ISBN and book type don't match

[Jae]

Hey all, I was just made into a GR librarian, and I'm not sure what the acceptable answer is here.

The ISBN listed for this paper back edition here
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35...

is actually for a hardcover. Is it acceptable to change the edition type? I'd rather ask questions than violate policy.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Jae wrote: "I'd rather ask questions than violate policy."

Great!

First step is always to look at the librarian log. Be sure you have it set to edition-specific: http://www.goodreads.com/book/edits/3...

No indication that the format has been changed, and the format comes from Ingram, which is usually fairly reliable. On what basis do you believe that ISBN belongs to the hardcover?

[Jae]

I purchased the hardcover through Amazon and that's the ISBN that comes up. Also, I did an ISBN search through Google and hardcovers are what come up.

I don't have my copy with me at the moment, but I'll be able to check it later today to be absolutely sure. If I find that the ISBN on my copy and the ISBN listed are the same, it would be okay to change it? If not, I can upload a new edition with the correct format.

(I looked up Ingram but I don't see where or how to look up items through them.)

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Jae wrote: "If I find that the ISBN on my copy and the ISBN listed are the same, it would be okay to change it?"

Since an ISBN being used for both a paperback and a hardcover is pretty unlikely, that seems safe enough. (As opposed to if one were an ebook, as ebooks all-too-often share an ISBN with a print edition.)


Jae wrote: "I don't see where or how to look up items through them."

Not possible. Their database is not publicly available. However, GR currently gets a large chunk of our book data from them, and their reliability is pretty good when it comes to things like format.

[Jae]

I'll keep that about ISBN's in mind for other books and check my copy for this when I have a chance. I don't foresee that changing edition formats is something I'll be doing a lot, but I happened to be fixing my shelves and noticed this one.

Re: Ingram, I'm glad it wasn't just me not looking properly.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Isbn 9781575660691 is what I see for hardcover (plus an isbn 9780783813608 for large print hardcover) ; lots of paperback editions, if that helps anyone. I do not have any of the books actually in hand.