Have you heard? There's a new way to identify Canadian publishers using BISAC Merchandising Codes

ICYMI, the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) published the 2025 update to its book publishing subject codes, often referred to as BISAC Subject Headings.

ℹ️ This post is a big one, so here’s a TL;DR for those who want to know the quick links:

• New 2025 BISAC Subject Headings are available here.
• New 2025 BISAC Merchandising Themes are available here.
• BookNet’s systems are updated with the new codes.
• New codes added to the BISAC Merchandising Themes offer an opportunity for Canadian publishers (and other publisher types) to identify themselves as such through product metadata.

The updated BISAC subject list is available to purchase and download from BISG (it’s free for their members), but it 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 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 2025 edition, or you can see the core list of changes available here.

The Subject Codes Committee also maintains the BISAC Regional Themes and the BISAC Merchandising Themes, and updates for each come out with the core subjects release each year. We’ll spend some time on the Merchandising Themes in this post.

Still feeling lost? Read our most recent blog post on how BISAC positions your book so consumers can find it or visit our collection of blog posts relating to the subject to get you started.

BookNet’s products and services all updated with the 2025 list of codes

Data suppliers and recipients are encouraged to update their systems to the latest version of BISAC as soon as it's released. The general expectation is that the industry will update their records — including the backlist — to reflect these changes. BISAC subjects are designed to support retailers and function as a list representing a snapshot of what a retailer needs to know today. By updating records yearly, a data supplier ensures retailers can make the best use possible of all your records.

When should a publisher update their list? If a trading partner hasn't updated their systems, data can be lost or sometimes the record won't get loaded, so it's good to give data recipients time to update. Generally, data suppliers are safe to update the quarter following the release of a new BISAC list. 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.

Accordingly, all BookNet products and services have been updated with the new 2025 list of codes:

• You can run reports in SalesData & LibraryData against the new BISAC codes.

• You can search in CataList using the updated BISAC codelist.

• You can assign codes from the new list of codes in our Webform for ONIX Creation.

• You can send and receive records and files in BiblioShare containing codes from the 2025 list.

• You can translate codes old and new (though not deprecated) in BookNet Canada and the Book Industry Study Group’s BISAC to Thema Translator.

Reminder: Update your systems!

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

Consider this the top of your Q3 task list, if you haven’t tackled this already. You already handled the ONIX 2.1 to 3 transition in Q1 and Q2: you’ve got this!

New Merchandising Themes support additional publisher types

The most well-known “flavour” of BISAC are the BISAC Subject Headings. These describe the content of a book and were developed for publishers to communicate with retailers, and the general book trade, the store section in which a title best fits and will sell best.

There are also BISAC Merchandising Themes and BISAC Regional Themes. BISAC Merchandising Themes identify marketing opportunities for like-minded books insofar as content is concerned. And BISAC Regional Themes provide additional help in identifying books of specific geographical interest.

Merchandising Themes are optional and can be used in addition to subject codes to further describe fictional works, but they can also denote:

• an audience to which a work may be of particular appeal;

• a time of year or event for which a work may be especially appropriate; or

• a frequently requested topic.

In addition to new Merchandising Themes for events, holidays, and topics, the 2025 release offers new codes to support additional publisher types, adding five new codes to to complement the existing ones for Academic & University, Independent, and Self-Published publisher types:

PT015	PUBLISHER TYPE / Black Owned
PT017	PUBLISHER TYPE / Canadian
PT019	PUBLISHER TYPE / Hispanic & Latino Owned
PT025	PUBLISHER TYPE / Indigenous Owned
PT050	PUBLISHER TYPE / Women Owned

The complete Merchandising Themes list is included when users purchase and download from the BISG (again, it’s free for their members), but can also be accessed online by anyone for free at bisg.org/bisac-merchandising-themes.

How to identify Canadian Publishers using BISAC Merchandising Themes: Recommended coding methodology

Following an ask from downstream data recipients, the Canadian National Bibliographic Committee considered how to identify “Canadian” publishers in product metadata. After months years of considering different proposals and drafting a recommendation, the Committee landed on the following recommendation for the Canadian book supply chain:

Final Recommendation: Defining Canadian Publishers in Metadata Using BISAC Merchandising Themes to identify Canadian and Indigenous publishers

Following the release of the 2025 BISAC Subject Codes, publishers may elect to include the following BISAC Merchandising Themes codes in the ONIX Subject Composite to indicate the provenance of their publishing company (i.e., to represent their company as a “Canadian publisher” or similar).

Type of Publisher	Use	Recommended coding using BISAC Merchandising Themes
Canadian publisher	Use to identify a company that is 1) majority Canadian-owned and 2) that is a book publisher. May also be used by an Indigenous publisher to be eligible for geographical marketing programs.	PT020 PUBLISHER TYPE / Independent PT017 PUBLISHER TYPE / Canadian
Canadian publisher with non-Canadian control and/or ownership	Use to identify a company that is 1) foreign-owned and 2) that is a book publisher.	PT017 PUBLISHER TYPE / Canadian
Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis publisher	Use to identify a company that is 1) majority Indigenous-owned and 2) that is a book publisher.	PT020 PUBLISHER TYPE / Independent PT025 PUBLISHER TYPE / Indigenous Owned PT017 PUBLISHER TYPE / Canadian (optional)
Self-published Canadian contributor	Use to identify a Canadian entity which self-publishes books under their own name or under a business name.	PT030 PUBLISHER TYPE / Self-Published PT017 PUBLISHER TYPE / Canadian

To provide additional information about their publishing company, publishers are encouraged to supply the following information, which should match the information on the book’s copyright and title page(s):

1. Identify <PublisherRole> using code 01 from List 45 by identifying the Publisher with ISNI identifier in addition to other identifiers (e.g., Amazon proprietary code, SAN) as a <PublisherIDType> from codes in List 44.

