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 have adopted a flexible and gradual approach to ensure a smooth transition to Thema.

TitlePage plays a pivotal role by automatically translating BIC categories to Thema as we receive records without native Thema classifications.

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

    TitlePage mapped BIC to Thema on ingestion where Thema is not also provided. 

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

  • Q1 2024

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

  • Q4 2024

    October 2024: Thema V1.6 was ratified in October 2024, though is fully backwards compatible. TitlePage implemented Thema 1.6

  • Q2 2026

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

  • Q3 2026

    July 2026*: 29 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. Thema is now mandatory for all records.

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

Thema 1.6 is now available on TitlePage

The latest version of Thema was ratified by the International Thema Committee in October 2024, a culmination of two years of development and consultation. Thema 1.6 is now live on TitlePage, so publishers can take advantage of 131 new subject codes and 411 new special interest qualifiers.

This new version strengthens discoverability for booksellers and readers alike, with more targeted categories and qualifiers that respond to changing market demand, and to help match books with readers’ interests more precisely.

Highlights of Thema 1.6

A number of these new codes and qualifiers offer opportunities for Australian publishers and booksellers, particularly the following:

  • Expanded geographical coverage of Australia. More regional specificity helps position books with an Australian focus, and supports booksellers in matching local content to demand.

  • Increased Indigenous focus. Additional categories and qualifiers highlight Indigenous content and Connection to Country / Welcome to Country.

  • Support for UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). New qualifiers now cover individual SDGs offering a way to underscore books that address specific global issuers, making these titles more visible to conscientious consumers and educational markets.

  • Additional subgenres and popular tropes. Thema 1.6 introduces more categories for popular fiction genres, including romance, with specific BookTok inspired tropes to tap into growing reader communities around these trends.

Find a full list of new codes and the updated Thema browser on the EDItEUR website.

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 transition. This is an exciting change for the Australian industry, and it needs to be included in your business planning. 

Update your metadata

  • Review and enhance your Thema categories. With these updates now supported by TitlePage, this is an ideal prompt to give booksellers all the information they need to get your books into the hands of readers.

  • Prepare for a Thema-forward future. While BIC remains mandatory on TitlePage, Thema is strongly encouraged and will soon become a requirement as TitlePage transitions to a Thema-based search engine.

  • Update your backlist. Don’t forget that TitlePage can provide you with Thema translated BIC to help populate backlists.

Explore training & resources

The APA regularly coordinates Thema training workshops with EDItEUR – express your interest for future sessions and we will schedule 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.