excited to be working with BitLit as their data provider," said Doug McMillan, Bowker vice-president, Strategic Partnerships and Licensing. "BitLit connects readers to ebooks and, in turn, publishers to readers. The comprehensive and authoritative data from Books In Print provides the critical link from the scanned image to the title and associated metadata. BitLit is a great example of the many innovative companies using Bowker data to support creative solutions within the publishing and retail industries."

Founded in 2013, BitLit works directly with publishers to offer readers print and ebook bundles for free or at a very low cost. It's been embraced by readers for both its flexibility and ease of use, as well as the expanded options it offers them for reading – in print or on any digital device. Publishers use BitLit as a way to connect with their readers, especially those in brick-and-mortar stores, enabling them to easily expand their print purchase to include an e-version.  

"BitLit is fortunate to work in an industry where a high quality database like Books in Print® exists," said Peter Hudson, CEO of BitLit. "The implementation of their exhaustive list enables a feature that our readers love and supplies better information to publishers on the shelf space their books occupy in real time."

Bowker collaborates with thousands of publishers, retailers, libraries and search engines worldwide to make their book collections – whether print or digital – easily discovered, evaluated and selected by users. The authoritative Books In Print database is used by customers to power their book collections, embedding them with rich details and real-time updates that capture new title releases. 

Bowker offers a variety of data and delivery options for any organization that needs information about physical or digital books to power its business.

About BitLit (www.BitLit.com)
BitLit is a free app that allows publishers to connect with readers by offering them free or highly discounted ebooks of books they own in print. Founded in 2013, BitLit is headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

About Bowker^® (www.bowker.com)
Bowker® is the world's leading provider of the bibliographic information that connects publishers, authors, booksellers, and libraries with readers. The company has a 140+year history of organizing and applying metadata for books to support industry wide efficiency. With an expanded focus on Identifier Services (myidentifiers.com), Bowker provides resources to make authors' and publishers' titles more discoverable. Through its Books In Print® data services – including the industry leading Books In Print® database -- Bowker provides tools to promote, organize and sell books, supporting such ProQuest services as Syndetic Solutions™, Books In Print online, and the new library management system Intota™ Assessment, as well as discovery systems for book retailers and providers around the world. As the official ISBN Agency for the United States and its territories and Australia, Bowker makes books easier for people to discover, evaluate, order, and experience. A ProQuest affiliate, Bowker is headquartered in New Providence, New Jersey with additional operations in the United Kingdom and Australia.

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