.@BookNet_Canada shares a summary of the changes and additions made to the BISAC Subject Headings List in 2022.
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The Book Industry Study Group (BISG) has published the 2022 update to its book publishing subject codes, often referred to as BISAC Subject Headings.

The updated BISAC subject list is available to purchase and download from BISG (it’s free for their members), but can also be accessed online by anyone for free.

For those of you new to BISAC, here’s a quick rundown: BISAC subject codes are updated each year in response to changing usage in the industry and requests submitted to the BISAC Subject Codes Committee. The best practice is to use the most current version of the BISAC subject list to classify both frontlist and backlist titles. If you’re a publisher, it’s typically a good idea to check with retailers before sending out changes, to ensure that their systems are up-to-date and can accept the new codes.

BISAC changes can come in a few different forms: sometimes the “literal” or descriptive text of a subject heading changes while the code remains the same. In other cases, codes are made inactive or new codes are added. Looking for the shorthand version? BookNet has your back. Keep reading for an overview of some of the key changes made in the 2022 edition, or you can see the core list of changes available here.

Reminder: update your systems!

You should update your systems to the latest version of BISAC as soon as it is released. Why, you ask? Problems can occur when trading partners are using different versions of the subject headings. As the BISAC FAQ attests:

We strongly encourage all trading partners to update to the most current version of the headings. 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 receivers are using an older version, then they must either update their database or ignore new headings with which they are not familiar. If receivers are using a newer version, then they have the option of discarding or accepting any inactivated headings that are transmitted to them.

Data senders do not want data recipients to ignore new headings. Data recipients want error-free records. Don’t delay, update today!

New codes and changes to the “literal” or descriptive text for select headings relating to Indigenous Peoples

There are a number of notable changes to the “literal” or descriptive text for select headings relating to Indigenous Peoples to better reflect Indigenous worldviews and offer a more respectful terminology.

Non-Fiction

DRA020000 DRAMA / Indigenous Peoples in the Americas. Changed from DRAMA / Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. Cross-referenced with DRAMA / Native American.
HIS028000 HISTORY / Indigenous Peoples in the Americas. Changed from HISTORY / Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. Cross-referenced with HISTORY / Native American.
LAW110000 LAW / Indigenous Law. Changed from LAW / Indigenous Peoples.
LCO013000 LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Indigenous Peoples in the Americas. Changed from LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. Cross-referenced with LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Native American.
LIT004060 LITERARY CRITICISM / Indigenous Peoples in the Americas. Changed from LITERARY CRITICISM / Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. Cross-referenced with LITERARY CRITICISM / Native American.
POE011010 POETRY / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island. Changed from POETRY / Canadian / Indigenous. Subsequently, POE011000’s literal changes to POETRY / Canadian (from POETRY / Canadian / General).

Juvenile & Young Adult

With the following codes changed:

JUV030090 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island / General. Changed from JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Canada / Indigenous. Cross-referenced from JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Canada / Indigenous. See headings under People & Places / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island.
JUV012080 JUVENILE FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / Indigenous Peoples in the Americas. Changed from JUVENILE FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. Cross-referenced with JUVENILE FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / Native American.
JNF038120 JUVENILE NONFICTION / People & Places / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island / General. Changed from JUVENILE NONFICTION / People & Places / Canada / Indigenous. Cross-referenced from JUVENILE NONFICTION / People & Places / Canada / Indigenous — see headings under People & Places / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island.

