Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

hi
who are super-librarians?

Librarians who have addition privileges. As I understand it, there are only a handful.

could I become super? and do you know how?

No, it's not something you can request. It's something the GoodReads staff gives librarians who go above and beyond.

thanks a lot

Where can I find explanations/samples of the applicable book formats in GR?

I'm really curious about:

1. The difference between "paperback", "mass market paperback", and "library binding"

2. When to use the above terms?

3. What is a "board book"?

4. etc...:)

TIA,
-n-

Paperback can be used for any paperback. MMP refers to a specific size (and often lower-quality paper) and almost always is information from Amazon.

Library binding is exactly what it says -- a special (hardcover) binding for books produced especially for libraries.

A board book is usually a kids' book, where the pages are quite thick, and don't bend.

Often people use "board book" to mean hardcover, I've noticed, but that's not really correct. This is a board book, for example.

I set my books to "mass market paperback" when I have them in-hand and know it to be true -- I have an entire wall of old sf novels in shelves that hold nothing larger than mass market paperbacks, so it's a format I hold dear. :)

MMP also, I believe, refers to mass-produced, readily available books...like your standard paperback that you can buy at Wal-Mart, the grocery store, airports, etc. As opposed to a more specialty paperback from a small publisher and that you often have to order somewhere to buy it.

Thanks for the explanations. :)
One more:
Which format shall I choose for a standard european comic book (like "smurfs", "gaston", "tintin", "lucky luke", etc. A4 to legal paper size, thick cover paper (but not hard cover), thin paper for body of book)?

Thanks again.

I think you should use Paperback. Hard cover would be used for the hard covered version, but since, when you compare it to a book, it is more similar to a paperback book, I think that's the one you should use. Though I'm not sure. You might want to wait for the advice of an older librarian. I haven't been one for very long. :)
Hope I helped! :)
-K

Nenangs wrote: "Which format shall I choose for a standard european comic book (like "smurfs", "gaston", "tintin", "lucky luke", etc. A4 to legal paper size, thick cover paper (but not hard cover), thin paper for body of book)?"

Those are paperbacks, definitely, even if they're larger than the standard American size. (You'll see the technical term as "trade paperback" or "TPB" sometimes, but we just call that "paperback" on Goodreads.)

Thanks!
I've found a lot of input in that genre that says "boardbook", and wondering about that eversince. I am pretty sure some of them are just "paperback", cause I have the hardcopy in my hand. :)

I've seen quite a few books that say "boardbook" that are most definitely not boardbooks. I try to change them when I can.

More frequently than not, I've been running into:

While looking for a specific book--going to the author's page, too--not on GRs. However, when I search by ISBN, the book will come up. When I go to combine, what was NOT there earlier is now.

Is it possible that some books are not readily apparent in the database until someone inputs the ISBN? Or, could it be a link has been established by our GRs Computer Specialists (go team!) that search another database (Amazon?) and whalla, the book is now on GRs?

From what I've seen when I added my books, the search is first performed on the goodreads database, and if the ISBN isn't found the search continues on amazon. When a book is found on amazon, it is automatically imported in the goodreads database, but generally it needs some corrections.

Thanks Cecile, that's what I was leaning toward. There was an ebook on GRs, but not a paperback to match it. In a discussion, it was mentioned that the book was bought at a bookstore, so I went out on the Internet, found the ISBN of the PB, plugged it in to GRs and the book is now here, but with errors like you said.

Been running into this a lot with the Harlequin series numbers. Whew! One book will be issued with the same title, but various numbering, different ISBNs, different release dates and styles (Harlequin Romance, #4; Mills & Boon, #500; Harlequin Presents, #1148, etc).

One of those may be on GRs, but when I search for the others--by ISBN--they start showing up--one at a time-- then I number them correctly, combine, other stuff, and move to the next. It's a daunting task, to say the least. Overwhelming.

Kathrynn wrote: "... It's a daunting task, to say the least. Overwhelming."

I agree, it takes a lot of time to get it right, particularly with older editions, which aren't very well listed on amazon, it's better with the books they still sell.

Hi. My name is Mary. I'm the moderator of "The Book Addicts." I have a crazy question. When we first started the book club I was able to put the two books we were currently reading on the front page as featured. I'm trying to list our upcoming books on the front page at the top also. But for the life of me I can't remember how to do it. HELP! I'm so frustrated and I know it can't be that hard. Thanks so much. You can e-mail me if you like.

Mary

Mary,

You need to put a date started and date finished on the books, and you need to put the currently reading book on the currently reading shelf. (There's 2 windows and after you put the books on their read, currently reading, or to-read shelves you need to close that window and click save in the other window!) Up to 2 currently reading books will show as big cover icons on the front page and the to-read books with the closest upcoming date up to 2 will show as small icons on the home page.

If these instructions aren't clear, please post again.

Lisa wrote: "Mary,

You need to put a date started and date finished on the books, and you need to put the currently reading book on the currently reading shelf. (There's 2 windows and after you put the books ..."

Hi Lisa. Still can't get it. Maybe it would have helped if I told you that the two current books are already in place for October. I was just trying to add the two books coming up for November. If I try to add the "Upcoming," folder it puts it in the threads. Sorry to bother you. It just drives me crazy when I can't figure something out. Thanks again.

Mary

Mary,

If your two currently reading books are showing, the way to get the next two to show is to have them on your default to-read shelf (they can be on your other shelves, including upcoming, too) and to have the date started-date finished date(s) be the next date upcoming.

Does that make sense?

Jim wrote: "Do I have librarian status? I don't see the add information buttons."

Yes. You even edited a book about a month ago.

Anyway, manually adding a book doesn't require librarian status.