Start your engines: New BISAC codes have arrived and BookNet's systems are updated

The Book Industry Study Group (BISG) has published the 2023 update to its book publishing subject codes, often referred to as BISAC Subject Headings.

This update post is a big one, so here’s a TL;DR for those who want to know the quick links: new 2023 BISAC subject codes are available here BookNet’s systems are updated with the new codes several of the new codes were driven by the Canadian market’s need for codes relating to Indigeneity: read on to find out how we did it and here is the complete list of changes BISAC doesn’t do it all: this blog post shares what to remember re: contributor identity new 2023 BISAC Merchandising Themes are also available, here

The updated BISAC subject list is available to purchase and download from BISG (it’s free for their members), but can also be accessed online by anyone for free.

For those of you new to BISAC, here’s a quick rundown: BISAC subject codes are updated each year in response to changing usage in the industry and requests submitted to the BISAC Subject Codes Committee. The best practice is to use the most current version of the BISAC subject list to classify both frontlist and backlist titles. If you’re a publisher, it’s typically a good idea to check with retailers before sending out changes, to ensure that their systems are up-to-date and can accept the new codes.

BISAC changes can come in a few different forms: sometimes the “literal” or descriptive text of a subject heading changes while the code remains the same. In other cases, codes are made inactive or new codes are added. Looking for the shorthand version? BookNet has your back. Keep reading for an overview of some of the key changes made in the 2023 edition, or you can see the core list of changes available here.

BookNet’s products & services all updated with the 2023 list of codes

Data suppliers and recipients are encourages to update systems to the latest version of BISAC as soon as it is released. Why, you ask? Problems can occur when trading partners are using different versions of the subject headings. As the BISAC FAQ attests:

We strongly encourage all trading partners to update to the most current version of the headings. If you are using ONIX for Books to send BISAC Subject Headings, a data element within the protocol will allow you to advise your trading partner of the version of the list you are using. The options for differences between lists lie with the receiver in a trading partner relationship. If receivers are using an older version, then they must either update their database or ignore new headings with which they are not familiar. If receivers are using a newer version, then they have the option of discarding or accepting any inactivated headings that are transmitted to them.

Accordingly, all BookNet products & services have been updated with the 2023 list of codes:

• You can run reports in SalesData & LibraryData against the new BISAC codes.

• You can search in CataList using the updated BISAC codelist.

• You can assign codes from the new list of codes in our Webform for ONIX Creation.

• You can send and receive records and files in BiblioShare containing codes from the 2023 list.

• You can translate codes old and new (though not deprecated) in BookNet Canada and the Book Industry Study Group’s BISAC to Thema Translator.

These updates have been completed in record time by BookNet’s staff team and our kudos goes to all of our colleague who made it happen. Thank you, Team BookNet!

Reminder: Update your systems!

Data senders do not want data recipients to ignore new headings. Data recipients want error-free records. Don’t delay, update today!

New codes & changes to the “literal” or descriptive text for select headings relating to Indigenous Peoples: How we did it

The 2023 list is the result of a significant investment on BookNet’s part to advocate for changes concerning representations of Indigeneity in the list. Following our successes advocating for changes to the 2022 BISAC list, which itself was then a culmination of a process which started back in 2018, when BookNet first started advocating for Canadian market interests regarding Indigenous terminology and representation in the BISAC list.

Since 2018, we have collected feedback and requests from supply chain participants, who identified gaps in representation and missing Indigenous worldviews. While some subjects did have Indigenous-specific codes, such as in Fiction and in later years the Juvenile and Young Adult categories, most of the other 47 major headings had limited Indigenous representation. Where Indigenous subjects did exist, publishers confirmed they wanted increased granularity represented in those subjects: i.e., FICTION / Indigenous was not going to cut it. Moreover, even a cursory glance at the list exposed the conscious & unconscious bias in the headings and structure (think of the hierarchical, tree-like design of list, with major and minor headings nested under each other).

All of this results in a persistent catch-22 for publishers of Indigenous content: a publisher either has to select a subject code that does not represent Indigeneity authentically to respond to market opportunities, or choose to honour Indigenous worldviews and have limited BISAC engagement, impacting access to entire markets, channels, and sales opportunities.

