BISAC Subject Headings:
Tutorial and FAQ
General Issues | Publisher Issues | Retailer Issues | Version Management
For example, the code for the descriptor representing general African history is HIS001000 and the related descriptor is "HISTORY / Africa / General". There are 52 major sections, such as COMPUTERS, FICTION, HISTORY and TRUE CRIME. Within each major section are a number of detailed descriptors that represent sub-topics the BISAC Subject Codes Committee has deemed most appropriate for the major topic.
Organizations whose needs exceed the free online look-up service and/or who require a way to incorporate the list into their internal systems and databases can purchase the licensed version in Word, Excel and PDF file formats for an annual fee.
If database systems are sophisticated enough, a recommendation is to do a Keyword or Find search on the entire list in order to identify all the terms that may be appropriate for the book. This is especially effective if it is difficult to determine the proper major section for the term one imagines would be used. This will also help alert the user to cases where similar subjects appear in different sections to reflect different ways of approaching the topic (e.g., "HEALTH & FITNESS / Sexuality", "PSYCHOLOGY / Human Sexuality", "RELIGION / Sexuality & Gender Studies", "SELF-HELP / Sexual Instruction", not to mention related subjects under JUVENILE FICTION, JUVENILE NONFICTION, and SOCIAL SCIENCE).
If you know the code but not its meaning, you will need a copy of the BISAC Subject Heading List. The first step is to find the proper major section by using the first three letters of the code. The first three letters are a mnemonic representation of the section name, e.g., COM for the COMPUTERS section, HIS for the HISTORY section, and TRV for the TRAVEL section. The exception is BODY, MIND & SPIRIT, which uses codes beginning with OCC due to the former name of the section.
There are at least three philosophical approaches to assigning headings. Some users prefer to apply the most specific code possible within each major subject area, blocking any terms that are hierarchically broader. For example, if "HISTORY / Military / World War I" has been chosen, "HISTORY / Military / General" would not be used by those that follow this philosophy.
A second approach would be to apply the World War I term, plus "HISTORY / Military / General" and perhaps "HISTORY / Modern / 20th Century".
A third philosophy is to apply a code that represents a best-selling category of materials in the hopes the new title will ride the coattails of the best-selling category. This is not recommended if that category is not appropriate for the work in question.
Receivers of inactivated codes have a decision to make. They must decide whether to maintain such codes, often leading to duplication or near duplication within their subject database, or they must re-categorize titles in the database with such codes.
GENERAL ISSUES
- What does BISAC stand for?
- What are BISAC Subject Headings? What do they look like?
- How are BISAC Subject Headings used?
- What terms are used to describe elements in the BISAC Subject Heading list?
- Who uses BISAC Subject Headings?
- How do I get a copy of the BISAC Subject Heading list?
- Do I have to pay for the BISAC Subject Heading list?
- How do I determine the value for a BISAC Subject Heading?
- Who can create BISAC Subject Headings?
- If I need a heading that is not in the list, what do I do?
- Are there definitions for the various subject headings?
- Are there standards for the placement of the subject on the book?
- How do I find the BISAC Subject Heading for a specific book?
- How do I find the descriptor for a specific BISAC Subject Heading?
- What do I do with the cross-reference?
- What do I do if I have a question that is not answered here?
What does BISAC stand for?
BISAC is an acronym for Book Industry Standards and Communications.Return to top
What are BISAC Subject Headings? What do they look like?
The BISAC Subject Heading list is an industry-approved list of subject descriptors, each of which is represented by a nine-character alphanumeric code. The descriptor itself consists of two, three or four parts in the manner described above.For example, the code for the descriptor representing general African history is HIS001000 and the related descriptor is "HISTORY / Africa / General". There are 52 major sections, such as COMPUTERS, FICTION, HISTORY and TRUE CRIME. Within each major section are a number of detailed descriptors that represent sub-topics the BISAC Subject Codes Committee has deemed most appropriate for the major topic.
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How are the BISAC Subject Headings used?
The BISAC Subject Heading list was developed to standardize the electronic transfer of subject information. The Headings can be used for transmitting information between trading partners, as search terms in the major bibliographic databases, as access points for database searching and as shelving guides. Many major businesses require that publishers use BISAC Subject Headings when submitting data.Return to top
What terms are used to describe elements in the BISAC Subject Headings list?
