By: Adam Sockel, OverDrive Social Media Specialist

When doing your purchasing in OverDrive Marketplace you’ll now find BISAC subject headings have been added to many title details pages. They can include up to one major subject level and three topical subject levels, following this example: FICTION / Romance / Historical / Victorian. You can search by these subject headings and get matching results quickly and easily. The BISAC information will be displayed in addition to existing OverDrive audiences and subject headings, providing greater insight for your Collection Development staff members.

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One of the most useful things about these headings is that BISAC categorizes fiction and nonfiction by subgenre. So if you want a cozy mystery, you don’t have to look at all the mysteries including the bloody ones. These enhanced subject headings will not only simplify your purchasing staff’s jobs but it also provides unique marketing opportunities. By using the multiple BISAC descriptors, you can create more powerful curated collections on your website, providing your users a more defined explanation of the titles they’re borrowing.

We continue to work with our publisher partners to get BISAC Subject Headings for more titles in our catalog, and hope to add them to OverDrive library and school websites in the future for end users to benefit from as well. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact your Collection Development Specialist.