BISAC Audience Codes
 
  What are the BISAC Audience Codes?
The BISAC Audience Codes are used to pinpoint the intended reader of your book.
  Where can I find them?
There are currently two BISAC standards which can provide Audience Code values: the X.12 832 list and ONIX Code List 28.  Both have been quoted below for easy reference.
  Which list should I use?
You can determine which code list to use based on either your needs or the needs of your trading partners.

If you currently send and receive ONIX messages, you should choose your codes from the ONIX list, as the X.12 values will not be compatible with an ONIX message.  Similarly if you are using the X.12 message, ONIX values will not be compatible.

If your trading partners do not use either X.12 or ONIX, you should check with them to determine which values their systems are capable of sending/receiving.

However, if you have several different trading partners or are unsure as to which list to use, BISAC recommends taking your codes from the more-widely-used ONIX list.

  Can I use more than one Audience Code to describe a single book?
ONIX Best Practices recommends that only one Audience Code -- the one which best fits the work -- be supplied.
X.12 832 Audience Code List

Audience Code

 Description
COL College
JUV Juvenile
PSP Professional and Scholar
SCH Elementary/High School
TRA Trade
YA Young Adult

 

ONIX Code List 28 Audience Code List

Audience Code

 Description
01 General/Trade
02 Children/Juvenile
03 Young Adult
04 Primary & Secondary/Elementary & High school
05 College/Higher Education
06 Professional and Scholarly
07 English as a Second Language
08 Adult Education