BISAC SUBJECT HEADINGS
Usage Notes for the 2007 Edition
Approved: September 28, 2007
Posted: October 23, 2007
 

 

General Usage Notes | Specific Usage Notes | BISAC Subject Headings HOME PAGE

 

 

General Usage Notes for the 2007 Edition

The BISAC Subject Heading List was developed by Book Industry Standards and Communications (BISAC), the main standards forum of the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), to standardize the electronic transfer of subject information.  BISAC subjects can be used for transmitting information between trading partners, as an access point for database searching, and as a shelving guide.

 BISAC subjects describe the topical content of a book and do not cover non-content-oriented ways of grouping titles (such as "gift books").  Other fields in BISAC communications formats (language, audience, age range, grade range, format/binding/packaging, supplementary format/binding/packaging, merchandising themes) are available to help describe a book in ways not covered by the subject list.  Since merchandising themes are closely related to subjects, the themes and codes used in this field are included at the end of the Subject Heading Package (along with usage instructions).

 Each BISAC subject consists of a 9-character code of the form AAA###### and a literal of the form SECTION NAME / Subheading (with further subheadings possible).  The first three characters of a code represent the section.  The next three characters were initially designed to hierarchically connect subheadings and subsubheadings within a section – but while most codes retain this structure, hierarchy cannot always be inferred from a code.  For example, while most literals beginning with "HISTORY / Africa" are associated with codes beginning with HIS001, "HISTORY / Africa / South / Republic of South Africa" is coded as HIS047000 (because the literal for this code was "HISTORY / South Africa" in an earlier version of the subject list).  To lessen the need for users to re-code data, existing codes are retained when a literal is changed and remains in the same section (even if the literal is "re-hierarchized").  When a change to a literal involves moving it to another section, the old code is inactivated, a new code is created, and re-coding of data is required.

 Codes are intended for EDI use.  Literals are intended for print/display purposes and should be treated as complete units (a section name should not appear without subheading(s) and vice versa).  Note that parenthetical see alsos shown after the "assignable literal" should not be output as part of the subject.

 Users should assign the most precise subject(s) applicable and do so in order of importance.  Each section has "General" as its first subheading for cases where no specific subheading applies (there is no need to assign the "General" subject if a more specific subject in that section has been assigned).

 The maximum number of subjects allowed per ISBN depends on the data structure housing the record.  While users may assign one subject, multiple subjects allow one to:

  • Describe a book that covers more than one topic: e.g., a book about agnosticism and atheism could get "REL001000 RELIGION / Agnosticism" and "REL004000 RELIGION / Atheism".

  • Describe a book in different ways: e.g., an inspirational biography of a baseball player could get "BIO016000 BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Sports", "SPO003000 SPORTS / Baseball / General" and "REL036000 RELIGION / Inspirational".

  • Expand on the first code: e.g., a book on the history of photojournalism, a book on how to be a photojournalist, and a book on a particular photojournalist would all get "PHO015000 PHOTOGRAPHY / Photojournalism", but they could also get "PHO010000 PHOTOGRAPHY / History", "PHO018000 PHOTOGRAPHY / Techniques / General" or "PHO011000 PHOTOGRAPHY / Individual Photographer".

 The JUVENILE FICTION and JUVENILE NONFICTION sections contain subjects for classifying titles aimed at children.  Juvenile works should not be assigned subjects from any other sections.

 The last subject listed ("NON000000 NON-CLASSIFIABLE") is for items that have no subject content (such as blank books).  Do not use this code just to populate the subject field – NON000000 means that subjects are not applicable to an item.  If you cannot find an appropriate subject, leave the subject field blank.

 BISG encourages recommendations for subject updates as well as participation in other standards committees.  Please contact BISG at (646) 336-714.  The subject committee can be e-mailed directly at bisac_subjectcodes@bisg.org.

