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how to become a librarian
In order to become a librarian on Goodreads you must have at least 50 books in your profile, then just apply.
In order to become a librarian on Goodreads you must have at least 50 books in your profile, then just apply.
what can librarians do?
Goodreads members with Librarian Status can edit book and author data, add book covers, and combine different editions of books. Each book and author has one unique entry in the Goodreads database. Librarians help correct book issues, like if the data isn't correct, or is missing things like the book description or URL.
Goodreads members with Librarian Status can edit book and author data, add book covers, and combine different editions of books. Each book and author has one unique entry in the Goodreads database. Librarians help correct book issues, like if the data isn't correct, or is missing things like the book description or URL.
why not make everyone a librarian?
Initially, we allowed everyone to be a librarian. Anyone could edit book and author data, add cover images, or combine books. However, we found that while 99% of the people did a good job, occasionally we had someone who messed things up. So we created a new status that we bestow on those interested in helping keep things nice and tidy, which has worked out well.
Initially, we allowed everyone to be a librarian. Anyone could edit book and author data, add cover images, or combine books. However, we found that while 99% of the people did a good job, occasionally we had someone who messed things up. So we created a new status that we bestow on those interested in helping keep things nice and tidy, which has worked out well.
how to edit book or author information
To edit book or author information, navigate to the book or author's page, then click on the 'edit data' link which is found in the lower right side of the box containing the book or author's information. Please remember to be accurate in your edits, as your changes will be reflected on anyone's shelf who has that book.
To edit book or author information, navigate to the book or author's page, then click on the 'edit data' link which is found in the lower right side of the box containing the book or author's information. Please remember to be accurate in your edits, as your changes will be reflected on anyone's shelf who has that book.
tips for booksellers and authors
We welcome participation from organizations such as book stores, and we invite all published authors to join the Goodreads Author Program. However, spam and unsolicited advertising of any kind will not be tolerated and could lead to the permanent deletion of you Goodreads account. Posting of legitimate book reviews from organizations or individuals is the intended use of the site, but no review should have any content with an intent to sell. Goodreads members recognize this as spam, so this tactic is not a good strategy for gaining new customers. In contrast, becoming an active participant in literary discussion on Goodreads will win you friends and new readers.
We welcome participation from organizations such as book stores, and we invite all published authors to join the Goodreads Author Program. However, spam and unsolicited advertising of any kind will not be tolerated and could lead to the permanent deletion of you Goodreads account. Posting of legitimate book reviews from organizations or individuals is the intended use of the site, but no review should have any content with an intent to sell. Goodreads members recognize this as spam, so this tactic is not a good strategy for gaining new customers. In contrast, becoming an active participant in literary discussion on Goodreads will win you friends and new readers.
if a book is missing a cover image or other data
It is possible for members to change book covers, edit book and author data, and generally correct any inaccuracies. Much of Goodreads' data comes from Amazon, and occasionally the page number, author name, or publisher name is incorrect. To fix the data, look for the 'edit' link on any author or book profile page (lower right side of the box next to the image). However to keep the site clean we restrict this ability to people with 'librarian status'. We will grant this status to anyone with at least 50 books who applies. If you don't have enough books, you can always post your issue on the Goodreads Librarians group.
It is possible for members to change book covers, edit book and author data, and generally correct any inaccuracies. Much of Goodreads' data comes from Amazon, and occasionally the page number, author name, or publisher name is incorrect. To fix the data, look for the 'edit' link on any author or book profile page (lower right side of the box next to the image). However to keep the site clean we restrict this ability to people with 'librarian status'. We will grant this status to anyone with at least 50 books who applies. If you don't have enough books, you can always post your issue on the Goodreads Librarians group.
how to cancel your account
To cancel your account on Goodreads, select my account from the "hi [your name]" drop-down list at the top right of Goodreads. Then select the 'delete my account' link at the bottom of the right-hand column. Your account data, books, and friend list will permanently erased.
To cancel your account on Goodreads, select my account from the "hi [your name]" drop-down list at the top right of Goodreads. Then select the 'delete my account' link at the bottom of the right-hand column. Your account data, books, and friend list will permanently erased.
how to add a widget to my blog
You can post a widget which shows off a list of books in your shelves on your website or blog. To do so, login to Goodreads, click on my account at the top right corner of Goodreads, then select the 'widgets' tab. Follow the instructions to copy the widget code into your blog. You can choose to show off any shelf you like: read, currently reading, or any shelf of your choice. We have both flash widgets and javascript widgets - please make sure your blog software accepts flash or javascript.
You can post a widget which shows off a list of books in your shelves on your website or blog. To do so, login to Goodreads, click on my account at the top right corner of Goodreads, then select the 'widgets' tab. Follow the instructions to copy the widget code into your blog. You can choose to show off any shelf you like: read, currently reading, or any shelf of your choice. We have both flash widgets and javascript widgets - please make sure your blog software accepts flash or javascript.
using the book edit page
librarian change log
Clicking on this link will allow you to see a page listing all previous edits to the book and its associated editions
add a librarian note
The "add a librarian note" link is located above the Title field on the book edit page. Clicking it will bring up a text box that will allow you to attach a note regarding important information about the book. An important note may be about an ISBN conflict, that the edition is an alternate cover edition, that the book should not be combined with certain books, or anything else pertinent to cataloguing the book in the Goodreads database.
Librarian notes of this type are edition specific and will show up in a yellow box near the top of the book edit page and also in a yellow box below the specific edition on the author's combine page.
If a book has a Librarian Note attached when you go to edit it, please read it carefully and keep it in mind when doing any editing or combining. If a note has you confused, you can always post to the Goodreads Librarians Group and ask for help.
Here is an example of a book with a Librarian Note: LINK
title
Enter in the official title of the book as it is shown on the cover or binding. Use proper capitalization and punctuation (i.e. do not use all-caps or no-caps unless the author specifically formatted the title that way). Make sure to check your spelling since improperly spelled titles may make the book harder to find in the Goodreads database.
If the book is part of a series, that information should be included within parenthesis following the title. The standard accepted format on Goodreads is as follows:
(Series Name, #_)
Regarding the formatting of series information in book titles: many different formats have been used to label a series in the past on Goodreads and it created problems with librarians changing formats back and forth. After a discussion in the Goodreads Librarians Group, it was decided that the best way to format a series label was according to the example above. However, if you see a series labeled in a slightly different format, it is not necessary to re-format the label. The most important thing is that the book at least have a correct series name and volume number. But when adding a new series label, please use the accepted format stated above.
When deciding on what series name to use, it is best to use what the author uses. This can often be found by checking the author's official website. If there doesn't appear to be an official series name, it can be helpful to check the GR database to see how the other books in the series are labeled. If no series name is found, think of a label that best names the series in a descriptive, concise way and use that label for all books in the series. It's important that books in a series be labeled with the same series name so other users will know what books go together.
When numbering books in a series, be sure to number them in the correct, accepted order. The best place to find the correct order is often on the author's official website, or in some cases the cover of the book itself will include a volume number. If it cannot be found there, or the author does not have a site, you may be able to find the information via Wikipedia, FantasticFiction, Fictiondb, Google, or Google Books search. Or you can post in the Goodreads Librarians Group to see if anyone else knows or wants to help. It is often helpful to check multiple places to verify series information before beginning series labeling.
Examples of correct titles with series information:
The Unsung Hero (Troubleshooters, #1)
Bad Penny (Cat Dupree, #3)
Some books belong to more than one series. When that happens use two different sets of parentheses to note the series information.
Example of a book with multiple series:
His Only Obsession (The Protectors, #28) (Silhouette Intimate Moments, #1455)
When a book has a subtitle, the subtitle should separated from the main title by a colon (:) and a single space.
Example:
Ghosts of Gettysburg: Spirits, Apparitions and Haunted Places of the Battlefield
When the subtitle is the series name, omit and use the format above.
Example:
Among the Living (PsyCop, #1)
Not:
Among the Living: A PsyCop Novel (PsyCop, #1)
sort by title
This field is for the title that would be used when sorting by title so that articles like "A," "An," and "The" can be excluded.
Examples of sort by titles:
title: The Lawman
sort by title: lawman, the
title: The Unsung Hero (Troubleshooters, #1)
sort by title: unsung hero, the (troubleshooters, #1)
When initially manually adding a new edition to Goodreads, the system will automatically create the sort by title - but only for articles "a," "an," and "the." For titles that start with punctuation or for a translated title that starts with an article such as "la," the sort-by title will need to be manually set. If there is series information present in parenthesis following the title, Goodreads will change the sort by title to:
unsung hero (troubleshooters, #1), the
as opposed to:
unsung hero, the (troubleshooters, #1)
Either way is acceptable when manually editing the sort by title.
author
The first author field is for entering the primary author of the book. Be sure to properly spell and capitalize the name or the book will not link to the correct author profile and become harder to find in the GR database. Also, author names should be entered first name last name so they will link to the appropriate author profile on Goodreads. And only one author should be listed per author field.
Correct examples:
Suzanne Brockmann
Catherine Anderson
Incorrect examples:
Brockmann, Suzanne
Anderson Catherine
Suzanne Brockmann and Catherine Anderson
If an author uses initials in their name, the initials should contain NO spacing between them and be marked with a period.
Correct example:
J.D. Robb
Incorrect examples:
JD Robb
J D Robb
J. D. Robb
If an author uses his or her middle name or middle initial for their publications, then this should also be included in the author name. Initials should be followed by a period.
Example:
Jayne Ann Krentz
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Authors with titles or degrees (such as Dr., Sir, Ph.D., Captain, Reverend, etc) should NOT be included in the author name (unless necessary to avoid confusion).
Correct example:
Phillip C. McGraw
Incorrect Example:
Dr. Phillip C. McGraw
Authors with a relational suffix (Jr., Sr., III, etc) SHOULD be included in the author name separated ONLY by a space after the last name.
Correct example:
L.E. Modesitt Jr.
Incorrect example:
L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
If the book does not have a primary author, and instead has an editor, list the editor's name in the author field and click on the "add role" link next to the text box and input the word Editor (or other appropriate title).
Author roles should always be added using the "add role" feature next to the author name, and not by adding it in ( ) following the author name.
For audiobooks or translated editions, this field should list the author of the original work.
Regarding author pseudonyms or pen names - some authors write or have written under multiple names. When editing or adding information for a book written by an author with multiple names, enter the author's name as on the front cover as the primary author. The author's other names may be added in the other author fields. Original name or other pen names can added and linked via a Librarian Note: in the description field, or using the Librarian Note feature located above the Title field. In some cases, a book may be originally published under a pen name, but then later reissued under the author's original name. When this happens, the author listed for any and all editions should be the author name the book was originally published under - so the reissued edition would need its author name changed to the originally published pen name. Doing this will allow the various editions to be combined.
add new author (add role)
If there are multiple authors of a book, or persons with other roles, click on the "add new author" link below the first author field and a new text box will appear. Enter in a second author's name - or editor's, illustrator's, etc name - being sure to use correct spelling an formatting.
For audiobooks or translated editions this field can be used to list narrators or translators.
To label the role of the person listed, click the "add role" link to the right and input the role of the person.
If there is a third author/editor/etc, click the "add new author" link again and input the necessary information. Follow this procedure until all pertinent people are listed.
When a book has multiple authors they should be listed according to the order they show on the cover, if possible. The order also needs to be the same for any/all editions of the same book. This will allow for editions to be combined. If two editions of the same multi-author book do not have the same author listed first, the books can not be combined. So it is important to list multiple authors correctly.
Cover artists should NOT be listed in the author fields. Cover artists may be noted in the description field.
isbn - isbn13
An ISBN is an International Standard Book Number (Wikipedia definition) and is a 10 or 13-digit number that identifies a book. The ISBN can usually be found in several places on a book: on the back cover by the barcode, inside the front cover, and on the copyright page.
When editing book data, it is almost never necessary to alter the ISBN. This should only be done if you are absolutely, positively sure there is an error in the listed ISBN. If you are unsure, you can post to the Goodreads Librarians Group for assistance.
This field will mostly be used when manually adding a new edition to the Goodreads database. When doing this, enter the exact ISBN into the appropriate 10 or 13 digit field on the book edit page. It is best if you can list both the 10 and 13-digit numbers, as it will aid in future searches for the book. If only one is listed on the book itself, you can use the ISBN Converter here to retrieve whichever ISBN is missing.
If, when you save your changes to the book, a message appears telling you that the ISBN you entered is already in the Goodreads database, the problem could be one of several. First, in the red outlined box at the top of the page, there will be a link to the existing book with the ISBN you entered. Go to that link and see if it is the book you were trying to manually enter. If it is, you can simply close the page with the edition you were trying to add then add the existing book to your Goodreads Bookshelves.
However, if the books do not match, it's usually one of two issues. First, if it is the same book but with a different cover, then it is likely the ISBN was reused for a later/earlier reprinting. If that is the case, you can manually add a new edition to the database that would be an 'alternate cover edition.' This is done because as of now, it is not possible to upload multiple covers of a book, and because changing the cover of an existing edition is not ideal. Some people may have added the existing edition with that specific cover because it is the one they own. If you want to have an edition shelved with your specific cover, then it is accepted procedure to create a new edition with your cover art. However, since an ISBN can only be used once in the database, leave the ISBN fields on your new edition blank then in the Description field, add a Librarian's Note: stating that it is an alternate cover edition and state the ISBN. You can also use the Librarian Note feature found near the top of the book edit page to attach a note to the book (this helps prevent the book from accidentally being deleted by a librarian who thinks it is an invalid entry).
Here is an example of an alternate cover edition of a book: LINK
In the other case of duplicate ISBNs, it may be that an ISBN was reused on a complete different book. This shouldn't happen because ISBNs are supposed to be unique, but exceptions have been found. If that is the case, manually add a new edition to the database, leaving the ISBN field blank then in the Description field, add a note stating the issue with the ISBN and listing the actual ISBN. You can also use the Librarian Note feature found near the top of the book edit page to attach a note to the book (this helps prevent the book from accidentally being deleted by a librarian who thinks it is an invalid entry).
Here is an example of a book where an ISBN was reused on a completely different book: LINK
It is important never to alter an ISBN simply to get a book to save (if getting an ISBN error when trying to save). ISBNs are specific numbers associated with specific books. Changing those numbers can make identifying the book difficult and cause problems for the Goodreads database. So always enter the correct ISBN. If there is a problem with the ISBN already being used, see the above sections for other methods of adding a book when there is an ISBN conflict, or post a message in the Goodreads Librarians Group asking for help.
PLEASE NOTE: Whenever manually adding a new edition to the Goodreads database, it is important to fill in as much information as possible. This will help not only other users who may want to add that specific edition to their bookshelves, but it will also help ensure that another librarian does not delete it thinking it is an invalid entry.
ALSO NOTE: ISBNs were not used until 1966 and did not become widely used until the early-to-mid 70's, so books published before or around that time do not have an ISBN - though it is possible for a pre-ISBN book to become associated with an ISBN due to an ISBN being added when/if another printing of the edition occurred after the initiation of ISBNs. Pre-ISBN books can be added to Goodreads by manually adding a new edition, leaving the ISBN field blank and adding note to the description stating it is a pre-ISBN book. The book may have another identifying number such as an ASIN or LCCN and those can be added to the note as well. A note can also be added using the Librarian Note feature linked near the top of the book edit page. An ASIN, LCCN or other identifying number should never be entered into the ISBN fields.
librarian change log
Clicking on this link will allow you to see a page listing all previous edits to the book and its associated editions
add a librarian note
The "add a librarian note" link is located above the Title field on the book edit page. Clicking it will bring up a text box that will allow you to attach a note regarding important information about the book. An important note may be about an ISBN conflict, that the edition is an alternate cover edition, that the book should not be combined with certain books, or anything else pertinent to cataloguing the book in the Goodreads database.
Librarian notes of this type are edition specific and will show up in a yellow box near the top of the book edit page and also in a yellow box below the specific edition on the author's combine page.
If a book has a Librarian Note attached when you go to edit it, please read it carefully and keep it in mind when doing any editing or combining. If a note has you confused, you can always post to the Goodreads Librarians Group and ask for help.
Here is an example of a book with a Librarian Note: LINK
title
Enter in the official title of the book as it is shown on the cover or binding. Use proper capitalization and punctuation (i.e. do not use all-caps or no-caps unless the author specifically formatted the title that way). Make sure to check your spelling since improperly spelled titles may make the book harder to find in the Goodreads database.
If the book is part of a series, that information should be included within parenthesis following the title. The standard accepted format on Goodreads is as follows:
(Series Name, #_)
Regarding the formatting of series information in book titles: many different formats have been used to label a series in the past on Goodreads and it created problems with librarians changing formats back and forth. After a discussion in the Goodreads Librarians Group, it was decided that the best way to format a series label was according to the example above. However, if you see a series labeled in a slightly different format, it is not necessary to re-format the label. The most important thing is that the book at least have a correct series name and volume number. But when adding a new series label, please use the accepted format stated above.
When deciding on what series name to use, it is best to use what the author uses. This can often be found by checking the author's official website. If there doesn't appear to be an official series name, it can be helpful to check the GR database to see how the other books in the series are labeled. If no series name is found, think of a label that best names the series in a descriptive, concise way and use that label for all books in the series. It's important that books in a series be labeled with the same series name so other users will know what books go together.
When numbering books in a series, be sure to number them in the correct, accepted order. The best place to find the correct order is often on the author's official website, or in some cases the cover of the book itself will include a volume number. If it cannot be found there, or the author does not have a site, you may be able to find the information via Wikipedia, FantasticFiction, Fictiondb, Google, or Google Books search. Or you can post in the Goodreads Librarians Group to see if anyone else knows or wants to help. It is often helpful to check multiple places to verify series information before beginning series labeling.
Examples of correct titles with series information:
The Unsung Hero (Troubleshooters, #1)
Bad Penny (Cat Dupree, #3)
Some books belong to more than one series. When that happens use two different sets of parentheses to note the series information.
Example of a book with multiple series:
His Only Obsession (The Protectors, #28) (Silhouette Intimate Moments, #1455)
When a book has a subtitle, the subtitle should separated from the main title by a colon (:) and a single space.
Example:
Ghosts of Gettysburg: Spirits, Apparitions and Haunted Places of the Battlefield
When the subtitle is the series name, omit and use the format above.
Example:
Among the Living (PsyCop, #1)
Not:
Among the Living: A PsyCop Novel (PsyCop, #1)
sort by title
This field is for the title that would be used when sorting by title so that articles like "A," "An," and "The" can be excluded.
Examples of sort by titles:
title: The Lawman
sort by title: lawman, the
title: The Unsung Hero (Troubleshooters, #1)
sort by title: unsung hero, the (troubleshooters, #1)
When initially manually adding a new edition to Goodreads, the system will automatically create the sort by title - but only for articles "a," "an," and "the." For titles that start with punctuation or for a translated title that starts with an article such as "la," the sort-by title will need to be manually set. If there is series information present in parenthesis following the title, Goodreads will change the sort by title to:
unsung hero (troubleshooters, #1), the
as opposed to:
unsung hero, the (troubleshooters, #1)
Either way is acceptable when manually editing the sort by title.
author
The first author field is for entering the primary author of the book. Be sure to properly spell and capitalize the name or the book will not link to the correct author profile and become harder to find in the GR database. Also, author names should be entered first name last name so they will link to the appropriate author profile on Goodreads. And only one author should be listed per author field.
Correct examples:
Suzanne Brockmann
Catherine Anderson
Incorrect examples:
Brockmann, Suzanne
Anderson Catherine
Suzanne Brockmann and Catherine Anderson
If an author uses initials in their name, the initials should contain NO spacing between them and be marked with a period.
Correct example:
J.D. Robb
Incorrect examples:
JD Robb
J D Robb
J. D. Robb
If an author uses his or her middle name or middle initial for their publications, then this should also be included in the author name. Initials should be followed by a period.
Example:
Jayne Ann Krentz
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Authors with titles or degrees (such as Dr., Sir, Ph.D., Captain, Reverend, etc) should NOT be included in the author name (unless necessary to avoid confusion).
Correct example:
Phillip C. McGraw
Incorrect Example:
Dr. Phillip C. McGraw
Authors with a relational suffix (Jr., Sr., III, etc) SHOULD be included in the author name separated ONLY by a space after the last name.
Correct example:
L.E. Modesitt Jr.
Incorrect example:
L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
If the book does not have a primary author, and instead has an editor, list the editor's name in the author field and click on the "add role" link next to the text box and input the word Editor (or other appropriate title).
Author roles should always be added using the "add role" feature next to the author name, and not by adding it in ( ) following the author name.
For audiobooks or translated editions, this field should list the author of the original work.
Regarding author pseudonyms or pen names - some authors write or have written under multiple names. When editing or adding information for a book written by an author with multiple names, enter the author's name as on the front cover as the primary author. The author's other names may be added in the other author fields. Original name or other pen names can added and linked via a Librarian Note: in the description field, or using the Librarian Note feature located above the Title field. In some cases, a book may be originally published under a pen name, but then later reissued under the author's original name. When this happens, the author listed for any and all editions should be the author name the book was originally published under - so the reissued edition would need its author name changed to the originally published pen name. Doing this will allow the various editions to be combined.
add new author (add role)
If there are multiple authors of a book, or persons with other roles, click on the "add new author" link below the first author field and a new text box will appear. Enter in a second author's name - or editor's, illustrator's, etc name - being sure to use correct spelling an formatting.
For audiobooks or translated editions this field can be used to list narrators or translators.
To label the role of the person listed, click the "add role" link to the right and input the role of the person.
If there is a third author/editor/etc, click the "add new author" link again and input the necessary information. Follow this procedure until all pertinent people are listed.
When a book has multiple authors they should be listed according to the order they show on the cover, if possible. The order also needs to be the same for any/all editions of the same book. This will allow for editions to be combined. If two editions of the same multi-author book do not have the same author listed first, the books can not be combined. So it is important to list multiple authors correctly.
Cover artists should NOT be listed in the author fields. Cover artists may be noted in the description field.
isbn - isbn13
An ISBN is an International Standard Book Number (Wikipedia definition) and is a 10 or 13-digit number that identifies a book. The ISBN can usually be found in several places on a book: on the back cover by the barcode, inside the front cover, and on the copyright page.
When editing book data, it is almost never necessary to alter the ISBN. This should only be done if you are absolutely, positively sure there is an error in the listed ISBN. If you are unsure, you can post to the Goodreads Librarians Group for assistance.
This field will mostly be used when manually adding a new edition to the Goodreads database. When doing this, enter the exact ISBN into the appropriate 10 or 13 digit field on the book edit page. It is best if you can list both the 10 and 13-digit numbers, as it will aid in future searches for the book. If only one is listed on the book itself, you can use the ISBN Converter here to retrieve whichever ISBN is missing.
If, when you save your changes to the book, a message appears telling you that the ISBN you entered is already in the Goodreads database, the problem could be one of several. First, in the red outlined box at the top of the page, there will be a link to the existing book with the ISBN you entered. Go to that link and see if it is the book you were trying to manually enter. If it is, you can simply close the page with the edition you were trying to add then add the existing book to your Goodreads Bookshelves.
However, if the books do not match, it's usually one of two issues. First, if it is the same book but with a different cover, then it is likely the ISBN was reused for a later/earlier reprinting. If that is the case, you can manually add a new edition to the database that would be an 'alternate cover edition.' This is done because as of now, it is not possible to upload multiple covers of a book, and because changing the cover of an existing edition is not ideal. Some people may have added the existing edition with that specific cover because it is the one they own. If you want to have an edition shelved with your specific cover, then it is accepted procedure to create a new edition with your cover art. However, since an ISBN can only be used once in the database, leave the ISBN fields on your new edition blank then in the Description field, add a Librarian's Note: stating that it is an alternate cover edition and state the ISBN. You can also use the Librarian Note feature found near the top of the book edit page to attach a note to the book (this helps prevent the book from accidentally being deleted by a librarian who thinks it is an invalid entry).
Here is an example of an alternate cover edition of a book: LINK
In the other case of duplicate ISBNs, it may be that an ISBN was reused on a complete different book. This shouldn't happen because ISBNs are supposed to be unique, but exceptions have been found. If that is the case, manually add a new edition to the database, leaving the ISBN field blank then in the Description field, add a note stating the issue with the ISBN and listing the actual ISBN. You can also use the Librarian Note feature found near the top of the book edit page to attach a note to the book (this helps prevent the book from accidentally being deleted by a librarian who thinks it is an invalid entry).
Here is an example of a book where an ISBN was reused on a completely different book: LINK
It is important never to alter an ISBN simply to get a book to save (if getting an ISBN error when trying to save). ISBNs are specific numbers associated with specific books. Changing those numbers can make identifying the book difficult and cause problems for the Goodreads database. So always enter the correct ISBN. If there is a problem with the ISBN already being used, see the above sections for other methods of adding a book when there is an ISBN conflict, or post a message in the Goodreads Librarians Group asking for help.
PLEASE NOTE: Whenever manually adding a new edition to the Goodreads database, it is important to fill in as much information as possible. This will help not only other users who may want to add that specific edition to their bookshelves, but it will also help ensure that another librarian does not delete it thinking it is an invalid entry.
ALSO NOTE: ISBNs were not used until 1966 and did not become widely used until the early-to-mid 70's, so books published before or around that time do not have an ISBN - though it is possible for a pre-ISBN book to become associated with an ISBN due to an ISBN being added when/if another printing of the edition occurred after the initiation of ISBNs. Pre-ISBN books can be added to Goodreads by manually adding a new edition, leaving the ISBN field blank and adding note to the description stating it is a pre-ISBN book. The book may have another identifying number such as an ASIN or LCCN and those can be added to the note as well. A note can also be added using the Librarian Note feature linked near the top of the book edit page. An ASIN, LCCN or other identifying number should never be entered into the ISBN fields.
what is a Goodreads librarian
Goodreads Librarians are people who are dedicated to improving Goodreads' data. Librarians can edit book and author information, as well as combine separate editions of books to help aggregate reviews and ratings. In order to become a librarian on Goodreads you must have at least 50 books in your profile, then just apply.
Goodreads Librarians are people who are dedicated to improving Goodreads' data. Librarians can edit book and author information, as well as combine separate editions of books to help aggregate reviews and ratings. In order to become a librarian on Goodreads you must have at least 50 books in your profile, then just apply.
how to unsubscribe from emails
To change the frequency (daily or weekly) or unsubscribe from the Goodreads update email or any other email, click on my account at the top right corner of Goodreads, then click the 'notifications' tab. All email settings can be controlled on this page.
To change the frequency (daily or weekly) or unsubscribe from the Goodreads update email or any other email, click on my account at the top right corner of Goodreads, then click the 'notifications' tab. All email settings can be controlled on this page.
what is the Goodreads Authors Program?
The Goodreads Authors Program is designed for published authors to have a presence on Goodreads. Goodreads Authors can connect with fans, add excerpts of their writing, post upcoming events, and add photos and videos of themselves. In order to join our Authors Program, you must have your books listed on Goodreads. The easiest way to do this is to ensure they listed on Amazon, as when books are on Amazon they are automatically found on Goodreads. If you don't have any work on Amazon, the best thing to is is manually add your books to Goodreads (advanced search => manually add). Then just follow the instructions here: http://www.goodreads.com/author/program.
The Goodreads Authors Program is designed for published authors to have a presence on Goodreads. Goodreads Authors can connect with fans, add excerpts of their writing, post upcoming events, and add photos and videos of themselves. In order to join our Authors Program, you must have your books listed on Goodreads. The easiest way to do this is to ensure they listed on Amazon, as when books are on Amazon they are automatically found on Goodreads. If you don't have any work on Amazon, the best thing to is is manually add your books to Goodreads (advanced search => manually add). Then just follow the instructions here: http://www.goodreads.com/author/program.
what do I do if I'm not receiving emails?
If you are not receiving emails from Goodreads, please check your bulk or spam folder. Also make sure to add no-reply@mail.goodreads.com to your contacts to help ensure deliverability. Making sure your email address is verified in your account may also help. If you've done all that, email notifications such as the friend update email, daily group digests, or message notifications may be blocked by your ISP, so you may want to contact them.
If you are not receiving emails from Goodreads, please check your bulk or spam folder. Also make sure to add no-reply@mail.goodreads.com to your contacts to help ensure deliverability. Making sure your email address is verified in your account may also help. If you've done all that, email notifications such as the friend update email, daily group digests, or message notifications may be blocked by your ISP, so you may want to contact them.
why am I asked to import my address book?
Goodreads allows you to import your Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, or Aol address book to connect with your friends. This feature is entirely optional, and for your convenience. Privacy is very important to us, as we need to have the trust of our members in order to have a successful product. Just as we keep your profile data securely we handle your address book email and password securely, and do not under any circumstances store them. Please read our privacy policy for more information.
Goodreads allows you to import your Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, or Aol address book to connect with your friends. This feature is entirely optional, and for your convenience. Privacy is very important to us, as we need to have the trust of our members in order to have a successful product. Just as we keep your profile data securely we handle your address book email and password securely, and do not under any circumstances store them. Please read our privacy policy for more information.
how to remove a friend
To remove a friend, click the "friends" tab in the header then the "edit friends" button. Click the X next to the name you wish to remove. The friend will not be notified. You can also navigate to the friends profile and click on the 'remove as friend' link which is under the 'more...' dropdown next to the 'send message' link.
To remove a friend, click the "friends" tab in the header then the "edit friends" button. Click the X next to the name you wish to remove. The friend will not be notified. You can also navigate to the friends profile and click on the 'remove as friend' link which is under the 'more...' dropdown next to the 'send message' link.
using the book edit page: part 2
publisher
In this field, list the publisher of the book, such as Bantam, Jove, Berkley, etc. The name of the publisher can often be found on the spine of the book, the back cover, and/or the copyright or title pages.
Be sure to properly spell, punctuate, and capitalize the publisher name - it is not necessary to use ALL CAPS for the publisher name even if that is the way it is written on the spine. Capitalizing the first letter is best.
published - month - day
This field is for noting the date the edition associated with the listed ISBN was published. Date published can most usually be found on the copyright page of a book. That page will tell you when the work was copyrighted - and if the book is a first edition, the copyright date will be the same as the date published. If it is a later edition, the date will be different. Some books, not all, will list dates for subsequent publications somewhere on the copyright page. The last date listed is what should be used to fill in the date published. If you know the book is a reprinting/reissue published later than the copyright date, but no other dates are given you can A) if the book already has a date published supplied by Amazon, leave it as is; B) research the publication date for the edition you have using Google, Google Books, Worldcat, Library of Congress, the author's website or numerous other resources; or C) use the copyright date as the date published.
Example:
year: 2008
month: September
day: 22
Adding the month and day are optional. They should be included if known. Year is also technically optional, but it is strongly encouraged that a year always be included.
number of pages
This is for entering the number of pages of a book. The number of pages should include the relevant text of the book -- glossaries, appendices, author's notes, etc should be included in the page count if they are labeled with regular numbers, but not if they are labeled by Roman Numerals. Ads, book previews, author biographies, and other such unrelated text should NOT be included in the page count.
Books already in the database that were imported from Amazon often already have pages numbers, and these are often incorrect. Amazon appears to have default page numbers according to the publisher and type of book. These can be corrected, but only if you have the exact book with a matching ISBN.
format
In this field the format/binding type of the book can be added - i.e. Hardcover, Paperback, Mass Market Paperback, Audio CD, ebook, etc.
The format field has a drop-down box with the most common formats. Select the one that matches the book you have. If there is not an appropriate format, click on the "other" link next to the format field. The field will then turn into a text box where you can type in the format of the book. Please use the existing formats if possible (i.e. use Hardcover instead of manually listing Hardback, etc) and if manually adding a format, use correct spelling, capitalization and punctuation.
edition
This field is for such things as "2nd edition", "Film Tie-In Edition", "Large Print", "Special Illustrated Edition" and other edition-specific data that belongs neither in the title nor the format fields.
official URL
This field is for entering a URL officially associated with that book, such as an author or publisher's website for the book, or a page on an author's site for the book. Fan sites, reviews, book sellers, Wiki pages or other such pages should NOT be listed.
Be sure to include the entire link, including the http:// part.
Example of an acceptable link:
http://www.suzannebrockmann.com/breaking_point.htm
Examples of unacceptable links:
http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Point-Troubleshooters-Book-9/dp/0345480139
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Brockmann#Troubleshooter.2C_Inc._Series
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzanne-Brockmann/47043285969
description
The description field is for entering a summary of the work. The best description to enter is one found on the back cover or on the dust jacket of the book. If the book does not have a summary listed anywhere on the cover or pages, you can copy a description from a different edition or you can write your own. The description can be a couple of sentences or a couple of paragraphs describing the content of the book. It should be a generic summary and should NOT include reviews or personal feelings (i.e. "This is a book about sisters. It was good. You should read it"). The summary should also NOT contain any important spoilers such as mentions of characters deaths, how the book ends, major twists or other information that would spoil the story for those who have not read it.
Descriptions copied from an outside source, such as Wikipedia, should contain a short citation stating where the summary originated from.
primary language
This field is for selecting the language of the specific edition of the book you are editing was written. For example, if the book you are editing is a German translation of a book originally written in English, the language should be listed as German.
dimensions
The dimensions area is for adding size/weight information regarding a specific edition of a book, which will later become helpful when Goodreads improves on their bookswap feature.
Measurements should be made in inches for length, width and height (thickness), and in ounces for weight.
Length = the length of the book is the measurement from the bottom of the front cover to the top of the front cover.
Width = the width of the book is the measurement from the spine of the book to the page edge.
Height (Thickness) = the height (thickness) of the book is the measurement from the front cover, across the page edges, to the back cover
Dimensions are edition specific and should only be added if you have the exact information for the specific ISBN of the book you are editing.
NOTE: some books may have dimensions imported by Amazon. These may or may not be entirely accurate. If you have the specific ISBN book and notice an inaccuracy, it is acceptable to correct it.
source
Source is an un-editable field generated by Goodreads. It tells you where the book originated from - whether it was imported from Amazon, or created by a user.
created
This is another un-editable field. It tells when the edition was added to the Goodreads database and also tells when it was last edited.
publisher
In this field, list the publisher of the book, such as Bantam, Jove, Berkley, etc. The name of the publisher can often be found on the spine of the book, the back cover, and/or the copyright or title pages.
Be sure to properly spell, punctuate, and capitalize the publisher name - it is not necessary to use ALL CAPS for the publisher name even if that is the way it is written on the spine. Capitalizing the first letter is best.
published - month - day
This field is for noting the date the edition associated with the listed ISBN was published. Date published can most usually be found on the copyright page of a book. That page will tell you when the work was copyrighted - and if the book is a first edition, the copyright date will be the same as the date published. If it is a later edition, the date will be different. Some books, not all, will list dates for subsequent publications somewhere on the copyright page. The last date listed is what should be used to fill in the date published. If you know the book is a reprinting/reissue published later than the copyright date, but no other dates are given you can A) if the book already has a date published supplied by Amazon, leave it as is; B) research the publication date for the edition you have using Google, Google Books, Worldcat, Library of Congress, the author's website or numerous other resources; or C) use the copyright date as the date published.
Example:
year: 2008
month: September
day: 22
Adding the month and day are optional. They should be included if known. Year is also technically optional, but it is strongly encouraged that a year always be included.
number of pages
This is for entering the number of pages of a book. The number of pages should include the relevant text of the book -- glossaries, appendices, author's notes, etc should be included in the page count if they are labeled with regular numbers, but not if they are labeled by Roman Numerals. Ads, book previews, author biographies, and other such unrelated text should NOT be included in the page count.
Books already in the database that were imported from Amazon often already have pages numbers, and these are often incorrect. Amazon appears to have default page numbers according to the publisher and type of book. These can be corrected, but only if you have the exact book with a matching ISBN.
format
In this field the format/binding type of the book can be added - i.e. Hardcover, Paperback, Mass Market Paperback, Audio CD, ebook, etc.
The format field has a drop-down box with the most common formats. Select the one that matches the book you have. If there is not an appropriate format, click on the "other" link next to the format field. The field will then turn into a text box where you can type in the format of the book. Please use the existing formats if possible (i.e. use Hardcover instead of manually listing Hardback, etc) and if manually adding a format, use correct spelling, capitalization and punctuation.
edition
This field is for such things as "2nd edition", "Film Tie-In Edition", "Large Print", "Special Illustrated Edition" and other edition-specific data that belongs neither in the title nor the format fields.
official URL
This field is for entering a URL officially associated with that book, such as an author or publisher's website for the book, or a page on an author's site for the book. Fan sites, reviews, book sellers, Wiki pages or other such pages should NOT be listed.
Be sure to include the entire link, including the http:// part.
Example of an acceptable link:
http://www.suzannebrockmann.com/breaking_point.htm
Examples of unacceptable links:
http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Point-Troubleshooters-Book-9/dp/0345480139
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Brockmann#Troubleshooter.2C_Inc._Series
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzanne-Brockmann/47043285969
description
The description field is for entering a summary of the work. The best description to enter is one found on the back cover or on the dust jacket of the book. If the book does not have a summary listed anywhere on the cover or pages, you can copy a description from a different edition or you can write your own. The description can be a couple of sentences or a couple of paragraphs describing the content of the book. It should be a generic summary and should NOT include reviews or personal feelings (i.e. "This is a book about sisters. It was good. You should read it"). The summary should also NOT contain any important spoilers such as mentions of characters deaths, how the book ends, major twists or other information that would spoil the story for those who have not read it.
Descriptions copied from an outside source, such as Wikipedia, should contain a short citation stating where the summary originated from.
primary language
This field is for selecting the language of the specific edition of the book you are editing was written. For example, if the book you are editing is a German translation of a book originally written in English, the language should be listed as German.
dimensions
The dimensions area is for adding size/weight information regarding a specific edition of a book, which will later become helpful when Goodreads improves on their bookswap feature.
Measurements should be made in inches for length, width and height (thickness), and in ounces for weight.
Length = the length of the book is the measurement from the bottom of the front cover to the top of the front cover.
Width = the width of the book is the measurement from the spine of the book to the page edge.
Height (Thickness) = the height (thickness) of the book is the measurement from the front cover, across the page edges, to the back cover
Dimensions are edition specific and should only be added if you have the exact information for the specific ISBN of the book you are editing.
NOTE: some books may have dimensions imported by Amazon. These may or may not be entirely accurate. If you have the specific ISBN book and notice an inaccuracy, it is acceptable to correct it.
source
Source is an un-editable field generated by Goodreads. It tells you where the book originated from - whether it was imported from Amazon, or created by a user.
created
This is another un-editable field. It tells when the edition was added to the Goodreads database and also tells when it was last edited.
I noticed an odd or inaccurate avg rating or other data
Goodreads often caches data, and sometimes it gets out of sync. Cached items include average ratings for books, the number of books in "my books", the number of friends in your friends list, the number of books an author has and other items. We correct all cached items each night, but even so sometimes observant people notice the discrepancies. We are working to fix all the issues, but until we do just be assured things will be corrected each night.
Goodreads often caches data, and sometimes it gets out of sync. Cached items include average ratings for books, the number of books in "my books", the number of friends in your friends list, the number of books an author has and other items. We correct all cached items each night, but even so sometimes observant people notice the discrepancies. We are working to fix all the issues, but until we do just be assured things will be corrected each night.
how to shelve your books
To add books you've read to a shelf, use the 'bookshelves' dropdown while editing a review. All the books you add are in the 'read' shelf by default, unless you add them to the 'currently-reading' or 'to-read' shelf using the bookshelves dropdown. You can create additional shelves that are mutually exclusive with the 'read', 'to-read', and 'currently-read' shelves by clicking on 'edit shelves' from the homepage. You can also create your own bookshelves (also known as tags or lists), and add the book to as many of them as you like.
To add books you've read to a shelf, use the 'bookshelves' dropdown while editing a review. All the books you add are in the 'read' shelf by default, unless you add them to the 'currently-reading' or 'to-read' shelf using the bookshelves dropdown. You can create additional shelves that are mutually exclusive with the 'read', 'to-read', and 'currently-read' shelves by clicking on 'edit shelves' from the homepage. You can also create your own bookshelves (also known as tags or lists), and add the book to as many of them as you like.
does Goodreads have a MySpace app?
Goodreads does have a MySpace app. It can be found here or by searching for "Goodreads" on MySpace. The Goodreads MySpace app offers most features available on Goodreads, and is a great way to keep updated on what your MySpace friends are reading.
Goodreads does have a MySpace app. It can be found here or by searching for "Goodreads" on MySpace. The Goodreads MySpace app offers most features available on Goodreads, and is a great way to keep updated on what your MySpace friends are reading.
how to change your email address
To change your email address or other personal information such as name, username, password, location, etc, select my account from the "Hi [your name]" drop-down list in the top right corner of Goodreads. Choose "my account." The right side of the screen will be "my account settings." You will see the option to change your email there.
To change your email address or other personal information such as name, username, password, location, etc, select my account from the "Hi [your name]" drop-down list in the top right corner of Goodreads. Choose "my account." The right side of the screen will be "my account settings." You will see the option to change your email there.
using the book edit page: work-specific data
original publication year
This field is for entering the date at which the work was originally first published. For example, if you are editing a 3rd edition of book XYZ, published in 2009, but the 1st edition was published in 1985, the original publication date would be 1985. Determining the original publication date can often be done by checking the copyright page of the book and seeing when it was copyrighted.
Original publication date will populate through every edition combined with the edition you are working on.
characters
The characters area can be used for listing the important characters of a book. To edit this area, click on the "edit characters" link. This will take you to a new page where you can enter new characters or edit existing ones. Characters should be entered one at a time using full names, if possible. Some characters are used through multiple books, so please be sure to enter character names the same way for each book. Always use correct spelling, punctuation and capitalization. If a character has a nickname, you can include the name in "" between the first and last name.
Correct examples:
John Smith
Jane Doe
John "Mac" Smith
Incorrect examples:
John Smith & Jane Doe
John Smith and Jane Doe
John Smith / Jane Doe
Keep in mind that the characters you enter should be critical characters to the story. It is not necessary to list every name you come across, only the ones of most importance.
Characters will populate through every edition combined with the edition you are working on.
NOTE: be sure to save any existing edits to the book before clicking to the "edit characters" link.
literary awards
In this field you can list any literary awards the book has won. If the book has won more than one award, list the various awards separated by commas.
Literary awards will populate through every edition combined with the edition you are working on.
setting
The setting field is for noting what location(s) the book takes place in.
Setting will populate through every edition combined with the edition you are working on.
change comment
The change comment text box is for adding a reason about WHY you made a specific change to a book. This is to help other librarians understand changes made to a book that may not make sense.
If you are simply ADDING information to a book that was previously lacking it, you can say "adding additional information" or "adding a description" or anything of the like.
However, if you are CHANGING existing information, especially information already edited by another librarian then it is important to state WHY you are making the changes. For example, if you are renumbering a series or changing the series name, it is extremely important to say why so that other librarians will understand. So if you use a series list on an author's website to renumber a series, then state that and give a link to the website in the change comment box. This type of information will hopefully prevent the often encountered problems of multiple librarians changing information back and forth on books.
Remember, that if you are ever in doubt of a change you are considering making on a book, you can always post a question to the Goodreads Librarians Group and ask for help.
librarian comment - add a comment
This section is a discussion area for the specific edition you are editing. It can be used for librarians to discuss any issues regarding the information available for a book and functions similar to discussion topics in Groups.
If you have a question of a concern about available information for a specific edition, you can click on the "add a comment" link and type in a comment regarding you concern or question. The comment will then be attached to the bottom of the book page and be visible to and available for discussion by other librarians who go into that book's edit page.
PLEASE BE AWARE: that your comment will only get a response if another librarian sees the comment and chooses to respond to it. So if no other librarian goes to the book's edit page for a long time, you comment will not get a quick response. If you have an urgent problem regarding a book, it is best to post to the Goodreads Librarians Group.
upload photo
This section is for uploading the front cover image of the book. The only image that should be uploaded is the specific cover associated with the ISBN of the book you are editing. If there is an existing cover that does not match your book, please see the section on ISBNs regarding multiple covers for one ISBN. Existing covers should rarely be deleted and only done if you absolutely know that cover is in no way associated with that ISBN. When in doubt, you can always post a question to the Goodreads Librarians Group and ask for help.
Cover images uploaded should only be an image of the actual front cover (which will typically have title and author on it), and should not be an image of the art used to later create the book cover.
upload ebook with format
Here you can select to upload an ebook of specific format. Ebooks should only be uploaded if it is legal to do so.
Refresh book data from Amazon (or Barnes&Noble)
Clicking this link will refresh the book data to the default information available from Amazon (or Barnes&Noble). This function should be used carefully because it will overwrite much of the existing data for a book (such as series information, dates, publisher, page number, description, etc).
Refresh book rating stats
Clicking this link will recalculate the statistics for a book (number of reviews, average rating). This is helpful to do if you notice the statistics do not seem right.
Some general suggestions for entering/editing book data:
* Always think twice before changing existing data.
* Follow the guidelines above as closely as possible.
* If you are unsure why something is listed the way it is, you can check the "librarian change log" for the book (linked on the right side of the page below the book cover area). The log will tell you what edits were previously done on the book. If no prior edits are listed, it is likely fine to make the changes you feel necessary. If there are other edits, you may want to read through the edits to see what was changed, and if any of the changes contradict a change you planned to make, you may want to either send a personal message to the librarian who made the change to discuss the reasons for it, or post to the Goodreads Librarians Group to ask for help in finding a solution.
original publication year
This field is for entering the date at which the work was originally first published. For example, if you are editing a 3rd edition of book XYZ, published in 2009, but the 1st edition was published in 1985, the original publication date would be 1985. Determining the original publication date can often be done by checking the copyright page of the book and seeing when it was copyrighted.
Original publication date will populate through every edition combined with the edition you are working on.
characters
The characters area can be used for listing the important characters of a book. To edit this area, click on the "edit characters" link. This will take you to a new page where you can enter new characters or edit existing ones. Characters should be entered one at a time using full names, if possible. Some characters are used through multiple books, so please be sure to enter character names the same way for each book. Always use correct spelling, punctuation and capitalization. If a character has a nickname, you can include the name in "" between the first and last name.
Correct examples:
John Smith
Jane Doe
John "Mac" Smith
Incorrect examples:
John Smith & Jane Doe
John Smith and Jane Doe
John Smith / Jane Doe
Keep in mind that the characters you enter should be critical characters to the story. It is not necessary to list every name you come across, only the ones of most importance.
Characters will populate through every edition combined with the edition you are working on.
NOTE: be sure to save any existing edits to the book before clicking to the "edit characters" link.
literary awards
In this field you can list any literary awards the book has won. If the book has won more than one award, list the various awards separated by commas.
Literary awards will populate through every edition combined with the edition you are working on.
setting
The setting field is for noting what location(s) the book takes place in.
Setting will populate through every edition combined with the edition you are working on.
change comment
The change comment text box is for adding a reason about WHY you made a specific change to a book. This is to help other librarians understand changes made to a book that may not make sense.
If you are simply ADDING information to a book that was previously lacking it, you can say "adding additional information" or "adding a description" or anything of the like.
However, if you are CHANGING existing information, especially information already edited by another librarian then it is important to state WHY you are making the changes. For example, if you are renumbering a series or changing the series name, it is extremely important to say why so that other librarians will understand. So if you use a series list on an author's website to renumber a series, then state that and give a link to the website in the change comment box. This type of information will hopefully prevent the often encountered problems of multiple librarians changing information back and forth on books.
Remember, that if you are ever in doubt of a change you are considering making on a book, you can always post a question to the Goodreads Librarians Group and ask for help.
librarian comment - add a comment
This section is a discussion area for the specific edition you are editing. It can be used for librarians to discuss any issues regarding the information available for a book and functions similar to discussion topics in Groups.
If you have a question of a concern about available information for a specific edition, you can click on the "add a comment" link and type in a comment regarding you concern or question. The comment will then be attached to the bottom of the book page and be visible to and available for discussion by other librarians who go into that book's edit page.
PLEASE BE AWARE: that your comment will only get a response if another librarian sees the comment and chooses to respond to it. So if no other librarian goes to the book's edit page for a long time, you comment will not get a quick response. If you have an urgent problem regarding a book, it is best to post to the Goodreads Librarians Group.
upload photo
This section is for uploading the front cover image of the book. The only image that should be uploaded is the specific cover associated with the ISBN of the book you are editing. If there is an existing cover that does not match your book, please see the section on ISBNs regarding multiple covers for one ISBN. Existing covers should rarely be deleted and only done if you absolutely know that cover is in no way associated with that ISBN. When in doubt, you can always post a question to the Goodreads Librarians Group and ask for help.
Cover images uploaded should only be an image of the actual front cover (which will typically have title and author on it), and should not be an image of the art used to later create the book cover.
upload ebook with format
Here you can select to upload an ebook of specific format. Ebooks should only be uploaded if it is legal to do so.
Refresh book data from Amazon (or Barnes&Noble)
Clicking this link will refresh the book data to the default information available from Amazon (or Barnes&Noble). This function should be used carefully because it will overwrite much of the existing data for a book (such as series information, dates, publisher, page number, description, etc).
Refresh book rating stats
Clicking this link will recalculate the statistics for a book (number of reviews, average rating). This is helpful to do if you notice the statistics do not seem right.
Some general suggestions for entering/editing book data:
* Always think twice before changing existing data.
* Follow the guidelines above as closely as possible.
* If you are unsure why something is listed the way it is, you can check the "librarian change log" for the book (linked on the right side of the page below the book cover area). The log will tell you what edits were previously done on the book. If no prior edits are listed, it is likely fine to make the changes you feel necessary. If there are other edits, you may want to read through the edits to see what was changed, and if any of the changes contradict a change you planned to make, you may want to either send a personal message to the librarian who made the change to discuss the reasons for it, or post to the Goodreads Librarians Group to ask for help in finding a solution.
how to add a book to your books
To add a book to your shelves, find the book by searching for its title or author. On the book profile page click on 'add to my books'. All the fields on the next page are optional, so enter a rating or review if you like, then click 'save' and the book will be added to your books.
To add a book to your shelves, find the book by searching for its title or author. On the book profile page click on 'add to my books'. All the fields on the next page are optional, so enter a rating or review if you like, then click 'save' and the book will be added to your books.
tips on being a Goodreads librarian
There is a comprehensive Librarian Manual that deals with any questions librarians may want to know: check it out.
There is a comprehensive Librarian Manual that deals with any questions librarians may want to know: check it out.
how to set my profile to private
All the privacy setting on Goodreads are found by clicking my account at the top right of Goodreads. You can select who can view your profile, last name, and email address, and send you messages. If your profile is private, only your friends can see your profile. This includes your profile data, book shelves, profile comments, and your friend list. Your first name and image thumbnail are still available in some areas of site. Your book reviews will also still be available on each book page. Note also that author profiles cannot be made private.
All the privacy setting on Goodreads are found by clicking my account at the top right of Goodreads. You can select who can view your profile, last name, and email address, and send you messages. If your profile is private, only your friends can see your profile. This includes your profile data, book shelves, profile comments, and your friend list. Your first name and image thumbnail are still available in some areas of site. Your book reviews will also still be available on each book page. Note also that author profiles cannot be made private.
how do groups work?
For restricted, private, and secret groups, only members can view the discussion boards. For public groups the discussion boards are available to all. For all groups if you are a member you can add books to the group shelves or invite other members. Group administrators can remove members, delete discussion posts, or add other moderators.
For restricted, private, and secret groups, only members can view the discussion boards. For public groups the discussion boards are available to all. For all groups if you are a member you can add books to the group shelves or invite other members. Group administrators can remove members, delete discussion posts, or add other moderators.
can I add videos or book trailers to an author profile?
Videos may be added to any author profile as long as they are hosted on YouTube or BookVideos.tv first. To add a video, first make sure you have librarian status, then click on "edit" on any author profile (lower right corner of the info box). The "add videos" link is on the right side of that page.
Videos may be added to any author profile as long as they are hosted on YouTube or BookVideos.tv first. To add a video, first make sure you have librarian status, then click on "edit" on any author profile (lower right corner of the info box). The "add videos" link is on the right side of that page.
tips for book publishers and authors
Tips for book publishers or authors to use Goodreads:
* Author Program. Designed for authors to have a profile on the site and interact with fans, and add photos, videos, events, etc to their profile.
* For authors that aren't interested in the program, publishers can join as a Librarian and then they can fully edit any author profile and add the photo, full bio, Youtube videos, events, etc.
* Advertising. We are now offering custom advertising buys. Buys can be across the entire site or targeted to a particular genre (eg women who like romance/fiction, etc). For a rate card please contact us.
* Author interviews & newsletter promotion. Each month we feature 2 authors in our monthly newsletter (over 1 million subscribers). This is an editorial decision, but usually the authors featured have interesting books just released. For consideration, contact us with details about the book.
* Book Giveaways. You can submit any number of copies to be given away to interested members. There is no charge for listing books, however you are responsible for shipping to the winners. For now Goodreads will drive traffic to the giveaway for free.
* Q&A groups. Authors can host a Q&A group to answer questions from fans about a new book.
Tips for book publishers or authors to use Goodreads:
* Author Program. Designed for authors to have a profile on the site and interact with fans, and add photos, videos, events, etc to their profile.
* For authors that aren't interested in the program, publishers can join as a Librarian and then they can fully edit any author profile and add the photo, full bio, Youtube videos, events, etc.
* Advertising. We are now offering custom advertising buys. Buys can be across the entire site or targeted to a particular genre (eg women who like romance/fiction, etc). For a rate card please contact us.
* Author interviews & newsletter promotion. Each month we feature 2 authors in our monthly newsletter (over 1 million subscribers). This is an editorial decision, but usually the authors featured have interesting books just released. For consideration, contact us with details about the book.
* Book Giveaways. You can submit any number of copies to be given away to interested members. There is no charge for listing books, however you are responsible for shipping to the winners. For now Goodreads will drive traffic to the giveaway for free.
* Q&A groups. Authors can host a Q&A group to answer questions from fans about a new book.
can I edit the shelf for multiple books at once?
To add or remove books from a shelf in batches, use the 'edit view' on your 'my books' page. The edit view lets you select as many books as you like to move them from one shelf or another, or even to remove them from your profile. You can also find duplicate books in edit view.
To add or remove books from a shelf in batches, use the 'edit view' on your 'my books' page. The edit view lets you select as many books as you like to move them from one shelf or another, or even to remove them from your profile. You can also find duplicate books in edit view.
how to delete or rename a shelf
To delete or rename a shelf, click "edit shelves" on the homepage (under "my bookshelves" on the right side of the page). You can also click "my books," then "edit" beside "bookshelves."
To delete or rename a shelf, click "edit shelves" on the homepage (under "my bookshelves" on the right side of the page). You can also click "my books," then "edit" beside "bookshelves."
how to remove a book from your books
To remove a book from your shelf, click on the 'my books' link at the top of Goodreads, make sure you are on the 'main' or 'list' view, then click 'remove' next to the book you'd like to remove. You can also click on the book, click 'edit my review', then click 'remove from my books' at the bottom of the page.
To remove a book from your shelf, click on the 'my books' link at the top of Goodreads, make sure you are on the 'main' or 'list' view, then click 'remove' next to the book you'd like to remove. You can also click on the book, click 'edit my review', then click 'remove from my books' at the bottom of the page.
multiple copies of the same book
Due to the nature of there being many different editions of a book, each having its own ISBN, we have built a feature where you can combine (or separate) each edition. This provides the advantage of aggregating all the reviews and statistics for this combined 'work'. To combine editions of a book, just click 'edit other editions of this book' on the right side of the book's page.
Due to the nature of there being many different editions of a book, each having its own ISBN, we have built a feature where you can combine (or separate) each edition. This provides the advantage of aggregating all the reviews and statistics for this combined 'work'. To combine editions of a book, just click 'edit other editions of this book' on the right side of the book's page.
separating authors with the same name
Occasionally you may come across an author profile that encompasses two or more authors of the same name. In order to separate these authors and their respective books you will need to identify which books belong to which author. Once you have, leave one author alone and for the second, go into the edit page of each of their books and add an additional space between their first and last name.
This will create a new author profile for the second author.
If by chance there is a third author of the same name (which has happened), simply add a third space between the author's first and last name.
Example:
Catherine^Anderson
Catherine^^Anderson
Catherine^^^Anderson
NOTE: The ^ = 1 space and is just used to demonstrate the number of spaces. Also please note that any new books by the authors of that name will be entered into the main profile by default. They will have to be edited once they are added to Goodreads to shift them to the right profile.
Occasionally you may come across an author profile that encompasses two or more authors of the same name. In order to separate these authors and their respective books you will need to identify which books belong to which author. Once you have, leave one author alone and for the second, go into the edit page of each of their books and add an additional space between their first and last name.
This will create a new author profile for the second author.
If by chance there is a third author of the same name (which has happened), simply add a third space between the author's first and last name.
Example:
Catherine^Anderson
Catherine^^Anderson
Catherine^^^Anderson
NOTE: The ^ = 1 space and is just used to demonstrate the number of spaces. Also please note that any new books by the authors of that name will be entered into the main profile by default. They will have to be edited once they are added to Goodreads to shift them to the right profile.
does Goodreads have a Facebook app?
Goodreads does has a Facebook app. It can be found here or by searching for "Goodreads" on Facebook. The Goodreads Facebook app offers most features available on Goodreads, and is a great way to keep updated on what your Facebook friends are reading.
Goodreads does has a Facebook app. It can be found here or by searching for "Goodreads" on Facebook. The Goodreads Facebook app offers most features available on Goodreads, and is a great way to keep updated on what your Facebook friends are reading.
my widget isn't working on LiveJournal
LiveJournal does not support flash, and therefore doesn't support Goodreads' flash widget: http://www.livejournal.com/support/faqbrowse.bml?faqid=14&q=flash. You will need to use one of Goodreads' image widgets on LiveJournal.
LiveJournal does not support flash, and therefore doesn't support Goodreads' flash widget: http://www.livejournal.com/support/faqbrowse.bml?faqid=14&q=flash. You will need to use one of Goodreads' image widgets on LiveJournal.
how to install the Goodreads widget on Blogger
On Blogger when you're viewing your blog: Select customize => Layout tab => add a gadget => basics => scroll down to HTML/Javascript => copy and paste the widget code from Goodreads, and you should be set!
On Blogger when you're viewing your blog: Select customize => Layout tab => add a gadget => basics => scroll down to HTML/Javascript => copy and paste the widget code from Goodreads, and you should be set!
how can I read books on Goodreads?
Goodreads is an online social network where book-lovers gather to review books and compare their taste with friends. Generally you can not actually read the books on our site. However, a few books which are out of copyright or uploaded with permission from the author are available in the ebooks section, or at sites like Project Gutenberg or Feedbooks.
Goodreads is an online social network where book-lovers gather to review books and compare their taste with friends. Generally you can not actually read the books on our site. However, a few books which are out of copyright or uploaded with permission from the author are available in the ebooks section, or at sites like Project Gutenberg or Feedbooks.
how can I customize the books on my Facebook profile?
You can customize the books shown in your Facebook profile by going the Goodreads Books app (http://apps.facebook.com/good_reads/), and choosing 'settings' in the header. Then choose 'customize my profile box'. On the next page you can choose which shelves to show off and in which order.
You can customize the books shown in your Facebook profile by going the Goodreads Books app (http://apps.facebook.com/good_reads/), and choosing 'settings' in the header. Then choose 'customize my profile box'. On the next page you can choose which shelves to show off and in which order.
how can I buy books from Goodreads?
Goodreads does not sell books or any book products. It is exclusively a book review site, where users can find and share book recommendations.
Goodreads does not sell books or any book products. It is exclusively a book review site, where users can find and share book recommendations.
how to leave a group
To cancel your membership in a group, go to the group's homepage, click 'my membership,' then click 'leave this group.'
To cancel your membership in a group, go to the group's homepage, click 'my membership,' then click 'leave this group.'
how to synch your MySpace account to Goodreads
If you've installed the Goodreads Books app on MySpace, your books may not appear on your MySpace profile if your MySpace account isn't linked to your correct Goodreads account. You may also have a duplicate account. To change which Goodreads account is linked to your MySpace profile, sign in to MySpace and go to the Goodreads Books app. Then click on settings (to the right of the Goodreads logo), and follow the instructions to login to your Goodreads account.
If you've installed the Goodreads Books app on MySpace, your books may not appear on your MySpace profile if your MySpace account isn't linked to your correct Goodreads account. You may also have a duplicate account. To change which Goodreads account is linked to your MySpace profile, sign in to MySpace and go to the Goodreads Books app. Then click on settings (to the right of the Goodreads logo), and follow the instructions to login to your Goodreads account.
how can I customize the books on my MySpace profile?
You can customize the books shown in your MySpace profile by going the Goodreads Books app (http://www.myspace.com/goodreads), and choosing 'settings' in the header. Then choose 'customize my profile box'. On the next page you can choose which shelves to show off and in which order.
You can customize the books shown in your MySpace profile by going the Goodreads Books app (http://www.myspace.com/goodreads), and choosing 'settings' in the header. Then choose 'customize my profile box'. On the next page you can choose which shelves to show off and in which order.
where goodreads book data comes from
Much of Goodreads' book data comes from Amazon - including book covers, titles, author names, ISBN's, etc. Goodreads members are able edit any data on the site if they apply to be a Goodreads Librarian. Goodreads Librarians help keep our catalog clean by editing, and fixing various pieces of book and author data, and combining editions. The Goodreads Librarians group is a good place to report book issues.
Much of Goodreads' book data comes from Amazon - including book covers, titles, author names, ISBN's, etc. Goodreads members are able edit any data on the site if they apply to be a Goodreads Librarian. Goodreads Librarians help keep our catalog clean by editing, and fixing various pieces of book and author data, and combining editions. The Goodreads Librarians group is a good place to report book issues.
sacred texts
Sacred texts with unknown or ambiguous authors are to be listed with the author "Anonymous". Please list any editor(s) or translator(s) in secondary slots. Publishers should not be listed as authors.
Sacred texts with unknown or ambiguous authors are to be listed with the author "Anonymous". Please list any editor(s) or translator(s) in secondary slots. Publishers should not be listed as authors.
does Goodreads have mobile or iphone app?
Goodreads has a great mobile site, which you can bookmark on your iPhone or mobile device. The mobile site works with most phones capable of browsing the internet, and is especially optimized for the iphone and the blackberry.
To add the Goodreads site to your iPhone, open an internet browser, navigate to http://www.goodreads.com/m then push the bookmark (+ button) and select "add to home screen".
We have plans to build a true iPhone app one day, but currently Amazon will not let us because we use some of their data.
Goodreads has a great mobile site, which you can bookmark on your iPhone or mobile device. The mobile site works with most phones capable of browsing the internet, and is especially optimized for the iphone and the blackberry.
To add the Goodreads site to your iPhone, open an internet browser, navigate to http://www.goodreads.com/m then push the bookmark (+ button) and select "add to home screen".
We have plans to build a true iPhone app one day, but currently Amazon will not let us because we use some of their data.
What do I do if I see an annoying ad on Goodreads?
Goodreads uses a variety of ad networks to serve advertisements on the site, which means occasionally things slip through that we can't control. We do try our best to keep our ads relevant, appropriate, and useful to members.
We ask our ad networks not to include disruptive ads, but sometimes one slips through. Please help us by reporting any ads that match the following:
* Auto-expanding or auto-sound ads.
* Ads that expand or play sound on mouse-over (on-click is fine)
* Ads that contain nudity or other offensive material
If you find one, please send a screenshot and the ad's destination url to support@goodreads.com, and we'll do our best to block it as soon as possible.
Goodreads uses a variety of ad networks to serve advertisements on the site, which means occasionally things slip through that we can't control. We do try our best to keep our ads relevant, appropriate, and useful to members.
We ask our ad networks not to include disruptive ads, but sometimes one slips through. Please help us by reporting any ads that match the following:
* Auto-expanding or auto-sound ads.
* Ads that expand or play sound on mouse-over (on-click is fine)
* Ads that contain nudity or other offensive material
If you find one, please send a screenshot and the ad's destination url to support@goodreads.com, and we'll do our best to block it as soon as possible.
if you can't find a book
If you can't find a book on our search engine, you have two options. The first option is to search by ISBN. You can find ISBN numbers on in the inside cover of your book or on Amazon. The second option is to add the book yourself by clicking on 'manually add book' on the right side of the search page.
If you can't find a book on our search engine, you have two options. The first option is to search by ISBN. You can find ISBN numbers on in the inside cover of your book or on Amazon. The second option is to add the book yourself by clicking on 'manually add book' on the right side of the search page.
how to add friends
Adding friends is easy - just click on the friends tab in the header, then click add friends.
On this page you have several options to add friends:
Adding friends is easy - just click on the friends tab in the header, then click add friends.
On this page you have several options to add friends:
- use your Yahoo!, Hotmail, or Gmail address books to invite friends and see which friends are already Goodreads members
- invite friends by copy/pasting the message from the box and sending it to your friends using email
- search for friends already on the site using the 'find friends' box
how to merge two author profiles
Each author name is unique and has its own profile. Sometimes various data sources use slightly different spellings of an author name (eg JK Rowling vs J.K. Rowling vs Joanne Kathleen Rowling). To merge two author profiles, edit the data for the profile that should be discarded, and change the name to be the exact same spelling (copy/pasting helps here) of the profile that it should be merged into. All books will be associated with the new author. We plan to support author pseudonyms soon to help prevent this issue. If there is doubt as to the correct spelling, we recommend checking The Library of Congress.
Each author name is unique and has its own profile. Sometimes various data sources use slightly different spellings of an author name (eg JK Rowling vs J.K. Rowling vs Joanne Kathleen Rowling). To merge two author profiles, edit the data for the profile that should be discarded, and change the name to be the exact same spelling (copy/pasting helps here) of the profile that it should be merged into. All books will be associated with the new author. We plan to support author pseudonyms soon to help prevent this issue. If there is doubt as to the correct spelling, we recommend checking The Library of Congress.
rules for combining book editions
The rules for combining book editions are listed below, and are also posted on the right side of the combine page for each author. These rules have been decided as a collaborative effort between the Goodreads staff and the members in the Goodreads Librarians group.
The rules for combining book editions are listed below, and are also posted on the right side of the combine page for each author. These rules have been decided as a collaborative effort between the Goodreads staff and the members in the Goodreads Librarians group.
do combine:
don't combine:
- Different publications of the same book.
- Different formats of the book (hardcover, paperback, audio).
- Editions/translations of the book in other languages. Even though many translations differ significantly, we've made the decision to combine them all, and have people note the differences in their reviews.
don't combine:
- 2-in-1 books or boxed sets that include the given book.
- Cliff notes or other works about the given book.
I forgot the password to my account
To retrieve a lost password, click sign in, then click on forgot password. Then enter your email address and your password will be emailed to you.
To retrieve a lost password, click sign in, then click on forgot password. Then enter your email address and your password will be emailed to you.
