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Data exchange is never static. Here are some recent changes to best practices and standards that the industry is implementing.

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Need help finding the documentation? Finding and Using the ONIX Manual and Code Lists

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Thema Version 1.

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The BNC BISAC to Thema Translator is available at http://bisactothema.biblioshare.org/

To find our more about the Translator, an introductory blog post is available at http://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2014/4/24/introducing-bncs-bisac-to-thema-translator.html .

2023

2023 BISAC Subject Codes (December)

The 2023 BISAC Subject list is available from BISG (free to their members) at https://www.bisg.org/purchasedownload-complete-bisac-list and can be viewed in full online at https://www.bisg.org/complete-bisac-subject-headings-list.

For more information see the BISG Subject List, on-line reference and general information. Refer also to the document with the changes from the 2022 edition.

The general expectation is that the industry will update their records – including backlist -- to reflect these changes. BISAC Subjects are designed to support retailers and as a list represents a snapshot of what a retailer needs to know, today. By updating your records yearly you ensure 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 system data can be lost, or sometimes the record won't get loaded, so it's good to give retailers time to up and generally publishers updating by the following Feb / March is fairly safe. If you've coded your biggest title with a new BISAC Subject, get confirmation that your partners are ready to accept the data.

Endorsement of BISG’s Statement on Misuse of the title and subtitle fields (December 7)

BookNet Canada, through the National Bibliographic Committee, has endorsed the Book Industry Study Group’s (BISG’s) Statement on Misuse of the title and subtitle fields: A reminder on best practice in supplying marketing copy. “BookNet Canada agrees that the BISG statement on Title and Subtitle Misuse addresses a real problem common in current book metadata. It is frustrating to see effective and simple dedicated-for-its-purpose metadata options for online marketing go unasked for by retailers and not implemented by publishers who then resort to stick-the-promo-copy in the book title. It reduces the effectiveness and usability of book metadata for everyone.”

ONIX 3.1 (April 4)

Read BookNet’s blog or please see the full announcement here.

Please see the full list of changes here.

For full background, an overview of the message structure, and a summary of key differences between Release 2.1 and Release 3.0/3.1, read the Introduction to ONIX for Books 3.1 here.

To download the latest Specification, XML schemas, a detailed Implementation and Best Practice Guide, samples and supplementary guidelines, go to the Release 3.0 and 3.1 Downloads page here .

Need help finding the documentation? Finding and Using the ONIX Manual and Code Lists

2022

Thema Version 1.5 Released (April 2022)

Thema Subject Codes are modified in major updates - 1.5 is the current. This version contains new core subject categories and new qualifiers (including new national extensions), plus numerous improvements to the wording of headings and notes, but it retains full backward compatibility with version 1.4 (no existing data needs to be modified or updated).

Version 1.5 released April 2022 (new core subject categories; updated national extensions)
Version 1.4 released April 2020 (new core subject categories; updated national extensions)
Version 1.3.2 released April 2019 (updated national extensions)
Version 1.3.1 released Fall 2018 (updated national extensions, includes Canadian updates suggested by the French language group)
Version 1.3.0 released May 8, 2018 (new subject categories)

Documentation available from EDItEUR at: https://www.editeur.org/151/Thema/

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6 (October 16)

Read BookNet’s blog or please see the full list of new subject codes and qualifiers. The online browser has also been updated.

Thema Subject Codes are modified in major biennial updates - 1.6 is the current. This version contains new core subject categories and new qualifiers (including new national extensions), plus numerous improvements to the wording of headings and notes, but it retains full backward compatibility with version 1.5 (no existing data needs to be modified or updated).

Version 1.6 released October 2024 (new core subject categories & qualifiers; updated national extensions)
Version 1.5 released April 2022 (new core subject categories; updated national extensions)
Version 1.4 released April 2020 (new core subject categories; updated national extensions)
Version 1.3.2 released April 2019 (updated national extensions)
Version 1.3.1 released Fall 2018 (updated national extensions, includes Canadian updates suggested by the French language group)
Version 1.3.0 released May 8, 2018 (new subject categories)

Documentation available from EDItEUR at: https://www.editeur.org/151/Thema/

  • Using Thema 1: Executive briefing (PDF)

  • Using Thema 2: Basic user instructions for Thema v1.5 (PDF)

  • Using Thema 3: Diversity, equity and inclusion content with Thema and ONIX (PDF)

  • Using Thema 3a: DEI examples of use (annex to Using Thema 3 (PDF)