 

Specific Usage Notes for the 2007 Edition

Following is a list of the 51 sections in the BISAC Subject Heading List with usage notes added for sections where it was thought some explanation was needed.  The notes pertain either to the intended scope of an entire section or to specific subjects within a section.

 All sections are listed, whether or not there are notes for that section.

 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES

Use subjects in this section for works about collecting the objects specified and/or for works on the history of these objects if they are not covered in other sections (such as ART).  For works discussing the techniques used to make the objects listed in this section, use subjects from the appropriate section (such as CRAFTS & HOBBIES).

 Multiple subjects may be used to describe a work fully: for example, a book about the restoration of antique furniture could be assigned "ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Furniture" and "ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Care & Restoration".

 ARCHITECTURE

Use subjects in this section for historical works and/or for works aimed at architects or design professionals.  For similar works aimed at nonprofessionals, use subjects in the HOUSE & HOME section.  For works concerning the technical or trade aspects of construction, use subjects beginning with "TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Construction".

 ART

Use subjects in this section for historical works or for works discussing technique from a fine art (as opposed to craft) viewpoint.  For works about collecting art or art objects, use subjects in the ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES section.  For works discussing technique from a craft viewpoint, use subjects in the CRAFTS & HOBBIES section.

 Use subjects beginning with "ART / Techniques" for works on the techniques involved within a given discipline and use subjects beginning with "ART / History" for works consisting largely of reproductions of artworks and/or works on the history of art.  Be aware that some disciplines have an unsubdivided term and a related term beginning with "ART / Techniques" (e.g., "ART / Sculpture" and "ART / Techniques / Sculpting"). In these cases, the unsubdivided term should be used for pictorials and works on the history of that discipline and not for books on technique.

 Subjects beginning with "ART / Subjects & Themes" are generally meant to be used for works discussing and/or illustrating the subjects and themes specified; however, these subjects can also be assigned to works on the techniques used to produce art depicting these subjects and themes.  If a subject beginning with "ART / Subjects & Themes" is used in this way, it is recommended that a subject beginning with "ART / Techniques" be assigned as well.

 Subjects beginning with "ART / History" may be used for works on the history of Western or non-Western art. The fact that some subjects beginning with "ART / History" only apply to Western art does not mean that all subjects beginning with "ART / History" only apply to Western art.  Subjects such as "ART / African", "ART / Asian" or "ART / European" can also be assigned, and should especially be assigned when this information is not implied by an "ART / History" subject.

Use "ART / Color Theory" for theoretical works on color and use "ART / Techniques / Color" for practical works on techniques for using color in art.

 Use "ART / Design / Textile & Costume" for works about fabrics and costume and use "ART / Fashion" for works about style and clothing.

 BIBLES

Use subjects in this section only for those collections of sacred writings of Christianity that comprise the Old Testament and/or the New Testament.  For works about specific aspects of the Bible, use subjects beginning with "RELIGION / Biblical Biography", "RELIGION / Biblical Commentary", "RELIGION / Biblical Criticism & Interpretation", "RELIGION / Biblical Meditations", "RELIGION / Biblical Reference", or "RELIGION / Biblical Studies".

 For Bibles that include a number of translations, use subjects beginning with "BIBLES / Multiple Translations".  If the Bible translation needed is not specifically included by name, use subjects beginning with "BIBLES / Other Translations".

 Juvenile Bibles should be assigned subjects within the BIBLES section of the appropriate translation followed by the subsubheading "Children" or "Youth & Teen".  Individual stories from the Bible geared toward juveniles should be assigned "JUVENILE NONFICTION / Religion / Biblical Stories".

BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY

[no notes]

BODY, MIND & SPIRIT

[no notes]

BUSINESS & ECONOMICS

Use economic-oriented subjects in this section for works discussing economics from a theoretical or historical viewpoint.  For works discussing economic policy, use economic-oriented subjects in the POLITICAL SCIENCE section.