We also had strong feedback from BISAC users following the release of a handful of new codes in and changes to the 2022 list. Particularly, Indigenous-owned and -operated presses and the authors working with them passed along feedback and encouragement to continue: there was a clear call to see changes and new codes extend beyond the Juvenile and Young Adult subject areas.

In late 2022, BookNet Canada, through the Canadian National Bibliographic Committee, assembled a Working Group, which started meeting in December 2022 with 13 meetings spanning until June 2023. The Working Group engaged cross-functionally and job title-agnostically with firms: we worked with people making Indigenous books, not just the data people.

Our Working Group had 17 participants, including a US-based representative. This was a tactical decision such that any recommendations from the Working Group would present a united front when making our requests to the BISG’s Subject Code Committee (which administers the list). We knew it would lend strength to our requests to present a “whole market” request for North America.

As our Working Group met, several themes emerged when evaluating the-then current BISAC edition (which was the 2022 edition):

• need for more codes

• need for more codes that reflect an Indigenous worldview

• need for distinction between market participants (“Canadian”, “US”, and international)

• need for codes to be more “visible” and discoverable by data providers and data recipients

Our working group also expanded its scope as time progressed and began examining the use of the word “ethnic” where it appears in existing codes and suggesting alternative language, as well as examining where some groups of people are sub-classified in subheadings and others are not.

New codes & changes to the “literal” or descriptive text for select headings relating to Indigenous Peoples: Recommended coding Methodology

One of the greatest challenges of the work that was done was to build a coding recommendation that would synthesize into the existing BISAC structure, as it was far too outside of the scope to restructure BISAC entirely, at least not at this time.

The Working Group landed on an approach that we call the “three branch” methodology, This follows the existing (seen in the 2022 list) approach in the Young Adult categories where there are “Indigenous”, “Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island”, and “Native American” subheadings. We also felt this approach addressed the transnational issue that had been brought to BookNet in the past regarding the division of Indigenous headings across Canadian and US state lines. Our intent is that, where further child subheadings are required, only the “Indigenous” branch will collect subheadings.

What this looks like functionally is three branches, where the main “Indigenous” branch has subheadings, and then there are two additional subheadings to indicate a market content or further specify the “Canadian-ness” or “American-ness” of the book:

MAIN SUBJECT CODE HEADING / Indigenous; OR MAIN SUBJECT CODE HEADING / Indigenous / General MAIN SUBJECT CODE HEADING / Indigenous / Subheading 1 MAIN SUBJECT CODE HEADING / Indigenous / Subheading 2 AND MAIN SUBJECT CODE HEADING / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island 🇨🇦 AND MAIN SUBJECT CODE HEADING / Native American 🇺🇸

Therefore, when one of the MAIN SUBJECT CODE HEADING / Indigenous codes are selected to describe the book's content, the publisher could also select either MAIN SUBJECT CODE HEADING / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island or MAIN SUBJECT CODE HEADING / Native American, effectively double-coding with regional information: 

Code	Connotes content relevant to buyers and/or readers interested in…
MAIN SUBJECT CODE HEADING / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island	“Canadian” content 🇨🇦
MAIN SUBJECT CODE HEADING / Native American	"US" content 🇺🇸

This conservative proposal (akin to “double coding” approaches used elsewhere in the list) has benefits:

• it enriches meaning & understanding of the selected “Indigenous” heading;

• it offers opportunities for market differentiation; and

• it opens up opportunities in the future to add additional, more precise groups (such as First Nations, Inuit & Métis).

And both non-branches could be used independently, if there was not an appropriate Indigenous code to select: Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island; or Native American.

New codes & changes to the “literal” or descriptive text for select headings relating to Indigenous Peoples: Highlighted new codes & changes

Fiction

The Fiction section is a showcase for the Working Group’s thoughtful consideration and advocacy for infusing an Indigenous worldview into the BISAC codelist. What follows are the new and changed codes:

Code	Change	2023 Literal
FIC059000	FICTION / Indigenous converted to a general code	FICTION / Indigenous / General
FIC059010	addition	FICTION / Indigenous / City Life
FIC059020	addition	FICTION / Indigenous / Elders
FIC059030	addition	FICTION / Indigenous / Erotica
FIC059040	addition	FICTION / Indigenous / Family Life
FIC059050	addition	FICTION / Indigenous / Historical
FIC059060	addition	FICTION / Indigenous / Horror
FIC059070	addition	FICTION / Indigenous / Indigenous Futurism
FIC059080	addition	FICTION / Indigenous / Life Stories
FIC059090	addition	FICTION / Indigenous / Mystery & Detective
FIC059100	addition	FICTION / Indigenous / Oral Storytelling & Teachings
FIC059110	addition	FICTION / Indigenous / Science Fiction
FIC059120	addition	FICTION / Indigenous / Women
FIC135000	addition	FICTION / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island
FIC137000	addition	FICTION / Native American
FIC005100	addition	FICTION / Erotica / LGBTQ+ / Two-Spirited & Indigiqueer
FIC009150	addition	FICTION / Fantasy / Indigenous
YAF031050	addition	FICTION / LGBTQ+ / Two-Spirited & Indigiqueer
FIC027510	addition	FICTION / Romance / Indigenous
FIC027520	addition	FICTION / Romance / LGBTQ+ / Two-Spirited & Indigiqueer

Please note that the changes presented here are highlights resulting from our Working Group’s advocacy. Please refer to Differences Between the 2022 and 2023 Editions for a complete list of new codes, changes, and deletions across all major headings.

“Nonfiction”

Let's move into so-called “Adult Nonfiction”, which we consider all codes that are not Fiction, or in the Juvenile or Young Adult categories. Note that the term “Adult” doesn’t appear anywhere in the BISAC list, but I’m using it because I feel it helps keep us on the same page. Nor are any of these so-called adult major headings termed “Nonfiction” in official BISAC terminology (i.e., BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / General appears as such, not NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / General).

Similar to the changes to the “People & Places” trees in all Juvenile and Young Adult Fiction & Nonfiction categories described before, the so-called “adult nonfiction” category of Biography & Autobiography, has been reworked: groups of People clustered under the Cultural, Ethnic & Regional subheading and are now top-level Biography & Autobiography categories, as you can see here: 

Code	2022 Literal	Change	2023 Literal
BIO002000	BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Cultural, Ethnic & Regional / General	new literal	BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Cultural & Regional
BIO028000	BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Cultural, Ethnic & Regional / Indigenous	removed from tree	BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Indigenous
BIO039000		addition	BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island
BIO040000		addition	BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Native American
BIO002010	BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Cultural, Ethnic & Regional / African American & Black	removed from tree	BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / African American & Black
BIO002040	BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Cultural, Ethnic & Regional / Arab & Middle Eastern	removed from tree	BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Arab & Middle Eastern
BIO002020	BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Cultural, Ethnic & Regional / Asian & Asian American	removed from tree	BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Asian & Asian American
BIO002030	BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Cultural, Ethnic & Regional / Hispanic & Latino	removed from tree	BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Hispanic & Latino

Prior to our Working Group’s advocacy, there were 14 codes reflecting Indigeneity across all 47 major “Adult Nonfiction” headings. We will cover some of the highlights here, starting with Religion:

Code	2022 Literal	Change	2023 Literal
REL029000	RELIGION / Indigenous, Folk & Tribal	new literal	RELIGION / Folk & Tribal
REL124000		addition	RELIGION / Indigenous / General
REL124010		addition	RELIGION / Indigenous / Ceremony & Spiritual Practice
REL124020		addition	RELIGION / Indigenous / Sacred Stories
REL124030		addition	RELIGION / Indigenous / Scripture & Prayerbooks
REL124040		addition	RELIGION / Indigenous / Spirituality
REL124050		addition	RELIGION / Indigenous / Teachings
REL125000		addition	RELIGION / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island
REL126000		addition	RELIGION / Native American

New codes and changes to the Art category similarly shows the dedication and skill of the Working Group and the subjected approved by the Subject Code Committee. The Working Group very tactically proposed these Techniques for the Art category and not Crafts and Hobbies, to confer the respect they command. In the use notes for the Crafts and Hobbies category, the BISG directs users to “use subjects in Crafts and Hobbies for works discussing technique from a craft (as opposed to fine art) viewpoint.” The Working Group wanted to be sure that Indigenous artistic accomplishments were elevated above the “craft” assignation they are so commonly given:

Code	2022 Literal	Change	2023 Literal
ART041000	ART / Indigenous Art of the Americas	new literal	ART / Indigenous
ART070000		addition	ART / Indigenous Art of Turtle Island
ART069000		addition	ART / American / Native American
ART071000		addition	ART / Techniques / Basketry
ART072000		addition	ART / Techniques / Beadwork
ART074000		addition	ART / Techniques / Leatherwork & Hidework
ART075000		addition	ART / Techniques / Quillwork
ART076000		addition	ART / Techniques / Textiles & Weaving
ART015130		addition	ART / History / European / General
ART015090	ART / History / Baroque & Rococo	new literal	ART / History / European / Baroque & Rococo
ART015070	ART / History / Medieval	new literal	ART / History / European / Medieval
ART015080	ART / History / Renaissance	new literal	ART / History / European / Renaissance
ART015120	ART / History / Romanticism	new literal	ART / History / European / Romanticism
ART015140		addition	ART / History / Indigenous

History proved to be one of the longest discussions we had as a Working Group, and you can see the results here:

Code	2022 Literal	Change	2023 Literal
HIS028000	HISTORY / Indigenous Peoples in the Americas	new literal; converting to a general	HISTORY / Indigenous / General
HIS028010		addition	HISTORY / Indigenous / Creation & Origins
HIS028020		addition	HISTORY / Indigenous / Migration
HIS028030		addition	HISTORY / Indigenous / Archaeological Stages & Interpretations of Oral History
HIS028040		addition	HISTORY / Indigenous / Contact, European Invasion & Exploration
HIS028050		addition	HISTORY / Indigenous / Colonial History & Interaction with Nations, Tribes, Bands & Communities
HIS028060		addition	HISTORY / Indigenous / Modern
HIS069000		addition	HISTORY / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island
HIS070000		addition	HISTORY / Native American

Similarly for Political Science, we discussed this over several meetings and landed on the following codes:

Code	2022 Literal	Change	2023 Literal
POL074000		addition	POLITICAL SCIENCE / Indigenous / General
POL074010		addition	POLITICAL SCIENCE / Indigenous / Governance & Sovereignty
POL074020		addition	POLITICAL SCIENCE / Indigenous / Reconciliation
POL074030		addition	POLITICAL SCIENCE / Indigenous / Treaties & Agreements
POL075000		addition	POLITICAL SCIENCE / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island
POL076000		addition	POLITICAL SCIENCE / Native American

Our “three branch” approach is seen in the Drama, Literary Collections, Literary Criticism & Poetry categories; as seen here for Drama:

Code	2022 Literal	Change	2023 Literal
DRA020000	DRAMA / Indigenous Peoples in the Americas	new literal	DRAMA / Indigenous
DRA022000		addition	DRAMA / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island
DRA023000		addition	DRAMA / Native American

Keeping our attention to the misuse of the work “Ethnic” across the list, we advocated for the 45 codes under the Regional & Ethnic subheading in Cooking to be reclassified as Regional & Cultural. Similarly, we advocated for changes in-line for the Ethnic Studies section under Social Science but we were not successful in that regard, as Ethnic Studies continues to be a term used widely in academia. Instead we were able to reposition them as Cultural & Ethnic Studies.

Here are a collection of additional “Nonfiction” codes in the 2023 list that resulted from our Working Group’s recommendations:

Code	2022 Literal	Change	2023 Literal
BUS119000		addition	BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Indigenous Economies
EDU062000		addition	EDUCATION / Cultural Pedagogies
FAM060000		addition	FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Chosen Family
FAM061000		addition	FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Indigenous Families
HEA056000		addition	HEALTH & FITNESS / Indigenous Health & Healing
LAN030000		addition	LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Orality
LAW110000	LAW / Indigenous Law	new literal	LAW / Indigenous Law & Legal Systems
MAT043000		addition	MATHEMATICS / Social & Cultural Aspects
MED122000		addition	MEDICAL / Indigenous Health & Healing
MED123000		addition	MEDICAL / Multicultural Medicine
MUS056000		addition	MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Indigenous
NAT050000		addition	NATURE / Cultural Botany
NAT052000		addition	NATURE / Indigenous Stewardship
PER021000	PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / Regional & Ethnic	new literal	PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / Cultural & Regional
PHI050000		addition	PHILOSOPHY / Indigenous
SEL050000		addition	SELF-HELP / Indigenous Mental Health & Healing
SCI104000		addition	SCIENCE / Indigenous Knowledge & Perspectives
TEC075000		addition	TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Indigenous Knowledge & Perspectives

Recall that the changes presented here are highlights resulting from our Working Group’s advocacy. Please refer to the list of Differences Between the 2022 and 2023 Editions for a complete list of new codes, changes, and deletions across all major headings.

Juvenile & Young Adult

An important and wide-ranging set of changes, the “People & Places” trees in all Juvenile and Young Adult Fiction & Nonfiction categories are no more and has been reworked. The “People” previously grouped under “People and Peoples” are now top-level subheadings, i.e.:

• JUVENILE FICTION / Indigenous

• JUVENILE FICTION / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island

• JUVENILE FICTION / Native American

• …and more.

This recommendation impacts 71 codes in total: please refer to the list of Differences Between the 2022 and 2023 Editions.

Our second task was to tackle the much-loathed “Legends, Myths & Fables” code in Juvenile and Young Adult Fiction. Reports to BookNet Canada asserted that Indigenous owned and/or operated firms avoid this code as they feel it is disrespectful to their Peoples:

• For many Indigenous cultures, their stories, teachings and values make up their worldview, that of a living culture, and the connotation of being grouped with legacy (historical) or fictional cultures is offensive harmful. 

• Moreover, grouping into an omnibus code that includes all three components (Legends, Myths & Fables) suggests these stories (incl. Sacred stories) are untrue.

• This perpetuates colonial and Eurocentric ways of thinking that Indigenous worldviews do not deserve to be upheld in the same way as others’. After all, BISAC codes do not consider Christian worldviews as “Legends, Myths and Fables”: that would be disrespectful to the beliefs of that community.

Our Working Group’s recommendation, which was successful, was the the JUVENILE FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / Indigenous Peoples in the Americas be removed and publishers be directed to other appropriate, available codes to re-code their books.

This means publishers will have to re-code books that currently use the code JUV012080 JUVENILE FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / Indigenous Peoples in the Americas. BookNet can and will assist — I have a list ready that I can send with ISBNs using this code that I am happy to share. Just email me at lauren@booknetcanada.ca and I’ll send it over.

Additional Juvenile Fiction code changes and additions follow:

Code	2022 Literal	Change	2023 Literal
JUV083000		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Indigenous / General
JUV083010		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Indigenous / Animal Stories
JUV083020		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Indigenous / Cautionary Tales
JUV083030		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Indigenous / Elders
JUV083040		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Indigenous / Family Life
JUV083050		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Indigenous / Historical
JUV083060		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Indigenous / Life Stories
JUV083070		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Indigenous / Oral Stories
JUV083080		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Indigenous / Retellings
JUV082000		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / First Nations
JUV084000		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Inuit
JUV085000		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Métis
JUV081000		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Biracial & Multiracial
JUV008210		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Indigenous
JUV009130		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / Language
JUV012020	JUVENILE FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Country & Ethnic	new literal	JUVENILE FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Country & Cultural
JUV013100		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Grandparents
JUV087000		addition	JUVENILE FICTION / Trickster Tales

Similarly, additional Young Adult Fiction code changes and additions follow, with the brancing of LGBTQ+, which allowed the adding the aforementioned Two-Spirited & Indigiqueer category you saw in Adult Fiction, above:

Code	2022 Literal	Change	2023 Literal
YAF046180		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / Cautionary Tales
YAF046190		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / City Life
YAF046200		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / Family Life
YAF046210		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / Historical
YAF046220		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / Life Stories
YAF046230		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / Oral Stories
YAF046240		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / Retellings
YAF046250		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / Teachings
YAF077000		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / First Nations
YAF078000		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Inuit
YAF079000		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Métis
YAF076000		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Biracial & Multiracial
YAF010220		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Indigenous
YAF010230		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island
YAF010240		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Native American
YAF031000	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ+	converting to a general	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ+ / General
YAF031010		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ+ / Bisexual
YAF031020		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ+ / Gay
YAF031020		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ+ / Gay
YAF031020		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ+ / Gay
YAF031030		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ+ / Lesbian
YAF031040		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ+ / Transgender
YAF031050		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ+ / Two-Spirited & Indigiqueer
YAF019070		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Indigenous
YAF052080		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Indigenous
YAF056040		addition	YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Science Fiction / Indigenous Futurism