The following terms are generally used in describing various aspects of the Headings:- Code - refers to the nine-character element attached to each subject listing. The code begins with a three-character alpha segment which is usually mnemonic (e.g., HIS is used for the HISTORY subject terms) and is followed by a six-character numeric segment. In Version 1 of the BSHL, the codes had hierarchical meaning but this is no longer the case. They should be treated simply as surrogate codes.
- Heading - the English language description attached to each code, i.e. the subject heading itself. The heading description is constructed in two, three, or four parts, with each part (or level) separated by a forward slash (/). A two-part heading would consist of the section name (e.g., HISTORY) and a subheading presenting a major aspect of the section, such as "Medieval". Such a term would read "HISTORY / Medieval". Many headings consist of only two levels; however, for more detail in some subject areas, a third level is added. An example of such a term is "HISTORY / Military / Vietnam War". Occasionally four levels are used, e.g., "HISTORY / Africa / South / Republic of South Africa".
- Descriptor - synonymous with "heading", defined above.
- Literal - synonymous with "heading", defined above.
- Term - synonymous with "heading", defined above.
- Value - synonymous with "code", defined above.
- Tree - refers to a group of headings with a common first and second level. For example, "GARDENING / Flowers" are the first two levels in a tree that contains headings for Annuals, Bulbs, Orchids, Perennials, and Roses in a manner such as "GARDENING / Flowers / Roses". The first term in a tree almost always ends with "General" (e.g., "GARDENING / Flowers / General") following which are the more specific terms.
- Branch - refers to a distinctive third level literal that belongs to a tree as defined above (in the above example, "Roses" is the branch).
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Who uses the BISAC Subject Headings?
Many of the major businesses within the North American book industry, including Amazon, Baker & Taylor, Barnes & Noble, Bookscan, Booksense, Bowker, Indigo, Ingram and most major publishers use the Headings in a variety of ways.Return to top
How do I get a copy of the BISAC Subject Headings list?
With the release of version 2.9, BISG enabled the entire list to be reviewed on the website free-of-charge.Organizations whose needs exceed the free online look-up service and/or who require a way to incorporate the list into their internal systems and databases can purchase the licensed version in Word, Excel and PDF file formats for an annual fee.
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Do I have to pay for the BISAC Subject Heading List?
If your company is a member of BISG, the Headings list free as part of your membership benefits. A nominal fee is charged to non-members.Return to top
Who can create BISAC Subject Headings?
The Headings list is maintained by BISG's Subject Codes Committee consisting of members of BISG interested in the intellectual challenge of creating, revising and amending an authority list of terms for the industry. Terms and codes not appearing in the official list authorized by the Committee would not be considered BISAC Subject Headings.Return to top
If I need a heading that is not in the list, what can be done?
The Subject Codes Committee considers all requests from members of BISG and the industry at large for topical content currently not covered by the terms in the Headings list. Please email the Committee Chair, Connie Harbison at bisac_subjectcodes@bisg.org with suggestions.Return to top
How do I determine the value for a BISAC Subject Heading?
Once you have determined the appropriate descriptor, you need the official BISAC Subject Headings list in order to determine the nine-character code for that term. To do this most effectively, you should use the Excel version of the Headings list: find the descriptor and then refer to Column A to find the code.Return to top
Are there definitions for the various subjects headings?
As a general rule, the 3000+ subjects are not defined. The Committee attempts to create clear and succinct subject descriptors that are not duplicative within the list. Definitions and guidelines are provided at the major subject level. (See the Specific Usage Notes section of the BISAC Subject Headings list for guidelines specific to each major subject.)Return to top
Are there standards for the placement of the subject on the book?
At this time, there are no such guidelines. The subject descriptor may be placed on the book in a convenient place based on the design of the book, but does not need to be placed on the book at all. It is recommended that the nine-character code not be placed on the book or in catalogs - the code is merely designed for EDI exchange of information about the book. If it is desired to reference the subject heading represented by the code, use the descriptor itself, e.g., "BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Presidents & Heads of State". Because of its length, it is not advisable to connect the term to the barcode, although it may be placed near the barcode. The most useful position would be the lower left-hand corner of the back cover or jacket cover.Return to top
How do I find the BISAC Subject Heading for a specific book?
The first step in determining the proper code for a book would be to identify which of the 50 major areas within the list is most appropriate for the title. Once that section is identified, look for the term that most closely fits the content of the book. If the title has numerous facets, it is recommended that the process be repeated for other relevant major sections.If database systems are sophisticated enough, a recommendation is to do a Keyword or Find search on the entire list in order to identify all the terms that may be appropriate for the book. This is especially effective if it is difficult to determine the proper major section for the term one imagines would be used. This will also help alert the user to cases where similar subjects appear in different sections to reflect different ways of approaching the topic (e.g., "HEALTH & FITNESS / Sexuality", "PSYCHOLOGY / Human Sexuality", "RELIGION / Sexuality & Gender Studies", "SELF-HELP / Sexual Instruction", not to mention related subjects under JUVENILE FICTION, JUVENILE NONFICTION, and SOCIAL SCIENCE).
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How do I find the descriptor for a specific BISAC Subject Heading?
If you know the code but not its meaning, you will need a copy of the BISAC Subject Heading List. The first step is to find the proper major section by using the first three letters of the code. The first three letters are a mnemonic representation of the section name, e.g., COM for the COMPUTERS section, HIS for the HISTORY section, and TRV for the TRAVEL section. The exception is BODY, MIND & SPIRIT, which uses codes beginning with OCC due to the former name of the section.
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What do I do with the cross-references?
Use of the cross-reference terms (which only appear in the Word version) will vary according to the database and other infrastructure within which the terms are used. The cross-reference terms are designed to assist an individual searching for the proper term in finding its location within the overall list. Cross-references generally describe alternative ways of thinking about the content of a title or represent subjects that have had their literals changed and have been re-sequenced.Return to top
What do I do if I have a question that is not answered here?
Please feel free to email the Committee Chair at bisac_subjectcodes@bisg.org. The Chair will do their best to answer your question based on the full Committee's collective experience.Return to top
PUBLISHER ISSUES
- Who on my staff should apply the subject to the title?
- How many subject headings can I use per title?
- What are the benefits of using BISAC Subject Headings?
- How do I tell my trading partner which code applies to my books?
- I already categorize my titles for my catalogs and jackets; how should the BISAC Subject Headings be related?
- Do I need to print the codes or the descriptors on my book?
- How do I find the BISAC Subject Heading for a specific book?
- I notice many of the subheadings use the term "General"; how do I use those terms?
- How do retailers use the codes; do they all use the same codes?
- What do I do with the cross-references?
Who on my staff should apply the subject to the title?
The best person to assign the codes to your titles is the person who knows the most about the content of the book. Most likely this will be the editor or, perhaps, a marketing department associate.Return to top
How many subject headings can I use per title?
The Committee recommends from one to three headings depending on the complexity of the title. In truth the answer to the question is dependent on your system and that of your trading partners - theoretically an unlimited number of headings may be used.There are at least three philosophical approaches to assigning headings. Some users prefer to apply the most specific code possible within each major subject area, blocking any terms that are hierarchically broader. For example, if "HISTORY / Military / World War I" has been chosen, "HISTORY / Military / General" would not be used by those that follow this philosophy.
A second approach would be to apply the World War I term, plus "HISTORY / Military / General" and perhaps "HISTORY / Modern / 20th Century".
A third philosophy is to apply a code that represents a best-selling category of materials in the hopes the new title will ride the coattails of the best-selling category. This is not recommended if that category is not appropriate for the work in question.
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What are the benefits of using BISAC Subject Headings?
BISAC Subject Headings:- Provide the publisher with the opportunity to tell the retailer and the general book trade of the primary and secondary store sections within which the title will best fit (and, hopefully, sell best). There is further benefit in that the language of this suggestion is standardized.
- Assist retailers in getting the titles on the shelf more quickly.
- Provide an electronically compatible method of describing the content of the book.
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How do I tell my trading partner which code applies to my books?
The best way is to use the ONIX protocol, an XML document designed to convey metadata about books between trading partners. For details on ONIX, see the documentation on the BISG website. Some of your trading partners may have other electronic vehicles that include elements for the BSHL code.Return to top
I already categorize my titles for my catalogs and jackets; how should the BISAC Subject Headings be related?
The Committee recognizes that many publishers have long-standing marketing and merchandising subject-oriented syntax. For those who do not want to abandon these, it is suggested that the proprietary syntax be mapped to the BISAC Subject Heading List. Since most proprietary syntax will be far less detailed than the BSHL, this will result in the use of only a small portion of the list. A suggestion would be that the first code sent in messages is based on the internal mappings while subsequent codes are used to provide more detailed BISAC Subject Headings.Return to top
Do I need to print the codes or the descriptors on my book?
