BISG Publishes An Updated Map of BISAC to Thema
In the time since the BISAC 2024 subject codes list was published in December 2024, a working group led by Michael Olenick (Clarivate) has been updating the map of BISAC to Thema 1.6. The update proved to be a significant effort, with over 1,600 changes made to the prior version, including identifying the right Thema codes for BISAC codes new to the 2024 edition, and identifying new Thema codes for existing BISAC subject codes.
In addition to mapping the changes to BISAC and Thema, the working group made more generous usage of Thema’s instructions that fiction/non-fiction and adult/children’s codes could be assigned together, always keeping the first Thema code appropriate to the BISAC section. The new map and updated instructions are ready now and included as part of the download package for the BISAC subject code list.
Anyone who downloaded a copy of the current subject codes list before the new map was ready has been sent an email with two attachments: the updated map, and instructions on how to use the map. These new files can replace the ones previously downloaded. If you purchased the list after December 15, 2024 and have not received the updated map, please contact BISG and we'll get you the new content.
In addition to Michael Olenick, the working group members included Connie Harbison (Baker & Taylor), Mike McDonnell (consultant), Mary Skiver (Ingram), and Tom Richardson (BookNet Canada). The group met frequently throughout the winter and spring to review and map more than 5,700 BISAC subject codes to the newest version of Thema, which was released last October.
If you have any questions about the map or how to use it, please let us know. The Thema working group is part of BISG's Subject Codes committee, which meets monthly to review and update the BISAC code list. The next version of BISAC is expected to be published in December 2025.