Use "BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Management" for works on the principles of management and use "BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Management Science" for works on the application of systemic, logical, and mathematical methods to solve managerial problems.

Use subjects beginning with "BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / E-Commerce" for works discussing the business aspects of electronic commerce and use "COMPUTERS / Electronic Commerce" for works on the computer skills and technology needed to facilitate electronic commerce.

 COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

Use subjects in this section for works of sequential illustration in the style commonly associated with "comic books" or "comic strips."

 Use subjects beginning with "JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels" and "JUVENILE NONFICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels" for such works aimed at young readers.

 Use subjects beginning "COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga" for works initially published in Asian territories, or for works published in the style of such Asian works.

 COMPUTERS

Use "COMPUTERS / Electronic Commerce" for works on the computer skills and technology needed to facilitate electronic commerce and use subjects beginning with "BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / E-Commerce" for works discussing the business aspects of electronic commerce.

 COOKING

Multiple subjects may be used to describe a work fully: for example, a book about low-salt Chinese seafood cooking could be assigned "COOKING / Regional & Ethnic / Chinese", "COOKING / Health & Healing / Low Salt" and "COOKING / Specific Ingredients / Seafood".

 CRAFTS & HOBBIES

Use subjects in this section for works discussing technique from a craft (as opposed to fine art) viewpoint and/or for works on the history of the objects specified if they are not covered in other sections (such as ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES or ART).  For works discussing technique from a fine art viewpoint, use subjects in the ART section.

 Use "CRAFTS & HOBBIES / Woodworking" for works on small-scale woodworking aimed at hobbyists and use "HOUSE & HOME / Woodworking" for works dealing mainly with large-scale household projects.

 DRAMA

Use subjects in this section only for dramatic works written for the stage.  Subjects may be used alone (for individual works or collections by one author) or with "DRAMA / Anthologies (multiple authors)".

 Critical works should be assigned "LITERARY CRITICISM / Drama" and any other subjects needed in the LITERARY CRITICISM section (and should not be assigned any subjects in the DRAMA section).  Note the existence of the subheading "Shakespeare" in both the DRAMA and LITERARY CRITICISM sections.

 Use subjects beginning with "PERFORMING ARTS / Theater" for works on drama as performed on the stage and use "PERFORMING ARTS / Screenplays" for dramatic works written for film or television.

 EDUCATION

Subjects beginning with "EDUCATION / Teaching Methods & Materials" are intended for works discussing methods of teaching the subject specified or for materials used for teaching that subject.  For works discussing methods of studying and/or teaching a topic not covered under "EDUCATION / Teaching Methods & Materials", use the "Study & Teaching" subheading in the appropriate section (such as ARCHITECTURE).  If a topic is represented in both places, use subjects beginning with "EDUCATION / Teaching Methods & Materials" to cover works discussing teaching through secondary school level and use "Study & Teaching" subheadings for higher level works.

 Use "EDUCATION / Study Skills" for general works about studying and use subjects in the STUDY AIDS section or in other sections for works on studying for specific tests or for works about specific topics.

 FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

Use subjects in this section for works written to help people deal with issues involving child rearing or relationships.  For scholarly works, serious lay studies, or works aimed at psychology professionals, use subjects in the PSYCHOLOGY section.  For works written from a sociological viewpoint, use subjects in the SOCIAL SCIENCE section.

 FICTION

Use subjects in this section only for individual works of fiction or for collections of fiction.  Critical works should be assigned subjects in the LITERARY CRITICISM section (and should not be assigned any subjects in the FICTION section).

 "FICTION / Anthologies (multiple authors)" and "FICTION / Short Stories (single author)" may be used with other subjects as appropriate: for example, a collection of ghost stories by several authors could be assigned "FICTION / Ghost" and "FICTION / Anthologies (multiple authors)" (it is recommended that the subject describing the genre be assigned first).  Note that several genres have a subsubheading of "Short Stories", thus lessening the need for multiple coding.

