BISAC
A New Way to Organize
with the Patron in Mind
Deb Hoadley, Advisor
Massachusetts Library System
dhoadley@masslibsystem.org
866-627-7228 ext 309 (toll free in MA)
508-357-2121 ext 309
BISAC Categories
(Book Industry Subject and Category Codes)
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ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES
ARCHITECTURE
ART
BIBLES
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY
BODY, MIND & SPIRIT
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS
COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
COMPUTERS
COOKING
CRAFTS & HOBBIES
DESIGN*
DRAMA
EDUCATION
FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS
FICTION
FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDY
GAMES
GARDENING
HEALTH & FITNESS
HISTORY
HOUSE & HOME
HUMOR
JUVENILE FICTION
JUVENILE NONFICTION
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LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES
LAW
LITERARY COLLECTIONS
LITERARY CRITICISM
MATHEMATICS
MEDICAL
MUSIC
NATURE
PERFORMING ARTS
PETS
PHILOSOPHY
PHOTOGRAPHY
POETRY
POLITICAL SCIENCE
PSYCHOLOGY
REFERENCE
RELIGION
SCIENCE
SELF-HELP
SOCIAL SCIENCE
SPORTS & RECREATION
STUDY AIDS
TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING
TRANSPORTATION
TRAVEL
TRUE CRIME
MLS: Deb Hoadley
5/2/12
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• From the BISAC “bible”
MLS: Deb Hoadley 5/2/12
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Record and label changes
MLS: Deb Hoadley 5/2/12
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Motivation & Innovation
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Browsability
Searchability
Items are placed together by category based
on a language system, not numerical system
Collection development will be easier
Customer satisfaction
Staff time will be used for more patron
interaction & reader’s advisory
MLS: Deb Hoadley 5/2/12
Final Layout
MLS: Deb Hoadley 5/2/12
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Justification
• Statistical data to support
• Patrons love the new
layout of the library
• Patrons love the ability to
look at the sections and
find what they are looking
for
• Shelving is easier
• No conflict with
consortium/just a change
in local call number
MLS: Deb Hoadley 5/2/12
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Information
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Webinar by National Book Network
http://pdfs.nbnbooks.com/BI/SAC/BISACWebinar.pdf
Book Industry Standard Group http://www.bisg.org/
Book publishers are putting categories on backs of
books http://waltshiel.com/2009/09/14/to-bisac-ornot-to-bisac/
http://www.slideshare.net/DHoadley_Langley/bisaca-new-way-to-organize-with-the-patron-in-mind
http://guides.masslibsystem.org/BeyondDewey
MLS: Deb Hoadley 5/2/12