Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

The new policy to move the ASIN/ISBN to the new edition has been in place two years now. I am unsure how long the "Add an Alternate Cover Edition" button has been around, however.

But since I've been active again, I've noticed that there's been some confusion regarding the policy. Some authors are adding ACEs to books that aren't published as of yet, rather than asking for the cover to be updated instead.

The Librarian Changelog for this book shows the latest example that I've come across.

(The other thing I've noticed is authors creating ACEs but forgetting to add the new cover. That, however, is something else...)

Could it be possible to make the information regarding the creation of ACEs clearer?

I am unsure if anyone else has noticed this...?

Andrew wrote: "The cover redesign could very well have existed (as an Advance Reader Copy, etc.):
https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/comp..."

That's possible, but there wasn't any comment on either edition that either was an ARC. Plus, the ACEs were added by the author themselves.

Andrew wrote: "It'd appeared for Booksprout's ARC page at one point
https://images.app.goo.gl/cf6zQoioNWV..."

If you click to the ARC itself on Booksprout (same link), it has the current upcoming cover. It is an active ARC, so the author may have updated it:
https://booksprout.co/arc/32599/dark-...


Anyway, all of this diversion doesn't answer my initial question, as this isn't the first instance I've seen of authors adding ACEs to books not yet published (this was just one example).

Susie wrote: "I've noticed that there's been some confusion regarding the policy. Some authors are adding ACEs to books that aren't published as of yet, rather than asking for the cover to be updated instead."

I have seen this too. Sometimes it is because they want to go ahead and get the cover showing, because they can't figure out why they can't delete the old one (and may not know about the Librarians Group). They think they were supposed to be able to delete the old one but don't realize the correct procedure.

Or, they have asked in the group at the last minute but had a cover reveal coming up, and no one got to their request before they needed it showing.

Regarding the Librarian Manual, sometimes authors find it overwhelming when they do not regularly add books or visit Goodreads. Generally, it's much faster to ask in the group as we know. The Goodreads Help site moderators have recently made an announcement post regarding changes that can be requested in the Librarians Group for help questions that tend to get asked regularly.
From my experience, moderators are always happy to look at suggestions for changes, as what seems clear to you and me may not be clear to someone else.

Andrew wrote: "How would any Librarian know better than an author which pre-pub cover redesigns are a real ARC ACE, and which are not?

To quote the Manual: "err on the side of not deleting a book edition"

Which I imagine includes any possible ARC ACE"

I have been a GR librarian for near eight years. I've seen policy change on various things (and have assisted in creating policies) many times over - it's a fluid job. I've had the privilege of being told off by Rivka a couple of times. I won't say that I know the Librarian Manual inside out (I still have to double check a few times, especially after I've been away for a while), but I've created ACEs both before and after the policy change (and there was much dissent to the change, from those who've spent years tidying up editions in their specific area).

My point is, I most certainly know how to handle an ARC, and completely know the difference between "confused author" and "possible ARC".

Emily wrote: "I have seen this too. Sometimes it is because they want to go ahead and get the cover showing, because they can't figure out why they can't delete the old one (and may not know about the Librarians Group). They think they were supposed to be able to delete the old one but don't realize the correct procedure.

Or, they have asked in the group at the last minute but had a cover reveal coming up, and no one got to their request before they needed it showing.

Regarding the Librarian Manual, sometimes authors find it overwhelming when they do not regularly add books or visit Goodreads. Generally, it's much faster to ask in the group as we know. The Goodreads Help site moderators have recently made an announcement post regarding changes that can be requested in the Librarians Group for help questions that tend to get asked regularly.
From my experience, moderators are always happy to look at suggestions for changes, as what seems clear to you and me may not be clear to someone else."

Hi Emily,

That's exactly what I'm talking about!

The Authors FAQ is where I used to direct confused authors in the past. But now we have a situation where anyone can create an ACE, without completely understanding what it truly means.

One reason I posted here was I wanted to see if we could pull together some ideas to help ease the confusion. This isn't just an isolated case (as I mentioned above), but one example of it.

BTW, I haven't seen the announcement - is it possible you can link to it?

C. wrote: "Here is a direct link to the Help Announcement Emily mentioned: https://help.goodreads.com/s/announce..."

Thanks for that! :)