 Because the FICTION section is arranged by genre, if a geographic breakdown is desired for a collection of fiction, subjects may be assigned in both the FICTION and LITERARY COLLECTIONS sections.

 "FICTION / Classics" and "FICTION / Literary" should be used at the classifier's discretion to denote works generally considered to be classics or of literary value.

 Use "FICTION / Media Tie-In" when a new ISBN is created and this ISBN represents one of the following:

  • a work (or works) of fiction re-issued because of a movie/television show

  • a novelization of a movie

  • a novelization (or collection of stories) based on an episode (or episodes) of a television show

  • an original story (or collection of stories) using characters or settings from (or based on) a movie/television show

Existing ISBNs that become the basis for a movie or television show do not have to be re-coded.  It is recommended that when "FICTION / Media Tie-In" is used, another subject be assigned as well.

 FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDY

Use subjects in this section for works about the languages specified, whether these works are of an instructional, historical, or linguistic nature.  Do not use subjects in this section to indicate the language of a work: works should be classified based on their subject content without regard to the language in which they are written (of course, if a work is about a language and written in that language, a subject in this section should be assigned).

 GAMES

[no notes]

 GARDENING

Use subjects in this section for works on practical operations in the cultivation of fruits, vegetable, flowers, and ornamental plants.  For works on the commercial cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and ornamental plants, use "SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Horticulture".  For works aimed at farmers or agronomists, use subjects beginning with "TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Agriculture".

 Under the "Regional" subheading, state abbreviations have been provided as a guide, but users should not feel constrained by them.  For example, CA is found in the "West (AK, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY)" subsubheading, but a book dealing specifically with northern California could be assigned the "Pacific Northwest (OR, WA)" subsubheading.  Similarly, all of Canada is covered by one subsubheading, but a book dealing with British Columbia could also be assigned the "Pacific Northwest (OR, WA)" subsubheading.

 HEALTH & FITNESS

Use subjects in this section for works aimed at nonprofessionals.  For scholarly works and/or works aimed at medical or health care professionals, use subjects in the MEDICAL section.

 Subjects beginning with "HEALTH & FITNESS / Diseases" are intended for popular works that discuss preventing or coping with a specific disease (or type of disease) and/or for popular works describing the experiences of people with a specific disease (or type of disease).  For scholarly or professional works discussing diseases, use subjects in the MEDICAL section that pertain to the branch of medicine that studies the disease in question (if no specific branch of medicine applies, use subjects in the MEDICAL section for the specific disease or type of disease): for example, a textbook about cancer would be assigned "MEDICAL / Oncology"; a clinical work on AIDS research would be assigned "MEDICAL / AIDS & HIV".

 HISTORY

Multiple subjects in this and other sections may be used to describe a work fully: for example, a book about the Spanish Civil War could be assigned "HISTORY / Europe / Spain & Portugal" and "HISTORY / Military / Other"; a book about U.S. diplomacy in the 19th century could be assigned "HISTORY / United States / 19th Century" and "POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / Diplomacy".

 HOUSE & HOME

Use subjects in this section for works aimed at nonprofessionals.  For historical works and/or works aimed at architects or design professionals, use subjects in the ARCHITECTURE section.  For works concerning the technical or trade aspects of construction, use subjects beginning with "TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Construction".

 Use "HOUSE & HOME / Woodworking" for works dealing mainly with large-scale household projects and use "CRAFTS & HOBBIES / Woodworking" for works on small-scale woodworking aimed at hobbyists.

 HUMOR

Use subjects in this section only for individual works of humor or for collections of humor.  Critical works should be assigned "LITERARY CRITICISM / Humor" and any other subjects needed in the LITERARY CRITICISM section (and should not be assigned any subjects in the HUMOR section).

 

Subjects containing the subheading "Form" and subjects containing the subheading "Topic" may both be assigned to the same work as needed.

