This is BIC’s Subject Categories and Qualifiers Scheme, version 2.1, the standard classification scheme for the UK book trade and other English language markets, available from www.bic.org.uk.
| Code | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| A | The arts… See also: HPN “Aesthetics” |
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| B | Biography and True Stories… Do not use “B” on individual books; select appropriate code(s) from Section B below |
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| C | Language… Do not use “C” on individual books; select appropriate code(s) from Section C below |
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| D | Literature and literary studies… Do not use “D” on individual books; select appropriate code(s) from Section D below |
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| E | English language teaching (ELT)… Note: use E* codes only for works specifically designed for the teaching and learning of English as a foreign or second language; includes TEFL, ESL, TOEFL, IELTS, TOIEC. Use for both Adult and Children’s material. Language qualifier required only if specific variant of English is indicated, eg American English, or for bi-lingual texts/dictionaries, eg English/Spanish. With E* codes, use appropriate Educational Purpose qualifier indicating examination / qualification wherever possible. Do not use “E” on individual books; select appropriate code(s) from Section E below |
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| F | Fiction and related items… Do not use “F” on individual books; select appropriate detailed code(s) from Section F; For fiction anthologies, use DQ “Anthologies” with appropriate F* code to indicate genre where appropriate |
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| G | Reference, information and interdisciplinary subjects… Do not use “G” on individual books; select appropriate code(s) from Section G below |
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| H | Humanities… |
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| J | Society and social sciences… |
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| K | Economics, finance, business and management… |
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| L | Law… For law for the layperson, use VSD “Law, citizenship and rights for the lay person” |
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| M | Medicine… See also: VFD “Popular medicine and health” |
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| P | Mathematics and science… Do not use “P” on individual books; select appropriate code(s) from Section P below |
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| R | Earth sciences, geography, environment, planning… Do not use “R” on individual books; select appropriate code(s) from Section R below |
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| T | Technology, engineering, agriculture… Do not use “T” on individual books; select appropriate code(s) from Section T below |
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| U | Computing and information technology… |
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| V | Health and personal development… Note: many headings in Section V relate closely to headings in other sections. Use Section V for popularized accounts for general readership; prefer Sections J, K, M, T etc, as appropriate, for serious, specialist and academic works. Do not use “V” on individual books; select appropriate code(s) from Section V below |
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| W | Lifestyle, sport and leisure… Note: many headings in Section W relate closely to headings in other sections. Use Section W for popular accounts for general readership; prefer Sections A, K, P, R, T, etc, as appropriate, for serious, specialist and academic works. Do not use “W” on individual books; select appropriate code(s) from Section W below |
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| Y | Children’s, teenage and educational… Do not use “Y” on individual books. Select appropriate code(s) from Section Y below |
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| 1 | Geographical qualifiers… Do not use “1” on individual books, as it is not a valid qualifier code; select appropriate qualifier code(s) from Section 1 below |
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| 2 | Language qualifiers… Do not use “2” on individual books, as it is not a valid qualifier code; select appropriate qualifier code(s) from Section 2 below |
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| 3 | Time period qualifiers… Do not use “3” on individual books, as it is not a valid qualifier code; select appropriate qualifier code(s) from Section 3 below. Note: use as few Time Period qualifiers as possible to indicate the bulk of the period covered by the book; eg, for 410 to 1066, use 3F only; for 1948 to 1974, use 3JJP only. If the coverage is evenly split between two qualifiers, use both; eg, for 1789 to 1814, use both 3JF and 3JH. For single years that occur in two qualifiers, use the earlier period; eg, for 1990, use 3JJPN |
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| 4 | Educational purpose qualifiers… Do not use “4” on individual books, as it is not a valid qualifier code; select appropriate qualifier code(s) from Section 4 below |
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| 5 | Interest age / Special interest qualifiers… Do not use “5” on individual books, as it is not a valid qualifier code; select appropriate qualifier code(s) from Section 5 below |
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