Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

Hi! As a new librarian, I notice I'm more aware of anomalies (or what I think of as anomalies). So before I start pulling out my hair and changing everything in sight, I have to ask the question:

Are there such things as "open ebooks" and "mass market paperbounds" or is someone (or several someones) really really messing stuff up? Thanks!

I noticed the Open Ebooks and was wondering about that one, but I do know Mass Market Paperbacks. MM Paperbacks are the smaller editions that are more of a 4x6 size. My dad always called them "pocket" books. For example, most of Harlequin's lines are published exclusively as MM Paperbacks.

Oh, I know Mass Market Paperbacks. It's Mass Market PaperBOUNDS I wonder about…

As far as I know "paperbound" and "paperback" would be the same thing. Therefore, I would change them to Mass Market Paperback, especially given that we now have a filter on the editions page for formats. The formats used should come from the drop down options whenever possible. The "other" fill-in option should only be used if none of the drop-down options are appropriate.

As far as Open ebook, I believe this refers to the format of the ebook being an open format (versus proprietary formats like Kindle and Nook books). However, in the format drop down menu I would select ebook, and place "Open ebook" in the edition field (again to facilitate the usefulness of the format filter).

I did a quick google search, and it appears to be a legitimate way to describe a book:

https://catalog.simonandschuster.com/...

Maybe it's regional or "dialetic," but it seems to be legitimate. And, it seems just another name for mass market paperback. I wouldn't undo it.

While it is a legitimate way to describe the format, the current practice on Goodreads is to use consistent terminology. Therefore, synonymous terms are changed to one of the drop-down options. Users will sometimes write in "Hardback", instead of using "Hardcover" in the drop down. I always change these when I find them.

This is even more important now that we have the format filter on the editions page. Anybody who selects "Mass Market Paperback" on the filter will miss a book using the Paperbound terminology. They could assume the book is missing from the database, which can lead to both user and librarian frustration dealing with duplicate books, or ISBNs already in use.

The original intent of the drop down was to encourage users to select one of those options whenever reasonably possible. The "other" option should only be used when one of the standard formats can't be reasonably applied to the item in question.

:)

You and I cross-posted, vicki_girl, so I wasn't trying to contradict you. (I hope you didn't think so.) :)

Just a rhetorical question: If searching for paperback misses paperbound, wouldn't the converse be true?

I thought of it as offering a different opinion, which is exactly what these discussions are for! :)

The new format filter on the editions page only lets you select from the pre-populated options (which are identical to the drop-down menu options on the edit page). As of right now, you can't search on paperbound. :(

Okay, I just ran across one of these myself:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/69...

Looking at the librarian change log these are being imported from Ingram that way, not being changed by users. Therefore, I say definitely change them to be consistent with the preferred options from the drop-down menu.

I gotta say, Ingram did a lot of strange things to a lot of book records. paperbound is outta here! :)

I've been changing the 'paperbound' to the MMPaperback option as well. I've also noticed Ingram is extremely generous with the page numbers, often adding 20-30 more pages than the book actually physically contains. :D

We should be able to change how these import in future batches, but go ahead and fix the ones that are in the database already.

rivka wrote: "We should be able to change how these import in future batches, but go ahead and fix the ones that are in the database already."

Good to hear, and will do. :)


Thanks for chiming in everyone!

rivka wrote: "We should be able to change how these import in future batches, but go ahead and fix the ones that are in the database already."

However this is addressed, the following also need to be included:

1. "Open Ebook" being imported instead of ebook
2. "Analog Audio Cassette" being imported instead of Audio Cassette

#1 was already on the ticket, but I added #2.

Thanks! :)

I just found another one though...

3. "Compact Disc" being imported instead of Audio CD

Ok, added.

analog audio cassette?