Rules of the Challenge: Effective Spring 2014

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

THE RULES: Effective Spring Challenge 2014

Part I

General Information

1. Everyone is welcome and can join in at anytime during a currently running challenge.

2. Challenge dates are:
• Winter = December 1st to February 28th
• Spring = March 1st to May 31st
• Summer = June 1st to August 31st
• Fall = September 1st to November 30th
Note: Challenges start and end at MIDNIGHT EST on their respective start/end dates.

3. In order for points to be counted, tasks must be reported correctly in the Completed Tasks thread by Midnight EST on the final day of the challenge.

4. All books read during the dates of the currently running challenge can be used for that challenge, even if starting the challenge late.
For example, should you join the challenge after any start date (January 1st, for instance), you can include all books read in the period of that current challenge (in this case, from December 1st) into that challenge, providing they fit a task.

5. Tasks can be completed in any order

6. Each task can be completed only once for points.

7. Each book must be read completely and can be counted only once per challenge.
All elements of books separated into multiple audio or paperback parts (often identified as “Part 1”, “Part 2”, etc.) must be read. Individual chapters of a book or unfinished serialized books (released by chapter) cannot be used.

8. Re-reads are acceptable unless otherwise stated in a specific task.

9. If you aren't sure if a book will fit a task, please ask about the suitability of the book in the appropriate Task Help thread.

10. Pre-reading: Books longer than 499 pages that were started any time before the beginning of a challenge can be used to fulfill a task if more than half the book is read during the challenge.
For example, if you were to read 249 pages (or less) of a 500 page book before the start of a challenge, this book would count if it met a task requirement. However, if you had read 250 pages (or more) of a 500 page book before the start of a challenge, this book would not count. Books less than 500 pages should NOT be begun before the start of a challenge.


Book Formats and Page Numbers Explained

1. Any form of a book (hard copy, audio, or e- book) is acceptable unless otherwise stated in a specific task. See rule 8 for page number specifics.

2. Books in languages other than English may be used. Please provide information on the book and/or title to your English speaking moderators so they can understand how the books fit the tasks. Any task requiring a specific title (number of letters, number of words, specific word in title, etc.) should apply to the title that you use.

3. Books must have at least 100 pages to be used for points in the SRC. This limit may be referenced as 100+.
Only plays or books of poetry may be combined to reach the 100 page minimum. Other genres of books must meet the 100+ page requirement on their own.

One book between 80 -99 pages may be used for ONE 5 point task.


4. Picture books, “easy reader,” and “transition” books designed for beginning readers may not be claimed for points in the SRC. For the purposes of the SRC, the definition of each is as follows:

Picture books - In its broadest definition, a picture book is a book in which the illustrations play a significant role in telling the story. There are typically illustrations on every page or every other page, and the plot and text are simple. The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Easy readers - Also called "easy-to-read", these books are designed for children just starting to read on their own. They generally have color illustrations on every page like a picture book, but the format is more "grown-up" -- smaller trim size, sometimes broken into short chapters. The stories are told mainly through action and dialogue, in grammatically simple sentences (one idea per sentence). Books average 2-5 sentences per page. See the "Amelia Bedelia" books by Peggy Parish or other "I Can Read" books published by Harper Trophy.

Early Elementary School or "Transition" books -- Sometimes called "early chapter books" for ages 6-9, they bridge the gap between easy readers and chapter books. Written like easy readers in style, transition books have a smaller trim size with black-and-white illustrations every few pages. See "The Kids of the Polk Street School" series by Patricia Reilly Giff (Dell) or the "Stepping Stone Books" published by Random House.

When evaluating a book under this rule, ask yourself, "Who is the intended audience of this book?". If that intended audience is 9 years old or younger, it probably doesn't work for SRC tasks.

5. Books with the genre "childrens" or "kids" that are between 100 and 299 pages may only be used for 5, 10, and 15 point tasks unless they are excluded by Rule 4. Books with the genre “childrens” or "kids" on their main page may ONLY be used for tasks above 15 points IF they are at least 300 pages long.

Omnibus editions of childrens books may not be used to reach the 300 page threshold unless the books contained in the omnibus edition are 300+ pages individually.

6. Books with at least 100 pages whose main page lists any of these genres: Sequential Art, Comics, Comic Book, or Manga may only be used for 5, 10, and 15 point tasks.

"Coffee table", Art books, and other books consisting primarily of images without a substantial written component (essays, criticism, etc.) may not be be claimed for points. Vanity Fair: The Portraits: A Century of Iconic Images, National Geographic Simply Beautiful Photographs, Underwater Dogs,

7. Poetry and Plays may be used throughout the challenge. Regular page number rules apply, except as noted in Rule 3.

8. When determining page count, you should go by the copy you read- EXCEPT as noted below for ebooks, audiobooks, and large print books. Therefore, if you obtain (own, borrow, check out from the library, etc.) the hardback edition, use the page count for the hardback edition. If you obtain the paperback edition, use that page count.