And the following new codes added:

JUV008160 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island. See also JUV008170 for JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Native American.
JUV030140 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island / Teachings
JNF038140 JUVENILE NONFICTION / People & Places / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island / Teachings & Traditions
YAF046170 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island
YAN038160 YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island

Antiques & Collectibles broadens the scope

Collectibles book collectors will be heartened to see new coverage under the “Antiques and Collectibles” major heading, with the following new codes added:

ANT057000 for ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Buying & Selling / General
ANT057010 for ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Buying & Selling / Auctions & Dealerships
ANT057020 for ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Buying & Selling / Estate Sales & Storage Units
ANT057030 for ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Buying & Selling / Flea Markets, Yard Sales, Thrift Shops, etc.
ANT057040 for ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Buying & Selling / Online Sales
ANT058000 for ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / General
ANT058010 for ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Animals
ANT058020 for ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Holidays
ANT027000 for ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Nautical (reactivating previously removed code ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Nautical)
ANT058030 for ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Religious
ANT039000 for ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Royalty (reactivating removed code ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Royalty)
ANT058040 for ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Trains

As well as changes to the following literals:

ANT001000 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Americana. Changed from ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Americana.
ANT054000 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Canadiana. Changed from ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Canadiana.
ANT024000 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Military. Changed from ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Military.
ANT025000 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Performing Arts. Changed from ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Performing Arts.
ANT031000 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Political. Changed from ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Political.
ANT052000 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Popular Culture. Changed from ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Popular Culture.
ANT043000 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Sports (see also headings under Sports Cards). Changed from ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Sports (see also headings under Sports Cards).
ANT055000 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Tobacco-Related. Changed from ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Tobacco-Related.
ANT009000 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Transportation. Changed from ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Transportation.
ANT050000 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Toys & Games. Changed from ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Toys.

And the following codes removed:

ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Royalty: books previously coded under this subheading should be re-coded to ANT052000 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Subjects & Themes / Popular Culture

Bibles get biblical

A slew of changes to the Bibles category include sub-headings under “Catholic Translations” and “Spanish Translations.” Rather than list all changes here, publishers may review the list of complete changes here.

New headings for Comics & Graphic Novels

Reflecting the ongoing popularity of this subject among publishers and readers, a slew of new codes can be found under Comics & Graphic Novels, and under Juvenile Fiction:

CGN018000 for COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Action & Adventure
CGN019000 for COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology
CGN020000 for COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / International
CGN004330 for COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manga / Food
CGN021000 for COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Manhwa
CGN007030 for COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / Journalism
CGN007040 for COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / Science & Nature
JUV008150 for JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / African American & Black
JUV008180 for JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / LGBTQ+
JUV008170 for JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Native American

Moreover, the literal for CGN016000 COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Supernatural has been renamed to COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Occult & Supernatural.

Literary Collections and Literary Criticism get granular

An expansion of codes under the Literary Collections heading sees the addition of the following codes:

LCO022000 for LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Subjects & Themes / General
LCO022010 for LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Subjects & Themes / Animals & Nature
LCO022020 for LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Subjects & Themes / Love & Erotica
LCO022030 for LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Subjects & Themes / Places
LCO022040 for LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Subjects & Themes / Religious & Inspirational
LCO022050 for LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Subjects & Themes / War

Literary Criticism also sees new codes:

LIT025060 for LITERARY CRITICISM / Subjects & Themes / Culture, Race & Ethnicity
LIT025070 for LITERARY CRITICISM / Subjects & Themes / Gender Identity
LIT025080 for LITERARY CRITICISM / Subjects & Themes / Love & Erotica

Poetry on the street no longer the epitome of vague

Precise coding in the poetry category resulted in the following additions:

POE027000 for POETRY / European / Eastern
POE028000 for POETRY / Jewish
POE029000 for POETRY / Sonnets
POE023060 for POETRY / Subjects & Themes / Political & Protest
POE023070 for POETRY / Subjects & Themes / War

And the following changes:

POE016000 sees its literal change to POETRY / Russian & Former Soviet Union from POETRY / Russian & Soviet
POE023030 sees its literal change to POETRY / Subjects & Themes / Animals & Nature from POETRY / Subjects & Themes / Nature

New codes relating to Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) topics

Reflecting the ongoing popularity of books being published that explore Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion as a topic, the following codes have been added: