BISG Updates BISAC Tiers, Pricing
BISG membership offers multiple benefits, including a seat at the table at any of our five standing committees, free or reduced-price access to BISG online and in-person events, and free access to a substantial library of resources and recorded educational webinars.
Organizational membership also includes a free download of the full BISAC code list, the book categorization standard that is updated annually by BISG's Subject Codes committee. Nonmembers can purchase access to the same download for a fee based on annual book-related revenues. The full code list can be reviewed on the BISG website without charge by members and non-members, alike.
At its October meeting, the BISG Board of Directors approved changes to the structure and pricing for downloads of the BISAC code list. These are the first changes in either structure or pricing in more than two decades, a period during which the code list has almost doubled in size.
The changes in structure align the fee tiers with those already in place for BISG membership. Individual members (levels A1, A2, and A3) are not eligible to download a copy of the BISAC code list, so the first BISAC tier is now Level B. Former levels D and E have been renamed E1 and E2, respectively, and two new tiers (levels F and G) have been added to match the corresponding membership levels.
The prices within these tiers have been increased for the first time in more than two decades, with new pricing added for levels F and G. The price increases for levels B through E2 are substantial, reflecting the significant value of the download for the organizations that access it. It also reflects the important role that BISAC plays in validating BISG membership as an option for both commercial and nonprofit organizations.
As a trade association serving the book industry, BISG relies on membership revenue to cover 80% or more of its annual expenditures. A variety of factors, including industry consolidation and the closure of some larger members, have placed pressure on membership as a primary source of revenue. While BISAC revenues won't make up for losses in membership revenue, understanding the value of the download can help, as it provides tangible benefits to the organizations that feature the code list in their own systems.
A higher price for BISAC downloads also conveys the value of membership. As outlined at the start of this post, the BISAC download is just one of several ways that BISG delivers value to its members. But there is a gap: BISAC users number in the thousands, while BISG membership counts fewer than 200 organizations and individuals.
Across webinars, events, and in our committees and working groups, membership is BISG's lifeblood, central to our success and continued ability to meet industry needs. Members will continue to enjoy free access to the BISAC download. Offering nearly 6,000 codes across 53 categories in Excel and Word formats, the download helps any organization quickly and reliably update its code list to reflect the current version.
The 2025 update to the code list will be published in mid-December, coinciding with a webinar update on December 16 led by Connie Harbison, who chairs the Subject Codes committee. The new pricing takes effect with this announcement and will apply to downloads of the new code list when it is made available. Questions about the new pricing structure or membership with BISG can be directed to info@bisg.org.