  • Using Thema 4: An introduction to Thema for Booksellers (PDF)

  • Using Thema 5: The importance of using <MainSubject> (PDF)

  • Using Thema 6: Mixing codes from different sections (PDF)

  • Using Thema 7: How many Thema codes per title (PDF)

  • Using Thema 8: highlighting local content and contributors with Thema and ONIX (PDF)

Documentation available from BookNet Canada at: https://booknetcanada.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/UserDocs/pages/5767332/Thema+Subject+Codes

Using Thema to identify diverse content in product metadata: worked examples blog series: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog?tag=thema+worked+examples

BookNet Canada & BISG's BISAC TO Thema Translator updated to support BISAC 2021 and Thema 1.5 (March 21, 2024)

The BNC BISAC to Thema Translator is available at http://bisactothema.biblioshare.org/

To find our more about the Translator, an introductory blog post is available at http://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2014/4/24/introducing-bncs-bisac-to-thema-translator.html .

2023

2023 BISAC Subject Codes (December)

The 2023 BISAC Subject list is available from BISG (free to their members) at https://www.bisg.org/purchasedownload-complete-bisac-list and can be viewed in full online at https://www.bisg.org/complete-bisac-subject-headings-list.

For more information see the BISG Subject List, on-line reference and general information. Refer also to the document with the changes from the 2022 edition.

The general expectation is that the industry will update their records – including backlist -- to reflect these changes. BISAC Subjects are designed to support retailers and as a list represents a snapshot of what a retailer needs to know, today. By updating your records yearly you ensure 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 system data can be lost, or sometimes the record won't get loaded, so it's good to give retailers time to up and generally publishers updating by the following Feb / March is fairly safe. If you've coded your biggest title with a new BISAC Subject, get confirmation that your partners are ready to accept the data.

Endorsement of BISG’s Statement on Misuse of the title and subtitle fields (December 7)

BookNet Canada, through the National Bibliographic Committee, has endorsed the Book Industry Study Group’s (BISG’s) Statement on Misuse of the title and subtitle fields: A reminder on best practice in supplying marketing copy. “BookNet Canada agrees that the BISG statement on Title and Subtitle Misuse addresses a real problem common in current book metadata. It is frustrating to see effective and simple dedicated-for-its-purpose metadata options for online marketing go unasked for by retailers and not implemented by publishers who then resort to stick-the-promo-copy in the book title. It reduces the effectiveness and usability of book metadata for everyone.”

ONIX 3.1 (April 4)

Read BookNet’s blog or please see the full announcement here.

Please see the full list of changes here.

For full background, an overview of the message structure, and a summary of key differences between Release 2.1 and Release 3.0/3.1, read the Introduction to ONIX for Books 3.1 here.

To download the latest Specification, XML schemas, a detailed Implementation and Best Practice Guide, samples and supplementary guidelines, go to the Release 3.0 and 3.1 Downloads page here .

Need help finding the documentation? Finding and Using the ONIX Manual and Code Lists

2021

2021 BISAC Subject Codes (December 2021)

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2019

US ISBN Agency to Start Using 979-ISBNs in 2020 (November 2019)

979 ISBNs have been in limited use in the Canadian supply chain for several years – most distributors have a few dozen in their inventory. Currently ISBN Canada has not issued any and has no plans to start. The US, however, is running out of 978 ISBN-13 and could begin issuing 979s as soon as January 2020. We can anticipate their increased volume in our supply chain over the next year or two and when one of the major US publishers gets their first block we can expect explosive growth. 

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Revised Best Practices for Keywords in Metadata: Guide for North American Data Senders and Receivers (February 2018)

A revised edition of the BISG authored and BNC endorsed document been published, chock-a-block with examples, samples and sage advice. You can get yours at https://bisg.org/store/viewproduct.aspx?id=6972954.

2017

Revision completed to ISO ISBN Standard (December 2017)

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If you need more information on ISBN head over to BookNet Canada's ISBN page

New interactive code list lookup sites available

EDItEUR supports both ONIX Code lists and Thema Subject and Qualifier lists with dedicated lookup sites, complete with their notes. Pro tip on using either of these in any form: read the notes! You can't know the intent of the value without them and using precisely defined metadata is fundamental to any business exchange. The description is not intentionally misleading but the notes give clarity. Use your software drop downs as reminders of for the definitions the notes provide and these interactive look-ups make it easy to check. (A little prompt to developers: You should think about how to integrate note access into your ONIX systems and these might help.)

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