.@BookNet_Canada highlights the most significant changes and additions made to the BISAC Subject Headings List in 2021.
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Hear ye, hear ye! The 2021 edition of the BISAC Subject Headings List is now available for all your classification needs. 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 2021 edition.

Major Canadian representation in new History subject codes (plus a new LGBTQ+ category!)

If you publish history titles for adult readers, you'll find new opportunities for specificity for Canadian and LGBTQ+ content through the following new codes:

HIS006030 HISTORY / Canada / Provincial, Territorial & Local / General
HIS006040 HISTORY / Canada / Provincial, Territorial & Local / Atlantic Provinces (NB, NL, NS, PE)
HIS006050 HISTORY / Canada / Provincial, Territorial & Local / British Columbia (BC)
HIS006060 HISTORY / Canada / Provincial, Territorial & Local / Northern Territories (NT, NU, YT)
HIS006070 HISTORY / Canada / Provincial, Territorial & Local / Ontario (ON)
HIS006080 HISTORY / Canada / Provincial, Territorial & Local / Prairie Provinces (AB, MB, SK)
HIS006090 HISTORY / Canada / Provincial, Territorial & Local / Quebec (QC)
HIS066000 HISTORY / LGBTQ+

Increased potential to represent neurodiversity in Juvenile & Young Adult

Encouraging changes in the Juvenile and Young Adult categories include the addition of four new codes that describe neurodiversity:

JUV077000 JUVENILE FICTION / Neurodiversity
JNF072000 JUVENILE NONFICTION / Neurodiversity
YAF074000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Neurodiversity
YAN059000 YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Neurodiversity

Amplification for activism & social justice titles

To appeal to the widening market of social justice titles for young readers, old codes have been revised and new ones introduced:

JNF071000 JUVENILE NONFICTION / Activism & Social Justice (changed from JUVENILE NONFICTION / Social Activism & Volunteering)
SOC072000 SOCIAL SCIENCE / Activism & Social Justice
YAF058280 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Activism & Social Justice
YAN058000 YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Activism & Social Justice (changed from YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Activism & Volunteering)

Vampires vs. zombies

Young readers won’t have to take a risk on their fantasy content any longer. Long live the granular distinctions between vampires, werewolves & shifters, and zombies!

JUV078000 JUVENILE FICTION / Vampires
JUV079000 JUVENILE FICTION / Werewolves & Shifters
JUV080000 JUVENILE FICTION / Zombies

Updated terminology for subject codes for Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders

Updated terminology for existing codes will help to more inclusively represent content relating to Pacific Islanders:

ART039000 ART / American / Asian American & Pacific Islander (changed from ART / American / Asian American)
JUV011020 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / United States / Asian American & Pacific Islander (changed from JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / United States / Asian American)
JNF018020 JUVENILE NONFICTION / People & Places / United States / Asian American & Pacific Islander (changed from JUVENILE NONFICTION / People & Places / United States / Asian American)
LIT004030 LITERARY CRITICISM / American / Asian American & Pacific Islander (changed from LITERARY CRITICISM / American / Asian American)
POE005060 POETRY / American / Asian American & Pacific Islander (changed from POETRY / American / Asian American)
SOC043000 SOCIAL SCIENCE / Ethnic Studies / American / Asian American & Pacific Islander Studies (changed from SOCIAL SCIENCE / Ethnic Studies / American / Asian American Studies)
YAF046130 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / United States / Asian American & Pacific Islander (changed from YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / United States / Asian American)
YAN038120 YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / United States / Asian American & Pacific Islander (changed from YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / United States / Asian American)

Literary RPGs get their shot in fiction

If you’re a fan of literary role-playing games — or maybe just a fan of Stranger Things, you’ll be pleased to note the creation of new subject code FIC129000, FICTION / LitRPG (Literary Role-Playing Game).

Looking for the complete list of changes?

The BISG and the Subject Codes Committee have you covered. Catch up here.

TL;DR? Watch the webinar recap

Your friends at the BISG know what it’s like: if it’s not on video, it didn’t happen. They have shared a handy webinar with all the updates on YouTube here.