ONIX Codelist 63 released

Codelist Issue 63 for ONIX 3.0 has been released.* Complete listings of the ONIX codelists can be downloaded from the EDItEUR website.

• Issue 63 stand-alone codelist documentation as a readable PDF or HTML file (open and read it in your web browser)

• Issue 63 TXT, CSV, XML, JSON files for loading into your data management applications

• Issue 63 XSD, RNG, DTD schema modules for use with existing XML schema files (but note that it's better to download the latest 3.0.8 schemas since they incorporate a couple of small improvements as well as the new Block 8)

• The ‘strict’ XSD 1.1 with Issue 63 (the strict XSD must be updated each time there is a new issue of the codelists, as it includes some codelists within the XSD itself)

• The online browser for the ONIX code lists at ns.editeur.org/onix has been updated to issue 63

Need help finding and using the documentation? Read this.

It should go without saying that everyone should review the document summarizing the changes and update their systems, but we've highlighted some changes of particular note for you below.

List 74 Language

Of great interest to market participants in the lands now called Canada, List 74 has seen broad expansion to include several publishing languages used by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. Data senders would wisely update their records to include this information, where it applies:

• alq: Algonquin Alginkin

• atj: Atikamekw

• cay: Cayuga

• cre: Cree

• mus: Creek Seminole

• ike: Eastern Canadian Inuktitut

• git: Gitxsan

• moe: Innu, Montagnais

• iku: Inuktitut

• qiv: Inuvialuktun

• kwk: Kwakiutl

• crg: Michif

• crm: Moose Cree

• nsk: Naskapi

• crl: Northern East Cree

• oji: Ojibwa

• crk: Plains Cree

• ojs: Severn Ojibwa

• shs: Shuswap

• crj: Southern East Cree

• sto: Stoney Nakota

• csw: Swampy Cree

• thp: Thompson Nla’kapamux

• cwd: Woods Cree

The aforementioned document summarizing the changes to the code lists also includes some commentary about List 74. Presented in a question-and-answer format, EDItEUR shares how the list is maintained. For example, to the question “what are the criteria for additions to ONIX list 74?”, EDItEUR responds:

List 74 is not extended merely because a language “exists” — otherwise List 74 would comprise well over 7000 codes. EDItEUR also looks for evidence of contemporary, commercially-traded books in a particular language, and a likelihood that any new code will be actively used. List 74 also includes macrolanguages and language families (collective names) so that there are codes that are reasonably appropriate for most individual languages that are not in the list.

Read the document summarizing the changes for more Q and A. Of final note is that the additions to List 74 are due in large part to advocacy from Canadian publishers through the Canadian Bibliographic Committee, advocacy for which BookNet is grateful.

List 80 Product packing type

Publishers currently supporting code 21 “shrink-wrapped” should review their product composition and reassign codes as necessary to support the newly added code 08 “shrink-wrapped (biodegradable).” This code is newly-introduced for use with products offered to the trade in shrink-wrapped packaging, where the shrink-wrap film is biodegradable.

List 145 Usage type

New code 11 “text and data mining” has been added to indicate approved use of the content of the product (text, images, etc.) for extraction of useful (and possibly new) information through automated computer analysis. This should be of interest for rights holders looking to support large language-learning models and generative AI projects.

List 175 Product form detail

List 175 Product form detail sees a number of new codes:

• B139 Comic book size (US): Standard 10.25 x 6.625in (260 x 170mm)

• B140 Comic album size (Euro): Standard 240 x 320mm

• B407 Head and tail bands: Decorative or functional

• B408 Decorated endpapers: Illustrated or abstract printed endpapers, but not those solely of coloured paper

Reminder: New lists added with ONIX 3.1 release

As we flagged in a blog post earlier this year, ONIX 3.1 has been released. And with it, two new codelists were introduced which we are highlighting here: List 259 Collection frequency code and List 260 Epublication license date role. These are included on page five in the document summarizing the changes.

*A note to ONIX 2.1 users

ONIX 2.1 users should note that codelist updates no longer apply to ONIX 2.1 and users should continue to use Issue 36. ONIX 3.0 code lists and schema modules no longer contain codes or lists unique to ONIX 2.1. You can still obtain the correct ONIX 2.1 schema and codelists from the Archived Previous Releases page.

BookNet Canada still recommends that you use and periodically update your copy of EDItEUR's best practices guide. It’s an essential ONIX 3.0 guide, but much of the information in it applies equally to ONIX 2.1.