Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

A member in my group says her copy of this book/ISBN:
Holiday in Death

has the cover on this edition (which doesn't have an ISBN?)
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12...

I haven't worked with covers/alternate covers and would appreciate the help on this one.

If you look at the librarian note for the edition without an ISBN it says: alternate cover for ISBN 0-425-16371-7, which is the ISBN for the first edition you linked.

It looks like the one without an ISBN would be the one she would want to shelve, I added a note in the description as well so all users can see it.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "has the cover on this edition (which doesn't have an ISBN?)"

That's because it already is the alternate cover edition.

The second link you posted is labeled as the alternative cover edition of your first link (see here: Holiday in Death (In Death, #7)
My rating:
didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
add to my books
Holiday in Death (In Death #7)
by J.D. Robb
4.2 of 5 stars 420 · rating details · 7231 ratings · 210 reviews
Alternate Cover ISBN 0-425-16371-7 ). As you can only use every ISBN once, alternative cover editions just have this label but are clear of ISBNs. Both editions seem to be combined, so there is no need to do anything on this one. What she could do, is switch to the other edition if that's the book in the real shelf.

Apparently I'm confused about how alternate covers work (I don't give a diddly about covers, so this should be no surprise). However, it seems to me I've seen a link below a cover that says "alternate cover." There is no way a member without librarian status would know this was an alternate cover as far as I can see.

Cloudedleopard, the information you have in bold on your post #4 does not appear on the page when I access it.

I input "Alternate Cover-Art Edition" in the edition field for clarification.

I've never seen an actual link for it - some librarians do add the ISBNs in the description field, but many don't.

ETA: On second thought, it is possible that you saw a link for it. But the librarian who added/edited the edition in question would have had to manually input the link, it's not something that is normally done.

Haha, now that I access the link again what I posted bold is gone, but instead next to the mass market paperback is the addition that it is an alternative cover edition... ;-)

And I was a bit late for comment #6

But no, there was no information on that page about an alternate cover, which is why I posted here - nowhere! Thanks Experiment BL626 for the addition of that information.

ETA: I guess what I'm trying to say, as a follow-up, is that the everyday user wouldn't know it's an alternate cover edition if it doesn't say so anywhere. This piece of information should be clear to users.

Experiment BL626 wrote: "I input "Alternate Cover-Art Edition" in the edition field for clarification."

That has never been policy, and I'm not in favor.

Vicky wrote: "some librarians do add the ISBNs in the description field, but many don't."

It's certainly preferred, and it's there now for this book.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "This piece of information should be clear to users."

I agree. It's usually found in the description for the edition, often at the end.

rivka wrote: "Experiment BL626 wrote: "I input "Alternate Cover-Art Edition" in the edition field for clarification."

That has never been policy, and I'm not in favor."

But it is an alternate cover-art edition, most appropriate for the edition field is it not?

If you are suggesting a policy change, a new thread opening the suggestion for discussion would be appropriate.

rivka wrote: "If you are suggesting a policy change, a new thread opening the suggestion for discussion would be appropriate."

All right, I'll do it this existing thread of mine.

rivka wrote: "It's usually found in the description for the edition, often at the end."

Looks like we've been inconsistent about beginning/end of description field. Ok, it may be at the beginning OR the end.

rivka wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "This piece of information should be clear to users."

I agree. It's usually found in the description for the edition, often at the end."

;-) I'll see if I can pay closer attention next time this comes up.