Help > All
(showing
1-50
of
205)
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.
What is the Goodreads Author Program?
The Goodreads Author 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 Author Program, you must have your books listed on Goodreads. If you can't find them by an ISBN search, you must manually add your books to Goodreads (advanced search => manually add). This option is only available to those with 20 books or more shelved. If you don't have enough books, please contact us in support and we'd be happy to help.
The Goodreads Author 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 Author Program, you must have your books listed on Goodreads. If you can't find them by an ISBN search, you must manually add your books to Goodreads (advanced search => manually add). This option is only available to those with 20 books or more shelved. If you don't have enough books, please contact us in support and we'd be happy to help.
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.
My book cover image just went missing. What happened?
We had to remove all cover images that originally came from Amazon, due to a data switch. We're in the process of importing millions of images from Ingram and a few other sources, so your covers should be back soon. If you're a librarian or a Goodreads Author, you can add it yourself by clicking "edit details" on the book's page. Or if you send the image file to support (at) goodreads (dot) com, we'd be happy to help you set it up.
For more information about the data switch, please see our recent blog post.
What do I do 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 Ingram, 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 in the Goodreads Librarians group for help.
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 Ingram, 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 in the Goodreads Librarians group for help.
How do I cancel my account?
To cancel your account on Goodreads, select edit profile from the drop-down list next to your picture in the header. Select the "settings" tab. Then select the "delete my account" link at the bottom of the page. Your account data, books, and friend list will permanently erased.
To cancel your account on Goodreads, select edit profile from the drop-down list next to your picture in the header. Select the "settings" tab. Then select the "delete my account" link at the bottom of the page. Your account data, books, and friend list will permanently erased.
How do I 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, log in to Goodreads, click on edit profile from the drop-down to the right of your profile image in the header, 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, such as the "my books widget" and javascript widgets, such as our "grid widget" or "book montage widget" - 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, log in to Goodreads, click on edit profile from the drop-down to the right of your profile image in the header, 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, such as the "my books widget" and javascript widgets, such as our "grid widget" or "book montage widget" - 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). 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 parentheses 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)
At times all or part of a series may be released as an omnibus (multiple books re-printed in one book) or a boxed set. The books included in an omnibus or boxed set may or may not be consecutive in a series. The following formats should be used for these items.
Examples:
Goosebumps House of Horrors Boxed Set (Goosebumps, #1, #2, #10, #30)
Seeker's Bane (Kencyrath, #3-4)
The Fairy Charm Collection Vol 3 (Fairy Realm, #8-10)
In addition, "Omnibus" or "Boxed Set" may be added to the 'edition' field.
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 parentheses 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 and 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 completely 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). 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 parentheses 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)
At times all or part of a series may be released as an omnibus (multiple books re-printed in one book) or a boxed set. The books included in an omnibus or boxed set may or may not be consecutive in a series. The following formats should be used for these items.
Examples:
Goosebumps House of Horrors Boxed Set (Goosebumps, #1, #2, #10, #30)
Seeker's Bane (Kencyrath, #3-4)
The Fairy Charm Collection Vol 3 (Fairy Realm, #8-10)
In addition, "Omnibus" or "Boxed Set" may be added to the 'edition' field.
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 parentheses 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 and 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 completely 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.
How do I create a group?
1) Click on "Groups" in the header.
2) Click the "create a group" link just above the "browse by tag" section on the right.
How do I join the Author Program?
1. If you are already a Goodreads member, make sure you are signed in. If not, sign up for an account.
2. Search for yourself and click on your published author name. The author name is listed below the title of your book in the search results. If you do not find your book in our database of published works, please see our section on who can join.
3. Clicking on your name takes you to your basic author profile page. This page has your name at the top and "author profile" to the right of your name. This page is part of our database of books and authors and is separate from your member profile page (which lists your bookshelves and friends).
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page. Click "Is this you? Let us know." to send a request to join the Author Program.
Please give us a few business days to process your request. You will receive email confirmation when we successfully upgrade your user account to an author account. Joining the program merges your author page with your member page. The email will also contain further instructions for managing your author profile.
1. If you are already a Goodreads member, make sure you are signed in. If not, sign up for an account.
2. Search for yourself and click on your published author name. The author name is listed below the title of your book in the search results. If you do not find your book in our database of published works, please see our section on who can join.
3. Clicking on your name takes you to your basic author profile page. This page has your name at the top and "author profile" to the right of your name. This page is part of our database of books and authors and is separate from your member profile page (which lists your bookshelves and friends).
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page. Click "Is this you? Let us know." to send a request to join the Author Program.
Please give us a few business days to process your request. You will receive email confirmation when we successfully upgrade your user account to an author account. Joining the program merges your author page with your member page. The email will also contain further instructions for managing your author profile.
Why can't I list an ebook giveaway?
At the moment, ebooks aren't eligible for giveaways simply because we haven't yet found a system that works as well and as seamlessly for them as it does for our print books. We are committed to providing a superior experience for the people who enter and win our giveaways, and until we can absolutely do that for ebook giveaways, we won't allow them. We are currently in the process of experimenting with a few different titles and a few different formats, so hopefully we will be able to allow ebook giveaways soon!
At the moment, ebooks aren't eligible for giveaways simply because we haven't yet found a system that works as well and as seamlessly for them as it does for our print books. We are committed to providing a superior experience for the people who enter and win our giveaways, and until we can absolutely do that for ebook giveaways, we won't allow them. We are currently in the process of experimenting with a few different titles and a few different formats, so hopefully we will be able to allow ebook giveaways soon!
How do I add a book to "my books"?
1. To add a book to your shelves, find the book by searching for its title or author in the search bar in the header. Searching by ISBN or ASIN (for Kindle editions) works best when looking for a specific edition.
2. On the book profile page click on 'add to my books'.
Please note that this quick add automatically adds the book to your "read" shelf.
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 do I unsubscribe from emails?
To change the frequency (daily or weekly) or unsubscribe from the Goodreads update email or any other email, click on edit profile at the top right corner of Goodreads, then click the 'emails' 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 edit profile at the top right corner of Goodreads, then click the 'emails' tab. All email settings can be controlled on this page.
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.
To verify your email address, go to your "edit profile" page and select the "settings" tab. If your email address isn't verified, you'll see a red message next to it - click "re-send verification email".
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 or email provider, 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.
To verify your email address, go to your "edit profile" page and select the "settings" tab. If your email address isn't verified, you'll see a red message next to it - click "re-send verification email".
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 or email provider, 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 do I remove a friend?
To remove a friend, click on the friends icon in the header (the icon directly to the left of your profile image) 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, scroll down to the bottom, and click "remove as friend".
To remove a friend, click on the friends icon in the header (the icon directly to the left of your profile image) 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, scroll down to the bottom, and click "remove as friend".
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 Ingram, 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 Ingram often already have page numbers, and these are occasionally incorrect. 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 a page on an author's site for the book. It may also be an author or publisher's website for the book, if it contains additional information or resources. 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.
source
Source is an un-editable field generated by Goodreads. It tells you where the book originated from - whether it was imported from Ingram, another source, 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 Ingram, 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 Ingram often already have page numbers, and these are occasionally incorrect. 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 a page on an author's site for the book. It may also be an author or publisher's website for the book, if it contains additional information or resources. 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.
source
Source is an un-editable field generated by Goodreads. It tells you where the book originated from - whether it was imported from Ingram, another source, 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.
What do I do if I win a giveaway and don't receive the book?
Every once and awhile, a book will be lost in the mail. Goodreads is not involved in book shipment, but we suggest that you contact the person who listed the giveaway (usually the author or a publisher). Here's how:
1) Click on the giveaway that you won. You can find your history here.
2) Click on the name of the person who listed the giveaway on the top right of the page.
3) Click "send message" on the top of his/her profile.
If you do not hear back in a reasonable amount of time, please let us know, and we'll do our best to intervene.
I've added the Goodreads app to my Facebook Timeline, but my updates aren't appearing on my Timeline. What's going on?
Here are some things to check:
1. Do I have a Timeline?
Currently, our integration only works with Facebook Timelines, not Facebook walls. See more information here.
2. Did I grant the app all the permissions it needs?
Navigate to the apps tab of your edit profile page. In the Facebook section, you should see a series of checkboxes. If you see these, and all the options you'd like to post are checked*, move on to #2. If you see a button reading "Add to Timeline", you need to grant some additional permissions before the app will be allowed to post to Timeline for you. Just click that button and grant all permissions when the Facebook pop-up appears.
*Please note that if you're trying to post only reviews, you'll need to check both "adding a book" and "rating a book" for it to work.
3. Have I added Goodreads as a "Favorite" on Facebook?
Navigate to your Timeline. On the top of your Timeline, you'll see a couple of boxes: Friends, Photos, Likes, etc. There should be a tiny drop-down to the far right with a number (see screenshot). Click on that, which should cause more empty boxes to appear. Do you see Goodreads in its own box (the "Likes" box does not count)? Click the plus sign on the top right of an empty box and select "Goodreads" to add it.
4. Is the update in my "Activity Log"?.
The more you interact with our app, the more prominently our updates will display on your Timeline, your News Feed, and the Ticker. If you just added the app, new Goodreads updates might first show up in your Activity Log. To check, click on your Activity Log link, which should be on the top of your Timeline (see screenshot). If you see a Goodreads update on the list, you can force it to appear on your Timeline manually. On its far right should be a circle. Click on the circle and select "Shown on Timeline" from the list. The update should then appear. If you don't see the update in your log, go on to #4.
5. The update still isn't appearing.
Sometimes our access to your Timeline expires, but this can easily be fixed. Log out of Goodreads, then log back in using Facebook Connect by clicking on the Facebook icon on the home page. Try to post a new update.
If you've tried all these steps, and you're still having trouble, please contact us.
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 do I add a book to a specific shelf?
If you haven't already added the book, find it by searching for its title or author in the search bar in the header. Searching by ISBN or ASIN (for Kindle editions) works best when looking for a specific edition. On the book profile page click on 'add to my books' and you will be taken to a review page. Use the bookshelves drop-down menu to select a shelf and hit save.
If you have already added the book, you can search My Books to find it. Once you find the book entry, click edit under the "shelves" column, select the shelves you want, and save.
Note: Under "covers" view, there are no columns. You will have to hover over the book cover in question, and click the resulting "edit" link. A review page will pop-up - select the shelf you want from the drop-down menu, and save.
How do I change my email address?
To change your email address or other personal information such as name, username, password, location, etc, select edit profile from the drop-down list next to your profile image in the header. Then select the "settings" tab. The option to change your email address should be on that page.
To change your email address or other personal information such as name, username, password, location, etc, select edit profile from the drop-down list next to your profile image in the header. Then select the "settings" tab. The option to change your email address should be on that page.
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.
In some cases, a character will have only one name, like "Angel," or a very common name, like "John Smith." Make every attempt to distinguish the character with a unique name; the character's common name can be placed in the "Alias" field. If this is not possible, then add a short version of the book or series title in parentheses to distinguish between characters with the same name.
When adding a new character, check the list of characters to make sure that a character with that name is not already in the database. If no character with that name already exists, simply add the character. If a character with that name DOES exist, add the character with the series name in parentheses. If a character appears in more than one series by the same author, use the name of the first published series to contain the character.
Also, make sure that listing a character's name in the "characters" field will not spoil the plot for those who haven't yet read the book. If the use of a character's true name will spoil the plot, use their alias instead, and place the real name in the alias field. Make sure to indicate that the real name might be a spoiler by adding *spoiler* in front of the character's real name.
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 or a concern about available information for a specific edition, you can click on the "add a comment" link and type in a comment regarding your 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 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.
In some cases, a character will have only one name, like "Angel," or a very common name, like "John Smith." Make every attempt to distinguish the character with a unique name; the character's common name can be placed in the "Alias" field. If this is not possible, then add a short version of the book or series title in parentheses to distinguish between characters with the same name.
When adding a new character, check the list of characters to make sure that a character with that name is not already in the database. If no character with that name already exists, simply add the character. If a character with that name DOES exist, add the character with the series name in parentheses. If a character appears in more than one series by the same author, use the name of the first published series to contain the character.
Also, make sure that listing a character's name in the "characters" field will not spoil the plot for those who haven't yet read the book. If the use of a character's true name will spoil the plot, use their alias instead, and place the real name in the alias field. Make sure to indicate that the real name might be a spoiler by adding *spoiler* in front of the character's real name.
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 or a concern about available information for a specific edition, you can click on the "add a comment" link and type in a comment regarding your 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 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.
What should I do if the iPhone app crashes after updating to a new release?
If the Goodreads iPhone app crashes after updating it to the latest release (usually right after you launch it), it's possible you're experiencing a bug in certain versions of iOS, the operating system on all iPhone, iPods and iPads.
The solution to this problem is to shut down and restart the device. If the crash still persists, then the cause of the problem is a different one.
Why do you need to restart the device? During the update process, it's possible on certain versions of iOS that the app is not perfectly cleaned up by the system, not allowing the newly installed version to start correctly. A hard reboot fixes this situation.
If the Goodreads iPhone app crashes after updating it to the latest release (usually right after you launch it), it's possible you're experiencing a bug in certain versions of iOS, the operating system on all iPhone, iPods and iPads.
The solution to this problem is to shut down and restart the device. If the crash still persists, then the cause of the problem is a different one.
Why do you need to restart the device? During the update process, it's possible on certain versions of iOS that the app is not perfectly cleaned up by the system, not allowing the newly installed version to start correctly. A hard reboot fixes this situation.
Why does the Android App tell me to "Please sign in or sign up" after I try to sign in?
Here's how to fix the time:
This problem occurs when the time on your Android device is incorrect, which is most often due to your time zone setting (PDT, EST, etc) being incorrect. Goodreads turns down important requests when your clock is too far off as part of protecting your account.
For example, let's say you're in California and it's 3:00 PM. Your Android time reads 3:00 PM, but the time zone is set to "Eastern Daylight Time". Since it's 6:00 PM on the East Coast, your clock is actually three hours behind.
Here's how to fix the time:
- From the Android home screen, press on Android's menu button.
- Choose "Settings".
- Choose "Date & Time," which is usually near the bottom of the list.
- Ensure that the date, time zone, and time are all correct.
How do I block another user?
To block a user:
To block a user:
1) Navigate to that user's profile page.
2) Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
3) Click "block this member".
Who is eligible to join the Author Program?
The Author Program is designed for people with published books, or who are in the process of publishing a book. It's best if your work is on a bookseller's website, such as Amazon.com or BN.com, but we will accept any author who has published a book. This includes authors from other countries as well as authors who are self-published (such as through Barnes & Noble pubit! or services like Lulu).
If your book is self-published and is not yet in the Goodreads database, you may manually add it here.
If you need help joining the Author Program, visit our help topic.
The Author Program is designed for people with published books, or who are in the process of publishing a book. It's best if your work is on a bookseller's website, such as Amazon.com or BN.com, but we will accept any author who has published a book. This includes authors from other countries as well as authors who are self-published (such as through Barnes & Noble pubit! or services like Lulu).
If your book is self-published and is not yet in the Goodreads database, you may manually add it here.
If you need help joining the Author Program, visit our help topic.
Why can't I edit my books or my author profile?
There are a couple reasons why you might have trouble editing your author profile or your books:
1. You haven't joined the Goodreads Author Program. When you sign up for the site, your user profile isn't automatically linked to your author profile. You have to apply to have them linked. As soon as your application is approved by staff, you should be able to edit your profile. Click here for more information about how to apply for the program.
2. You're a Goodreads Author, but you aren't signed into the correct user account. It's possible to have duplicate user accounts, so make sure that you are logged in with the same email you used to claim your author profile. If you're not sure, check to see which email account your Author Program welcome email came to.
3. You're trying to edit a book that isn't attributed to you. If the book doesn't appear on your author profile already, you don't have editing rights (because the system doesn't know it's yours). In this case, you'll need a librarian to correct the author name for you(the system recognizes extra spaces). You can ask one to do so in the Librarians Group.
There are a couple reasons why you might have trouble editing your author profile or your books:
1. You haven't joined the Goodreads Author Program. When you sign up for the site, your user profile isn't automatically linked to your author profile. You have to apply to have them linked. As soon as your application is approved by staff, you should be able to edit your profile. Click here for more information about how to apply for the program.
2. You're a Goodreads Author, but you aren't signed into the correct user account. It's possible to have duplicate user accounts, so make sure that you are logged in with the same email you used to claim your author profile. If you're not sure, check to see which email account your Author Program welcome email came to.
3. You're trying to edit a book that isn't attributed to you. If the book doesn't appear on your author profile already, you don't have editing rights (because the system doesn't know it's yours). In this case, you'll need a librarian to correct the author name for you(the system recognizes extra spaces). You can ask one to do so in the Librarians Group.
How can I promote my book on Goodreads?
We recommend that all authors join the Goodreads Author Program, as we offer many features specially designed for authors to promote their books. It's completely free! For more information about the program and how to join, visit our Author Program page.
We recommend that all authors join the Goodreads Author Program, as we offer many features specially designed for authors to promote their books. It's completely free! For more information about the program and how to join, visit our Author Program page.
How do I add Goodreads updates to my Facebook Timeline?
1. Navigate to the apps tab on your edit profile page.
2. You'll see a Facebook section on the left. Click the blue "Add to Timeline" button.
3. A pop-up should appear asking for your Facebook credentials and for your permission to post. Grant all permissions.
4. Navigate to your Facebook Timeline.
5. On the top of your Timeline should be a number of boxes, such as "Friends", "Likes", and "Photos". There should be a drop-down with a number on the far right of these boxes (see screenshot below). Click on that.
6. On the top right of one of the empty boxes that appears, click the plus sign.
7. Select "Goodreads" from the drop-down list.
Now you're all set up! Please keep in mind that only new updates (with dates from today onward) will post to Facebook. The more you interact with the app on Facebook, the more prominently Goodreads updates will show on your Timeline. In the beginning, they may just appear in your Timeline's "Activity Log" (a gray link on the top of the page), but you can force them to appear on the Timeline itself. Just navigate to your Activity Log, click the circle to the far right of the Goodreads update, and select "Shown on Timeline" (see screenshot).
If you have any trouble getting your Goodreads updates to appear, please see our troubleshooting help topic.
Why doesn't the iOS app let me sign in?
Sometimes, even if you typed your email and password correctly, the iOS app does not allow you to sign in to Goodreads, producing error messages along the lines of (401) An unexpected error occurred.
This problem happens when the time on your iOS device is incorrect, which is most often due to your time zone setting (PDT, EST, etc) being incorrect. Goodreads turns down important requests when your clock is too far off as part of protecting your account.
For example, let's say you're in California and it's 3:00 PM. The time on your iOS device reads 3:00 PM, but the time zone is set to "Eastern Daylight Time". Since it's 6:00 PM on the East Coast, your clock is actually three hours behind.
Here's how to fix the time:
- From the iOS home screen, launch the Settings app.
- Choose "General".
- Choose "Date & Time," which is around the bottom-half of the page.
- Ensure that the date, time zone, and time are all correct.
- To make things even more reliable, set the "Set Automatically" switch to the ON position. This allows your device to automatically set the correct time and timezone everywhere you go, and it typically solves any related issues. (Some old iPods running iOS 3 may not have this option.)
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 do I set my profile to private?
All the privacy settings on Goodreads are found by clicking edit profile from the drop-down menu to the right of your profile pic in the header. 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 settings on Goodreads are found by clicking edit profile from the drop-down menu to the right of your profile pic in the header. 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.
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 a shelf for multiple books at once?
To add or remove books from a shelf in batches, use the "batch edit" on the top of your My Books page. The batch edit tool 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.
To add or remove books from a shelf in batches, use the "batch edit" on the top of your My Books page. The batch edit tool 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.
How do I delete a shelf?
To remove a shelf, click on My Books in the header, then "edit" beside the "bookshelves" header on the left. Click on the "x" next to a shelf to delete it.
Does goodreads have mobile or iPhone app?
Yes, we have an iPhone app, and here is the link to download it!
We also have 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 a bookmark 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".
Yes, we have an iPhone app, and here is the link to download it!
We also have 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 a bookmark 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".
Can I read ebooks using the Goodreads iPhone app?
Yes, you can. If a book is available to read in our iPhone app, a "Read now" button will appear on the book's page. You can also search for ebooks by tapping the "explore" tab in the bottom navigation.