 JUVENILE FICTION

Works of juvenile fiction should be assigned subjects in this section only.  Collections containing both juvenile fiction and juvenile nonfiction may also be assigned subjects in the JUVENILE NONFICTION section.

 Critical works intended for adults should be assigned "LITERARY CRITICISM / Children's Literature" and any other subjects needed in the LITERARY CRITICISM section (and should not be assigned any subjects in the JUVENILE FICTION section).  Critical works intended for children should be assigned "JUVENILE NONFICTION / Literary Criticism & Collections".

 Use "JUVENILE FICTION / Media Tie-In" when a new ISBN is created and this ISBN represents one of the following:

  • a work (or works) of fiction re-issued because of a movie/television show

  • a novelization of a movie

  • a novelization (or collection of stories) based on an episode (or episodes) of a television show

  • an original story (or collection of stories) using characters or settings from (or based on) a movie/television show

Existing ISBNs that become the basis for a movie or television show do not have to be re-coded.  It is recommended that when "JUVENILE FICTION / Media Tie-In" is used, another subject be assigned as well.

 JUVENILE NONFICTION

Works of juvenile nonfiction should be assigned subjects in this section only.  Collections containing both juvenile nonfiction and juvenile fiction may also be assigned subjects in the JUVENILE FICTION section.

 "Drama" and "Poetry" subheadings for juvenile works are found in this section, as well as the subheading "Literary Criticism & Collections".

 Critical works intended for adults should be assigned "LITERARY CRITICISM / Children's Literature" and any other subjects needed in the LITERARY CRITICISM section (and should not be assigned any subjects in the JUVENILE NONFICTION section).  Critical works intended for children should be assigned "JUVENILE NONFICTION / Literary Criticism & Collections".

 LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES

Use subjects in this section for general works on language, for works about the English language in particular, or for works on disciplines closely related to language arts.  For works about specific languages other than English, or about English as a second language, use subjects in the FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDY section.

 LAW

[no notes]

 LITERARY COLLECTIONS

Use subjects in this section for collections that include two or more literary forms (e.g., fiction and poetry) or consist of a literary form that does not have its own section (e.g., essays).  Collections of works in a literary form that has its own section (drama, fiction, juvenile fiction, juvenile nonfiction, poetry) should be assigned subjects in the appropriate section.

 Because the FICTION section is arranged by genre, if a geographic breakdown is desired for a collection of fiction, an exception to the above rule can be made and subjects may be assigned in both the FICTION and LITERARY COLLECTIONS sections.

 LITERARY CRITICISM

Works of literary criticism should be assigned subjects in this section only and not assigned subjects in sections designed for works written in a specific literary form (e.g., DRAMA).  Criticism of drama, poetry, or children's literature should be assigned "LITERARY CRITICISM / Drama", "LITERARY CRITICISM / Poetry" or "LITERARY CRITICISM / Children's Literature", respectively, along with any other subjects needed in this section.  Criticism of certain genres of fiction is also represented.

 MATHEMATICS

[no notes]

 MEDICAL

Use subjects in this section for scholarly works and/or for works aimed at medical or health care professionals.  For works aimed at nonprofessionals, use subjects in the HEALTH & FITNESS section.

 Scholarly or professional works discussing diseases should be assigned subjects in this section that pertain to the branch of medicine that studies the disease in question (if no specific branch of medicine applies, use subjects in this section for the specific disease or type of disease): for example, a textbook about cancer would be assigned "MEDICAL / Oncology"; a clinical work on AIDS research would be assigned "MEDICAL / AIDS & HIV".  Subjects beginning with "HEALTH & FITNESS / Diseases" are intended for popular works that discuss preventing or coping with a specific disease (or type of disease) and/or for popular works describing the experiences of people with a specific disease (or type of disease).

 Use "MEDICAL / History" for works on the history of medicine and use "MEDICAL / Medical History & Records" for works dealing with the medical history and records of patients.

 Use "MEDICAL / Nursing / Home & Community Care" for works on nursing that occurs outside of a traditional medical facility (either at a patient's home or within the community) and use "MEDICAL / Nursing Home Care" for works on nursing homes and nursing home care.

 MUSIC

Multiple subjects may be used to describe a work fully: for example, a discography of folk music could be assigned "MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Folk & Traditional" and "MUSIC / Discography & Buyer's Guides".

 NATURE

For subheadings that overlap those in the SCIENCE section, use subjects in this section for works aimed at a lay audience and use subjects in the SCIENCE section for scholarly works and/or works aimed at professionals.

 PERFORMING ARTS

Use subjects beginning with "PERFORMING ARTS / Theater" for works on drama as performed on the stage and use "PERFORMING ARTS / Screenplays" for dramatic works written for film or television.  Use subjects in the DRAMA section for dramatic works written for the stage.

 PETS

[no notes]

 PHILOSOPHY

[no notes]

 PHOTOGRAPHY

Multiple subjects in this and other sections may be used to describe a work fully: for example, a book of Mexican travel photography could be assigned "TRAVEL / Mexico" and "PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Regional".

 Subjects beginning with "PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes" are generally meant to be used for works containing photographs relating to the subjects and themes specified; however, these subjects can also be used for works on the techniques used to take photographs of these subjects and themes.  If a subject beginning with "PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes" is used in this way, it is recommended that a subject beginning with "PHOTOGRAPHY / Techniques" be assigned as well.

 POETRY

Use subjects in this section only for poetic works.  Subjects may be used alone (for individual works or collections by one author) or with "POETRY / Anthologies (multiple authors)".  Note that as of Version 2.2, the geographic subheadings in this section are available for single-author or multiple-author collections.

 Critical works should be assigned "LITERARY CRITICISM / Poetry" and any other subjects needed in the LITERARY CRITICISM section (and should not be assigned any subjects in the POETRY section).

 POLITICAL SCIENCE

Use economic-oriented subjects in this section for works discussing economic policy.  For works discussing economics from a theoretical or historical viewpoint, use economic-oriented subjects in the BUSINESS & ECONOMICS section.

 Multiple subjects in this and other sections may be used to describe a work fully: for example, a book about the 2004 U.S. presidential election could be assigned "POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Process / Elections" and "HISTORY / United States / 21st Century".

 Use "POLITICAL SCIENCE / Public Policy / Social Services & Welfare" for works dealing with government administration of social programs and use "SOCIAL SCIENCE / Social Work" for works of an instructional, theoretical, or historical nature.

 PSYCHOLOGY

Use subjects in this section for scholarly works, serious lay studies, or works aimed at psychology professionals.  For works primarily intended to help people deal with personal issues or problems, use subjects in the FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS or SELF-HELP sections.

 REFERENCE

Use subjects in this section for works of a general nature or for works about the topics found in this section (note that there is a subheading "Reference" in most other sections and some sections also have a subheading "Dictionaries & Terminology").

 Subjects in this section may be used with those in other sections for reference works on topics not found in this section, but it is recommended that topical subjects be assigned first: for example, a bibliography of medical books could be assigned "MEDICAL / Reference" and "REFERENCE / Bibliographies & Indexes"; a bibliography of books about pediatrics could be assigned "MEDICAL / Pediatrics", "MEDICAL / Reference" and "REFERENCE / Bibliographies & Indexes".

 RELIGION

This section consists of subjects dealing with religions and religious topics, with several religions having topical subsubheadings.  For cases where a topical subsubheading needed is not found under a specific religion, it is recommended that the topical subheading be assigned first, followed by the specific religion to which this topic pertains.  For example, "RELIGION / Fundamentalism" would be assigned first, followed by "RELIGION / Christianity / General" or "RELIGION / Islam / General" (as appropriate).