2. Support the <CityOfPublication> element (<CityOfPublication> is a free text field and not selected from a codelist).

3. Support the <Funding> composite, to indicate support from [Canadian] government sources, if applicable.

Disclaimer: As a metadata aggregator and standards body, neither BookNet Canada nor its BiblioShare project are responsible for the validation of publishers who have assigned codes from the BISAC Merchandising Themes to indicate the provenance of their publishing company.

Notes: This proposal does not include a classification to identify other Canadian-owned entities that undertake book publishing activities, or book publishers that do not wholly fit into the “types of publisher”s listed above.

Highlights from the 2025 BISAC codes

With the additions and implementation for the new Merchandising Themes well in order, let’s look more closely at some of the new codes and changes that will be of interest to Canadian market participants.

New codes in the NATURE category support Canadian regionality

We’ll start with changes to NATURE / Regional, where a thorough set of child branches have been created, including a breakdown to better segment Canadian regions.

NAT049000	NATURE / Regional / General
NAT049010	NATURE / Regional / Africa
NAT049020	NATURE / Regional / Asia
NAT049030	NATURE / Regional / Australia & Oceania
NAT049040	NATURE / Regional / Canada / General
NAT049050	NATURE / Regional / Canada / Atlantic Provinces (NB, NL, NS, PE)
NAT049060	NATURE / Regional / Canada / Northern Territories (NT, NU, YT)
NAT049070	NATURE / Regional / Canada / Ontario (ON)
NAT049080	NATURE / Regional / Canada / Prairie Provinces (MB, SK)
NAT049090	NATURE / Regional / Canada / Quebec (QC)
NAT049100	NATURE / Regional / Canada / Western Provinces (AB, BC)
NAT049110	NATURE / Regional / Caribbean
NAT049120	NATURE / Regional / Central & South America
NAT049130	NATURE / Regional / Europe
NAT049140	NATURE / Regional / North America
NAT049150	NATURE / Regional / United States / General
NAT049160	NATURE / Regional / United States / Midwest
NAT049170	NATURE / Regional / United States / Northeast
NAT049180	NATURE / Regional / United States / South
NAT049190	NATURE / Regional / United States / West

BODY, MIND & SPIRIT category renamed to MIND, BODY, SPIRIT

All headings in this category have been changes as the category has been renamed from BODY, MIND & SPIRIT to MIND, BODY, SPIRIT, to be reflective of terminology widely used across the industry. Moreover, a number of new codes were added, covering topics such as Vedic astrology, dowsing, empaths & highly sensitive people, manifestation & the law of attraction, shadow work, and superstitions.

See the complete list of changes and new codes here.

Speculative fiction enters the chat

Long categorized in sister genres like Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror, Speculative fiction now has representation in all three Fiction categories:

• FIC157000 for FICTION / Speculative

• JUV095000 for JUVENILE FICTION / Speculative

• YAF082000 for YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Speculative

Let the battle rage on.

Afrofantasy, Afrofuturism & Africanfuturism, and books about Black hair will help readers' discovery of a rapidly-growing supply of books

Fans of “African American & Black” fiction will be able to find more genre-specific titles using four new codes:

• FIC049080 for FICTION / African American & Black / Afrofuturism & Africanfuturism

• FIC049100 for FICTION / African American & Black / Fantasy (incl. Sword & Soul)

• JUV011060 for JUVENILE FICTION / African American & Black / Afrofuturism & Africanfuturism

• JUV037070 for JUVENILE FICTION / Fantasy / Afrofantasy

Also added are three new codes to help adult and juvenile readers find books that celebrate and support Black hair:

• HEA003050 for HEALTH & FITNESS / Beauty & Grooming / Black Hair

• JUV011080 for JUVENILE FICTION / African American & Black / Black Hair

• JNF018060 for JUVENILE NONFICTION / African American & Black / Black Hair

GARDENING category gets its time in the sun

As a part of its annual objectives, the Subject Codes Committee regularly “review[s] sections (categories) on a cyclical basis, adding or deleting codes as needed, and updating descriptions when warranted.” In 2025, one of those sections was Gardening, which saw a number of new codes and existing codes reorganized into newly-created branches. Refer to the document with the changes from the 2024 edition here for complete documentation and be prepared to recode Gardening titles as appropriate.

Hi-Lo Readers come to YOUNG ADULT

Following additions to the Juvenile Fiction and Non-Fiction categories in the 2023 list, new Hi-Lo codes were added to both Young Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction:

• YAF081000 for YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Hi-Lo Readers

• YAN066000 for YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Hi-Lo Readers

Pride Month is ready to party!

Representation matters and books celebrating Pride Month have been identified in the Juvenile categories:

• JUV017210 for JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Pride Month

• JNF026190 for JUVENILE NONFICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Pride Month

2025 Codes: Additional changes

Please refer to the list of differences between the 2024 and 2025 editions for a complete list of new codes, changes, and deletions across all major headings. Don’t delay, review and update today!

Thinking about BISAC?

If you read this list and started thinking about subjects, please get in touch with us. BookNet represents Canadian market interests on the BISG Subject Codes Committee, which administers the BISAC Subject Headings. If you have suggestions for changes to the code list, or requests for new codes (or removals!), send us a note!

Want to continue your learning about BISAC? Check out our collection of blog posts to take your pick on what you want to start learning or visit our help documentation. To get these updates delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters!