OCLC, WLN, CLSI, and DataPhase have agreed to incorporate the purchase order communications format developed by the Book Industry Systems Advisory Committee (BISAC) into the design of their online acquisitions systems. This will facilitate online ordering, requiring the transfer of only limited amounts of data. BISAC is a committee of the Book Industry Study Group, Inc.
The format uses the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) as the primary item identifier for orders, or modified author-title information when an ISBN is not available. It also contains essential order data including customer ID (preferably Standard Address Number [SAN], see American Libraries, Feb. 1982, p. 133), purchase order number, date, price, and special handling instructions. However, a library could order online using only a SAN, quantity, ISBN, and control data showing the total number of books and titles per order. Most purchasers and vendors using the format exchange tapes through the mail, but the format is designed for computer-to-computer ordering.
BISAC has also developed a title update format through which vendors with online systems can update prices, publication dates, and other data in book records. An invoice format is also available.
Comments already received indicate that many wrong orders are the result of incorrect ISBNs in cataloging records or miskeyed ISBNs in order records. Therefore, BISAC representatives urge programmers working with online systems to incorporate verification routines to check the accuracy of ISBNs using the check digit at the end of each ISBN. Librarians developing in- house acquisitions systems are advised to use the BISAC order format so that they can take advantage of computer- to-computer order transmission in the future. The BISAC publicity committee is monitoring publishers' use of ISBNs in an effort to prevent the display of partial ISBNs and other problems.
Summaries and technical descriptions of BISAC purchase order, title update, and invoice formats are available free from BISAC, 160 5th Ave., N.Y., NY 10010. other free publications from the same address include descriptions of BISAC communications specifications; transmittal procedure for sending computer tape orders, invoices, or updates through the mail; and Book Industry Study Group information. Include $2.75 per order for postage. New York residents add appropriate sales tax.