If you read an ebook, or audiobook use the page count for the mass market paperback if one exists. If there is no mass market paperback edition, use the paperback edition and if no paperback is available use the hardcover edition.

9. Using ebooks
If no printed edition of a book exists, you MUST get the book pre-approved by a moderator in the topic "eBook verification-no print edition" in General Help.

ebooks without print versions cannot be used for tasks requiring a specific number of pages. ebooks can be used for specific page number tasks as long as there is a print equivalent that can be used to determine page numbers- see #8 above. ebooks without print equivalents can be used for tasks without specific page requirements, since it is usually possible to "guesstimate" from the word count that a book is at least 100 pages long.

If you claim a book in Completed Tasks that exists ONLY in ebook format, you MUST provide a reference to the ebook verification document when you post ex."Approved @ line #" or provide the post number in the ebook verification thread where it was approved ex. "ebook Approved post #"

10. Audiobooks may be used for SRC tasks. Page numbers should be counted as described for ebooks above. Audiobooks that do not have a written word equivalent, either published in paper or digitally, may NOT be used for SRC tasks.
Audiobooks that are noted as being “abridged” may be used to meet the general 100+ page book requirement as long as they are at least 2 hours in length. Abridged audiobooks may NOT be used for tasks with defined longer page requirements as there are no direct print equivalents.

11. Advance Reader Copies may be used to fulfill SRC tasks. Completed task posts MUST include a link to the book and identify the book as a publisher's advance copy.

12. Books identified as an "omnibus" (a volume of reprinted works of a single author or of related works), as a "bundle" (a digital collection of works of a single author or of related works) or as collected works (The Complete .... , anthologies, etc.) may be isolated into component parts and read separately as long as the isolated work has been published separately and meets the minimum page requirements.
The Harry Bosch Novels: The Black Echo / The Black Ice / The Concrete Blonde contains 3 independently published titles: The Black Echo, The Black Ice, The Concrete Blonde. These titles in this omnibus may be read as separate books.

If you choose to read an element isolated from an aggregate work, you MUST include a link to the book (isbn) that you read AND provide a link to a separately published work that relates to the isolated title. The use of particular title words, cover colors, or cover images to fulfill tasks applies to the actual book that you read.

Page numbers should be determined by the copy you read whenever possible. If a component part has 200 pages in the volume you read, record those numbers. For digital or audio formats use the page numbers provided if possible or follow the page number guidelines in item 8 above for the isolated title.

13. Large Type books may be used. The mass market paperback edition of the title must meet the 100 page threshold. If there is no mass market paperback edition, use the paperback edition and if no paperback is available use the hardcover edition. Big Book tickets may be claimed for Large Type books if the mass market paperback meets the Big Book requirement. If there is no mass market paperback edition, use the paperback edition and if no paperback is available use the hardcover edition.

Continued in Part II

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

THE RULES: Effective Spring Challenge 2014
Part II


Posting Requirements

1. To claim a task in Completed Tasks, the book you use MUST exist on Goodreads. Instructions on manually adding a book to the Goodreads database can be found in Add a book instructions You MUST include a link to the book edition you read. If a task requires details about an author, the author link must be included. For instructions on adding a link, see Add book/author/cover Instructions in General Help. Further details on posting requirements can be found in Posting Requirements in the Rules folder

2. New players and players returning to the challenge after seasons away must consult the Readerboard Names discussion thread to set up or verify the name they will use to post completed tasks. See the details in posts #1 and #2 of that thread.

3. It's fine to change your mind about which books you plan to use for which task at any point...just explain in your post if you have already claimed points for a task and are moving that book to another task.

4. To determine if a book fits a task moderators will rely on Goodreads’ main book page for information such as title, author name(s), Goodreads author status, page number, ratings, etc. The moderators will make their decisions based on the information in the book link you provide. Therefore, make sure that you provide a link to the exact edition of the book you read.

Task Requirements

1. For tasks that require a word in a title, only the title and the subtitle may be used. Series subtitles will NOT apply ex. "a novel of Series name", "A Series name book", "Book # of Series name", etc.. Task creators may allow series subtitles if explicitly included in the task description.

2. For tasks that require a specific image or color on their cover, the player must read the book edition that has the required element.

3. For tasks that require reading a book from a Goodreads listopia list or shelf, the book must appear on the list or shelf when you access it and the player may not add books to the list to be used for that task.

4. For tasks that require books within specified genres the main book page's front page genre list will be used to determine suitability. Unless explicitly limited by the task creator, reasonable variations of genres will be accepted: ex. genre- mythology: myths, myths-and-legends, mythological, etc. would be accepted genre variations. The genre must appear on the list when you access it and the player may not shelve a book as a genre in order to use the book for that task.

5. For tasks that require information about a book or author, such as author's birthday or author's national origin, the Goodreads record will be used to determine fit. If the information is missing from the Goodreads record, a link to verifying information may be included in your post. Outside data cannot be used to contradict data existing on Goodreads.

6. If information in a Goodreads record is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask a Goodreads librarian to update the record if possible. Information required for a task, such as missing print edition page numbers, should be corrected before you post.