Transition to Thema: what you need to know

In February 2022, BIC announced that the BIC subject category scheme will become obsolete in February 2024. This doesn't mean those codes will cease to function overnight, but it is being phased out in favour of Thema. 

Thema is a global subject classification scheme for books. It vastly improves the process of categorising and organising books based on their content, serving as a universal language that benefits readers, booksellers, and libraries.

We're here to guide and support you through this transition.

Flexible transition approach

We understand the scale of this change, and our goal is to make this transition as straightforward as possible. Based on feedback from publishers and booksellers, TitlePage and the APA are adopting a flexible approach to ensure a smooth transition to Thema.

TitlePage will play a pivotal role by automatically translating BIC categories to Thema as we receive records without native Thema classifications. This translation development is underway, and will gradually roll out across publishers from December 2023. 

The gradual rollout will ensure a seamless transition and avoid impact to TitlePage performance, while enabling retailers to use Thema alongside BIC sooner.

Draft timeline

The timeline for this transition is designed to minimise disruptions:

  • December 2023

    From early December, TitlePage will start mapping BIC to Thema on ingestion where Thema is not also provided. 

    Booksellers can start receiving both Thema and BIC categories for all records within ONIX 3.0 data feeds or web services.

  • Q1 2024

    The APA could provide direct translation services for Publishers for their internal backlist. Contact the APA to discuss.

  • Q3 2024

    TitlePage transitions to Thema as primary subject classification scheme for search and segmentation, with native Thema highly encouraged but BIC still mandatory. 

  • Q4 2024

    October 2024: Thema V1.6 is expected to be ratified in October 2024, and will be backwards compatible. 

  • Q1 2025

    February 2025*: 12 months past the BIC obsolescence date, Thema is the primary classification scheme on TitlePage, and BIC is no longer required for Publishers providing native Thema.

    *This milestone could be delayed if there was still apparent legacy need for comprehensive BIC

What do I need to do now?

Nominate a Thema lead

We know this is a very busy time of year, but now is the time to identify your Thema champion to manage this in 2024. This is an exciting change for the Australian industry, and it needs to be included in your business planning. 

Explore training & resources

The APA has coordinated Thema training workshops with EDItEUR in early 2024. Learn more and book here, or express your interest for future sessions and we will schedule more based on demand.

Further training resources are available here:

You can also find answers to Frequently Asked Questions regarding this transition which will be updated throughout the project. 

Get in touch

Talk to us! The APA wants to hear about your  plans and timeline. Let us know how we can help.

If you have any questions not covered by the FAQs, or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out.