1. 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

2. Objectives for today:
 What is BISAC?
 Why would I want to do this in my library?
 Collection Development, Weeding, Reader’s
Advisory
 Space design and layout
 How does this help us market what we have?
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3. BISAC Categories
(Book Industry Subject and Category Codes)
• ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES • LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES
• ARCHITECTURE • LAW
• ART • LITERARY COLLECTIONS
• BIBLES • LITERARY CRITICISM
• BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY • MATHEMATICS
• BODY, MIND & SPIRIT • MEDICAL
• BUSINESS & ECONOMICS • MUSIC
• COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS • NATURE
• COMPUTERS • PERFORMING ARTS
• COOKING • PETS
• CRAFTS & HOBBIES • PHILOSOPHY
• DESIGN* • PHOTOGRAPHY
• DRAMA • POETRY
• EDUCATION • POLITICAL SCIENCE
• FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS • PSYCHOLOGY
• FICTION • REFERENCE
• FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDY • RELIGION
• GAMES • SCIENCE
• GARDENING • SELF-HELP
• HEALTH & FITNESS • SOCIAL SCIENCE
• HISTORY • SPORTS & RECREATION
• HOUSE & HOME • STUDY AIDS
• HUMOR • TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING
• JUVENILE FICTION • TRANSPORTATION
• JUVENILE NONFICTION • TRAVEL
• TRUE CRIME
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5/2/12

4. Where do you find the BISAC
headings?
New Spine Label:
SPORTS
BASEBAL
Red Sox
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5. Other spine label examples
SPORTS
SPORTS BASEBAL
BASEBAL Red Sox
HISTORY HISTORY
ANC GREE MILITRY
WWII
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6. • From the BISAC “bible”
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7. Record and label changes
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8. MARC record with
BISAC headings
included. OCLC is
now including these
headings
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10. INSPIRATION
• Patron desired space
Why do patrons prefer to
browse/buy from
bookstores?
Accessibility
Familiar subject headings
Comfortable areas
Attractive spaces
Browsing allowed
CUSTOMER DRIVEN: What
drives their experience?
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11. Motivation & Innovation
 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
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12. It’s more than books
 Layout of the library is
key to its success
 Signage is very
important
 Staff feedback
 Customer feedback
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13. Old Space Design 47 double shelves,
7 single shelves
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14. First Option Design 1: 44
double shelves, 16
single shelves
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15. Second option Design 2: 36
double shelves, 16
single shelves
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16. Third Option Design 3: 43
double shelves, 14
single shelves
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17. Fourth Option Design 4: 36
double shelves, 14
single shelves
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18. New Layout
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19. New Layout
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20. Moving Day
 Volunteers helped
to box up over 500
boxes
 Helped to put books
back on the shelves
 Learned what we
had in the collection
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21. Final Layout
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22. Flexibility & Adaptability
• Watching
patron traffic
patterns to best
arrange
collections
• Using
merchandising
techniques to
best display
collections
• Signs, signs,
signs… 22
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23. 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
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24. Glades & Neighborhoods
Hybrid Models
Who else is doing something similar?
Wilmington Public Library – neighborhoods
Dover Town Library – subject headings
Jones Library, Amherst – labeling subjects
Nashua PL, NH – poetry section
Darien, CT – glades
MLA conference information
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25. Patron Service & Satisfaction
 Patron Experience
 Patron
Participation
 Patron
Engagement
 Patron Support
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26. Information
 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-or-not-to-bisac
/
 http://www.slideshare.net/DHoadley_Langley/bisac-a-new-
 http://guides.masslibsystem.org/BeyondDewey
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