Printing the descriptors is a very good idea although not an official recommendation at this time due to the desire on the part of most publishers to continue use of their traditional merchandising syntax. An idealistic view of the future would have all publishers using the BISAC Subject Headings as the basis of their merchandising syntax and thus print them in catalogs and on books.Return to top
How do I find the BISAC Subject Heading for a specific book?
See discussion under same query in the GENERAL TOPICS section.Return to top
I notice many of the subheadings use the term "General"; how do I use those terms?
"General" occurs as the first second-level term in all major sections except NON-CLASSIFIABLE (e.g., "HISTORY / General"). It is also used as a third-level term within tree structures that have been built (e.g., "HISTORY / Africa / General"). The "General" terms can be applied in either of two ways. First, and most obvious, the heading should be used for books covering the topic at the broadest level. Second, it can be used for books of a very narrow scope that cannot be better described by one of the other terms within the relevant tree or section.Return to top
How do retailers use the codes; do they all use the same codes?
Retailers use the codes in a variety of ways:- Assist in shelving the book with others of a similar topic. Some retailers have developed mappings between the BISAC Subject Heading List and their store sections, so that any title on a given topic is always initially shelved in the same section.
- Online and automated retailers use the subjects as searching terms in order to assist the consumer in finding titles on topics of interest. Some retailers use the terms directly; others map them to their own merchandising schema.
- All retailers should use the same official list of codes - although if they were mapping the codes to an internal schema, the mapping itself would vary.
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What do I do with the cross-references?
See discussion on this topic in the GENERAL TOPICS section.Return to top
RETAILER ISSUES
- What are the benefits of using BISAC Subject Headings?
- My store sections are well established; how do I factor in the use of BISAC Subject Headings?
- How do I map my current store sections to BISAC Subject Headings?
- What do I do with the cross-references?
What are the benefits of using BISAC Subject Headings?
- BISAC Subject Headings facilitate consistent shelving and merchandising of similar material in your store.
- If the store is automated, the BISAC Subject Headings can be added to the store database and provide a more granular searching mechanism to assist customer service in finding the proper book for the customer.
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My store sections are well established; how do I factor in the use of BISAC Subject Headings?
It would be most appropriate to map the Subject Headings to store sections, e.g., "HISTORY / Africa / West" might well be mapped to the History section. On the other hand, your store may have an African Studies section and you may wish to map the subject to that area.Return to top
How do I map my current store sections to BISAC Subject Headings?
A review of the complete BISAC Subject Heading List is in order. Examine each term from "ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / General" through "TRUE CRIME / Organized Crime" and then determine the appropriate subject heading to which each store section would be mapped.Return to top
What do I do with the cross-references?
See discussion on this topic in the GENERAL TOPICS section.Return to top
VERSION MANAGEMENT
- What is the latest version of the BISAC Subject Heading List?
- What happens if my trading partner is not using the same version that I am?
- What happens if I do not deactivate the inactivated codes?
- What should I do about titles previously coded with inactive codes?
What is the latest version of the BISAC Subject Heading List?
The 2012 Edition, which was approved in September 2012 and posted in November 2012, is the latest version.Return to top
What happens if my trading partner is not using the same version that I am?
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 the receiver is using an older version, then he must either update his database or discard new codes with which he is not familiar.
- If the receiver is using a newer version, then he has the option of discarding or accepting any inactivated codes that are transmitted to him.
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What happens if I do not deactivate the inactivated codes?
The Subject Codes Committee anticipates that most users would not re-categorize backlist. After all, in due time, most titles with inactivated codes will go out of print and the codes will retire with the books.Receivers of inactivated codes have a decision to make. They must decide whether to maintain such codes, often leading to duplication or near duplication within their subject database, or they must re-categorize titles in the database with such codes.
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What should I do about titles previously coded with inactive codes?
Ideally, it would be appropriate to re-categorize these titles, particularly if they will stay in print for a number of years - although as noted above, we recognize that this is not always practical, especially for users with large databases. Maintaining such codes in an in-house database is a viable option. However, if the codes are to be sent to trading partners, bringing the codes up to date is preferable.Return to top