 Use subjects in the BIBLES section for versions of the Bible and use subjects beginning with "RELIGION / Biblical Biography", "RELIGION / Biblical Commentary", "RELIGION / Biblical Criticism & Interpretation", "RELIGION / Biblical Meditations", "RELIGION / Biblical Reference", or "RELIGION / Biblical Studies" for works about the Bible.

 SCIENCE

For subheadings that overlap those in the NATURE section, use subjects in this section for scholarly works and/or works aimed at professionals and use subjects in the NATURE section for works aimed at a lay audience.

 For subheadings that overlap those in the TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING section, use subjects in this section for works of a theoretical or historical nature and use subjects in the TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING section for works dealing with practical applications.

 SELF-HELP

Use subjects in this section for works on personal growth, or works aimed at helping people deal with personal problems, including mental illnesses and dependencies.  For works written to help people deal with issues involving child rearing or relationships, use subjects in the FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS section.  For scholarly works, serious lay studies, or works aimed at psychology professionals, use subjects in the PSYCHOLOGY section.

 SOCIAL SCIENCE

For subheadings that overlap those in the FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS section, use subjects in this section for works written from a sociological viewpoint and use subjects in the FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS section for works written to help people deal with issues involving child rearing or relationships.

 Use "SOCIAL SCIENCE / Criminology" for works discussing the causes, detection, and prevention of crime and use subjects in the TRUE CRIME section for historical works and/or works primarily intended for the general public.

 Use "SOCIAL SCIENCE / Social Work" for works of an instructional, theoretical, or historical nature and use "POLITICAL SCIENCE / Public Policy / Social Services & Welfare" for works dealing with government administration of social programs.

 SPORTS & RECREATION

[no notes]

 STUDY AIDS

Use subjects in this section for works on the tests (or types of tests) listed, for study aids about the topics listed, for works of the type listed, or for works written to help an individual select an institute of higher education and finance his or her education.  For general works about studying, use "EDUCATION / Study Skills".

 Subjects in this section may be used with those in other sections for study aids on topics not found in this section, but it is recommended that topical subjects be assigned first: for example, a work about studying for an advanced placement test in calculus could be assigned "MATHEMATICS / Calculus" and "STUDY AIDS / Advanced Placement".

 TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING

For subheadings that overlap those in the SCIENCE section, use subjects in this section for works dealing with practical applications and use subjects in the SCIENCE section for works of a theoretical or historical nature.

 Use subjects beginning with "TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Agriculture" for works aimed at farmers or agronomists (or for general works on the specified topics).  For works on practical operations in the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants, use subjects in the GARDENING section.  For works on the commercial cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and ornamental plants, use "SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Horticulture".

 Use subjects beginning with "TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Construction" for works concerning the technical or trade aspects of construction.  For historical works and/or works aimed at architects or design professionals, use subjects in the ARCHITECTURE section.  For similar works aimed at nonprofessionals, use subjects in the HOUSE & HOME section.

 TRANSPORTATION

[no notes]

 TRAVEL

Multiple subjects in this and other sections may be used to describe a work fully: for example, a book about family-oriented bed and breakfasts in Canada could be assigned "TRAVEL / Canada / General", "TRAVEL / Bed & Breakfast" and "TRAVEL / Special Interest / Family".

 TRUE CRIME

Use subjects in this section for historical works and/or works primarily intended for the general public.  For works discussing the causes, detection, and prevention of crime, use "SOCIAL SCIENCE / Criminology".

 NON-CLASSIFIABLE

Use this subject for works that are not, by their nature, classifiable by subject (such as blank books).  Do not use this subject for works that you have not yet classified, do not know what the classification is, or for which you cannot find the appropriate classification (in those cases, do not assign any subject).

 Please note that the BISAC Subject Headings List is governed by the following copyright notice.

 
 ã 2007, Book Industry Study Group, Inc.
 
 All rights reserved.  No part of the attached documents may be distributed or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the Book Industry Study Group, Inc.