Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

I've noticed a great deal when browsing books that several books contain an editoral review in their descriptions other than a product description and I was wondering, if there is a preference or rule about this?

I know most books recieve their data automatically through amazon but does this include the editorial review? And if not, let's say a librarian find a book with an empty description - should they put the first thing they find on the amazon (or other bookpages...) or look for a product description (which can usually be found by clicking on See all Product Description' or '"Read all Editorial Reviews')?

I would like to provide Goodreads with a jacket image for Diary of a Jetsetting Call Girl. I'm the author and rather new to this website. So, if I am going about this incorrectly, forgiveness please. My email address is TQ-at-TracyQuan.net. I'll be happy to email a jpg to the relevant party! I'm not qualified to be a librarian, so I cannot do this myself. But I love the jacket art (all credit to Natasha Law) and would love to hear back from someone. Many thanks for any help.

www.tracyquan.net

Tracy, I'd be happy to upload the cover art for this book, but if you'd like you can link your user profile to the author profile for Tracy Quan by going to the author page and scrolling down to the bottom where it says "Is this you?" This will give you full librarian control over books you've written. You don't have to, of course (you can read up on the details here) and if you'd rather not, just let me know and I'll send you my email address for the cover art!

Hi Cait

That is really kind of you! Thank you for posting and sorry it took awhile to respond. I've started that process ("is this you") and am still finding my way around. If you'd be willing to send me your email address, I will indeed send you the cover for my new book. I'm not yet sure I have the hang of all this yet. TQ-at-tracyquan.net

Cait, thanks again - I think I figured it out and the new jacket is visible. Thanks for offering to help a noobee.

Tracy, that's great! Sorry for not checking in sooner, but it looks like you've got it all set now.

I think that's a great question! Thoughts?

Leila asked:
I've noticed a great deal when browsing books that several books contain an editoral review in their descriptions other than a product description and I was wondering, if there is a preference or rule about this?

I know most books recieve their data automatically through amazon but does this include the editorial review? And if not, let's say a librarian find a book with an empty description - should they put the first thing they find on the amazon (or other bookpages...) or look for a product description (which can usually be found by clicking on See all Product Description' or '"Read all Editorial Reviews')?

Leila and Sally,

Sometimes Amazon will push through an editorial review if it's the first summary they have. Also, sometimes readers manually enter a book and put their reviews in the description section instead of in a review. I don't think it's something to worry about -- I don't tend to concern myself with book descriptions unless I need to add some variety of cataloging note, and I don't think many other librarians do either.

I think it should always be the product description and not the review. Sometimes, I correct these when I find them but often am too lazy :)

Well, the book description is something that every member sees so it should not contain personal opinion of Goodreads members, although some members do mistakenly put their "reviews" in this section.

The review section appears as on that member's book review/their shelf only and should be their opinion.

That's the distinction I make between the two fields.