New Providence, N.J. - February 27, 2007 - Bowker, the world’s leading provider of bibliographic information, today announced the development of Non-Fiction Connection, the industry’s first comprehensive readers’ advisory tool for non-fiction titles.

The new electronic offering will allow users to find non-fiction titles based on books they have already read. Users will simply log on to the subscription-only service, enter the title of a book they already know they enjoy, and search for similar books from Bowker’s non-fiction database. Using the browse feature, users will also be able to locate books within various narrative non-fiction genres, such as true crime, travel, history, food, animals, politics and biographies.

"We recognized the growing popularity of non-fiction and wanted to create a resource that would address this. Non-Fiction Connection will fill a major void in the readers' advisory space because it will allow users to search a combined database of both fiction and non-fiction titles and gives users the option to search one, the other, or both," said Melissa Kuzma, MLS, product manager of Non-Fiction Connection at Bowker. "This new tool will also provide users with a synopsis of each book, relevant book reviews from independent sources such as Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, a list of any awards the book has earned, details about the book's performance on bestseller lists, interesting media coverage of the book, and even excerpts from the book and images from the cover."

Modeled after Fiction Connection, Bowker’s highly successful readers’ advisory tool for fiction titles that was honored by The Charleston Advisor last fall as the “Best Interface” for electronic services of interest to libraries, Non-Fiction Connection will be available in June 2007. Bowker is offering substantial discounts of up to 25% for advance orders.

The technology powering Non-Fiction Connection was developed specifically for Bowker by Netherlands-based technology company Medialab, using their Aqua Browser Software and featuring their signature word cloud.

About Bowker
Bowker is the world's leading provider of bibliographic information management solutions designed to help publishers, booksellers, and libraries better serve their customers. The company is focused on developing various tools and products that make books easier for people to discover, evaluate, order, and experience, as well as providing services to publishers that help them better understand and meet the interests of readers worldwide. Bowker is a member of the ProQuest family of companies and is headquartered in New Providence, N.J., with additional operations in England and Australia. For more information, please visit www.bowker.com.

Contact Information

News Media
Beth Dempsey
for Bowker
beth@bethdempsey.com
Phone: 248-349-7810

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