Our Working Group didn’t stop at Fiction categories in Juvenile and Young Adult. New and changed nonfiction codes follow:

Code	2022 Literal	Change	2023 Literal
JNF076000		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Indigenous / General
JNF076010		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Indigenous / Animal Stories
JNF076020		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Indigenous / Elders
JNF076030		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Indigenous / Family Life
JNF076040		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Indigenous / Health & Healing
JNF076050		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Indigenous / History
JNF076060		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Indigenous / Land-Based Knowledge
JNF076070		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Indigenous / Reconciliation
JNF075000		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / First Nations
JNF077000		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Inuit
JNF078000		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Métis
JNF007050	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Cultural, Ethnic & Regional	new literal	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Cultural & Regional
JNF074000		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Biracial & Multiracial
JNF019100		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Family / Grandparents
JNF020010	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Foreign Language Study / English as a Second Language	new literal	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Language Study / English as a Second Language
JNF020020	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Foreign Language Study / French	new literal	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Language Study / French
JNF020000	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Foreign Language Study / General	new literal	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Language Study / General
JNF020030	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Foreign Language Study / Spanish	new literal	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Language Study / Spanish
JNF049340		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Religion / Indigenous / General
JNF049350		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Religion / Indigenous / Ceremony & Spiritual Practice
JNF049360		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Religion / Indigenous / Sacred Stories
JNF049370		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Religion / Indigenous / Scripture & Prayerbooks
JNF049380		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Religion / Indigenous / Spirituality
JNF038140	JUVENILE NONFICTION / People & Places / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island / Teachings & Traditions	new literal	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Religion / Indigenous / Teachings & Traditions
JNF020040		addition	JUVENILE NONFICTION / Language Study / Indigenous Languages in the Americas

Similarly, additional Young Adult Nonfiction code changes and additions follow, with the branching of LGBTQ+, which allowed the adding the aforementioned Two-Spirited & Indigiqueer category you saw in Adult Fiction, above:

Code	2022 Literal	Change	2023 Literal
YAN038170		addition	YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Indigenous / Elders
YAN038180		addition	YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Indigenous / Family Life
YAN038190		addition	YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Indigenous / Health & Healing
YAN038200		addition	YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Indigenous / History
YAN038210		addition	YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Indigenous / Land-Based Knowledge
YAN038220		addition	YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Indigenous / Reconciliation
YAN063000		addition	YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / First Nations
YAN064000		addition	YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Inuit
YAN065000		addition	YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Métis
YAN062000		addition	YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biracial & Multiracial
YAN020040		addition	YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Language Study / Indigenous Languages in the Americas

Recall that the changes presented here are highlights resulting from our Working Group’s advocacy. Please refer to the list of Differences Between the 2022 and 2023 Editions for a complete list of new codes, changes, and deletions across all major headings.

A reminder: What BISAC subjects are, and what they are not

BISAC Subject Codes (or BISAC Subject Headings) are intended to describe the content of a book and were developed for publishers to communicate with retailers, and the general book trade, the store section in which a title best fits, and will sell best. They’re also helpful in organizing internal databases and public websites, such as those offered by online retailers. There may also be business functions associated with the codelist, such as buyers for large retailers purchasing titles for their employer based on subject categories, where the list is divided up by more than one buyer. But, when it comes down to it, they are intended to tell supply chain participants what the book is generally “about”, or that it is most likely to sell when grouped together with other books that have that “aboutness” in common.

With some exceptions, BISAC codes are not designed to tell anyone anything about the identity of the book’s contributor(s). Exceptions occur in the Drama, Poetry, Literary Collections, and Fiction sections. See the following application notes for Drama:

Subjects with a place or group of people, e.g., "DRAMA / American / Hispanic & Latino" or "DRAMA / Canadian" are intended for works written by authors commonly identified as being from the country or region specified. They are not meant to indicate the setting or language (original or translated) of a work. For multinational authors, or authors not associated with the country in which they were born, use your discretion in deciding which location the author is most commonly identified with.

