Codelist Issue 61 for ONIX 3.0 has been released.* Complete listings of the ONIX codelists in PDF and HTML formats can be downloaded from the EDItEUR website:

Issue 61 stand-alone codelist documentation as readable PDF or HTML file (open and read it in your web browser)
Issue 61 TXT, CSV, XML, JSON files for loading into your data management applications
Issue 61 XSD, RNG, DTD schema modules for use with existing XML schema files (but note that it is 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 61 (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 61

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 15 Title type

Code 15 has been added to reflect an alternative title that appears on the spine of a book.

List 51 Product relation

Two new codes have been added to this ever-popular list:

Code: 47
Label: May be substituted for
Note: If ordered, <RelatedProduct> may (at the supplier’s discretion) be substituted and the <Product> supplied instead (inverse of code 46).

Code: 48
Label: Is linked product offer
Note: Purchases of <RelatedProduct> may qualify for one or more copies of <Product> either free of charge or at a reduced price (inverse of code 45). This may be dependent on retailer participation, upon price and upon the quantity of the <RelatedProduct> purchased.

List 79 Product form feature type and List 98 Binding or page edge colour

List 79, Product form feature type, has been expanded to include new code 27 to indicate the colour of the foil on the book’s cover or spine, which points to the metallic colour list from code list 98. Similarly, List 98, Binding or page edge colour has seen the addition of the code CPR for Copper.

List 81 Product content type

This list has seen the addition of code 44 to represent “sequential art,” defined as a “pictorial narrative, usually panel-based.” The documentation confirms that this can be further defined as “images displayed in a specific order for the purpose of graphic storytelling or giving information (e.g., graphic novels, comics and manga)” and “may include text integrated into the image (as speech and thought bubbles, textual ‘sound’ effects, captions, etc.).”

List 153 Text type

Everyone loves to hate promotional text written on the cover of a book, and more people hate it when it makes its way into ONIX fields in any element other than exactly the one they prefer. Call them promotional headlines, call them endorsements, and now cover lines enter the codelist to support cover text ephemera!

Code 37 represents cover lines. Used in the North American market, a cover line is also known as a reading line, is a “line of usually explanatory copy on cover, somewhat like a subtitle but not on the title page and added by the publisher, e.g., ‘with 125 illustrated recipes’.”

Ever diligent, EDItEUR adds additional explanatory text in the release notes:

A cover line or reading line is a text that is on the cover or jacket of a book, superficially like a subtitle but not strictly a part of the title of the book. It is usually explanatory in tone, and not normally on the title page. Other examples include ‘a novel’, ‘with chapters by …’, ‘a step-by-step guide to …’. The key difference between subtitle and cover line is that the cover line is added by the publisher, not written by the author.
Note that the cover or jacket (but not the title page) may also carry endorsements or a promotional headline, but these need not be on the book itself at all. Together with the cover line(s), they are considered part of the collateral text in <TextContent> (Block 2), whereas the title and subtitle are specified in <TitleDetail> in Block 1.

Reminder: New lists added with ONIX 3.1 release

As we flagged in an earlier blog post, 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 5 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.

download summary of changes