Yes, you can. If a book is available to read in our iPhone app, a "Read now" button will appear on the book's page. You can also search for ebooks by tapping the "explore" tab in the bottom navigation.
What should I do if the Goodreads iPhone app crashes?
If the Goodreads iPhone app crashes (closes unexpectedly), we'd greatly appreciate it if you could send us your crash logs. These will help us find the problem and fix it.
How to get your crash logs:
1. Sync your iPhone
2. Browse to the following folders. DEVICE_NAME indicates the name of your iPhone as shown in iTunes.
Mac OS X:
/Users/<your_user>/Library/Logs/CrashReporter/MobileDevice/<DEVICE_NAME>
Windows XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\Application Data\Apple computer\Logs\CrashReporter\
Windows Vista:
C:\Users\AppData\Roaming\Apple computer\Logs\CrashReporter\MobileDevice\
3. Each log file will begin with the name of the application. Create a zip file including all the log files related to Goodreads, and email it to support@goodreads.com. (To create a zip file on the Mac: Control-click -> Compress; on Windows: Right-click -> WinZip.)
If the Goodreads iPhone app crashes (closes unexpectedly), we'd greatly appreciate it if you could send us your crash logs. These will help us find the problem and fix it.
How to get your crash logs:
1. Sync your iPhone
2. Browse to the following folders. DEVICE_NAME indicates the name of your iPhone as shown in iTunes.
Mac OS X:
/Users/<your_user>/Library/Logs/CrashReporter/MobileDevice/<DEVICE_NAME>
Windows XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\Application Data\Apple computer\Logs\CrashReporter\
Windows Vista:
C:\Users\AppData\Roaming\Apple computer\Logs\CrashReporter\MobileDevice\
3. Each log file will begin with the name of the application. Create a zip file including all the log files related to Goodreads, and email it to support@goodreads.com. (To create a zip file on the Mac: Control-click -> Compress; on Windows: Right-click -> WinZip.)
How to quickly access info about the book you just scanned
Right after a scan, tap on the book cover that appears at the top. This will close the scanner and open a page containing reviews and other information about the book. Alternatively, you can scan all your books, tap "Done," then tap on a book of your choice from the "Scanned Books" list that appears when you close the scanner.
Right after a scan, tap on the book cover that appears at the top. This will close the scanner and open a page containing reviews and other information about the book. Alternatively, you can scan all your books, tap "Done," then tap on a book of your choice from the "Scanned Books" list that appears when you close the scanner.
How do I read books online?
We are primarily a book review site, but we do have some ebooks available to read on the site. If a book is readable, you'll see a "read ebook" button below the cover image. Just click on that to start reading!
You can find a list of all the free readable ebooks available here. You can also buy downloadable ebooks here.
How do I get a review to post to my Timeline?
First, check that you've granted all the necessary permissions on your apps tab. Both "adding a book" and "rating a book" should be checked. If you see "Add to Timeline" instead of checkmarks, please follow the directions to add Facebook integration here. You might also want to add Goodreads to your Favorites list on Facebook to ensure our updates are dislayed more prominently on your Timeline.
Now you're ready to review! Rate and review the book normally. As soon as you add a "date finished" to the review, it should post over to your Activity Log in the form of a "finished reading" action. To get it to show up on your Timeline:
1) Navigate to your Facebook Timeline.
2) Click on the gray "Activity Log" link on the top of your Timeline.
3) Find the "finished reading" update on the list and click on the circle to its far right (see screenshot).
4) Select "Shown on Timeline" from the drop-down menu.
When you navigate back to your Timeline, you should see your review appear in its own box.
How do I remove a book from "my 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 'table' view (an option underneath the "My Books" search bar), then click the "x" to the right of 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 very bottom of the page.
When a book is removed from your shelves, it will also delete your review.
Adding book cover images
Please do not download or otherwise get cover images from Amazon. Acceptable sources for cover images include author and publisher websites, library sites, and various other public archives. Again, we cannot legally use any cover images from Amazon or other booksellers.
Please do not download or otherwise get cover images from Amazon. Acceptable sources for cover images include author and publisher websites, library sites, and various other public archives. Again, we cannot legally use any cover images from Amazon or other booksellers.
Multiple copies of the same book
Note: Librarians only
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 'combine' on the far right side of the book's page.