Similarly, Poetry:

Subjects with a place or group of people, e.g., "POETRY / American / Hispanic & Latino" or "POETRY / Canadian" are intended for works by authors commonly identified as being from the country or region specified. They are not meant to indicate the setting or language (original or translated) of a work. For multinational authors, or authors not associated with the country in which they were born, use your discretion in deciding which location the author is most commonly identified with.

And, Literary Collections:

Subjects with a place or group of people, e.g., "LITERARY COLLECTIONS / American / Hispanic & Latino" or "LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Canadian" are intended for collections by authors commonly identified as being from the country or region specified.  They are not meant to indicate the setting or language (original or translated) of a work.  For multinational authors, or authors not associated with the country in which they were born, use your discretion in deciding which location the author is most commonly identified with.

While it would be reasonable to assume the preceding applied to the Fiction category, it is not so clear cut; as the Fiction application notes delineate:

"FICTION / Own Voices" is intended for works where the main characters(s) are from a marginalized, minority, or under-represented group and where the author is a member of the group being written about.

"FICTION / Women" is intended for fictional narratives centered on women and their struggles, which eventually lead to their personal growth. The heading is not intended to be used to describe the author of the work or the targeted audience of the work.

Subjects beginning with "FICTION / World Literature" are intended for works written by authors commonly identified as being from the country or region specified. They are not meant to indicate the setting or language (original or translated) of a book.  For example, "FICTION / World Literature / Portugal" would be used for works by authors from Portugal (and not for authors from other Portuguese-speaking countries) regardless of the language or setting of the book. For multinational authors, or authors not associated with the country in which they were born, use your discretion in deciding which location the author is most commonly identified with.

Therefore, someone reviewing books categorized with Fiction subjects with a place or group of people (such as FICTION / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island) should not assume that the author is commonly identified as being from the country or region specified, nor a member of the group being written about.

Note: Many publishers have stopped using the FICTION / Own Voices code due to concerns about increased author harassment, a demonstration of the difficulty in supporting identity values in the context of published metadata

Due to the disparities between the different categories and the lack of an overarching approach, data providers and recipients should be hesitant to assume a connection between contributor identity and BISAC subject coding.

Also updated: BISAC Merchandising Themes

The most well-known “flavour” of BISAC are the BISAC Subject Headings. These describe the content of a book and were developed for publishers to communicate with retailers, and the general book trade, the store section in which a title best fits, and will sell best.

There are also BISAC Merchandising Themes and BISAC Regional Themes. BISAC Merchandising Themes identify marketing opportunities for like-minded books insofar as content is concerned. And BISAC Regional Themes provide additional help in identifying books of specific geographical interest.

(Sometimes people compare the Merchandising Themes with Thema’s Qualifier 5 list for Interests, as they can be used to further describe fictional works that have been subject-coded by genre. In addition, they are super helpful for planning sales and marketing plans for both publishers and retailers.)

Merchandising themes can be used in addition to subject codes (and are optional) to denote:

• An audience to which a work may be of particular appeal

• A time of year or event for which a work may be especially appropriate

• A frequently requested topic

• Can help further describe fictional works 

The Merchandising Themes was also updated with the 2023 release. The following were all added in the 2023 list:

• ET046 CULTURAL HERITAGE / First Nations

• ET132 CULTURAL HERITAGE / Métis

• ET087 CULTURAL HERITAGE / Inuit

• ET083 CULTURAL HERITAGE / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island

• EV140 EVENT / Powwow

• EV120 EVENT / National Indigenous History Month

• HL133 HOLIDAY / National Indigenous Peoples' Day 

• HL132 HOLIDAY / National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day)

The complete Merchandising Themes list is included when users purchase and download from the BISG (again, it’s free for their members), but can also be accessed online by anyone for free at https://www.bisg.org/bisac-merchandising-themes-version-27.

2023 Codes: Additional changes

Please refer to the list of Differences Between the 2022 and 2023 Editions for a complete list of new codes, changes, and deletions. You will find major changes in the COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS category, Hispanic & Latino codes, Hi-Lo codes for Juvenile Fiction and Nonfiction, and many more. Don’t delay, review and update today!