Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

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message 1: by Elizabeth (Alaska) (last edited Nov 25, 2016 10:10AM) (new)

Elizabeth (Alaska) Is there a policy on publishers being in the author field? The situations that I'm seeing are public domain titles where the official publisher is Createspace, and the true publisher is identified in a secondary author field.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... this author has been deleted

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... author deleted

as examples.

Do these seem more appropriate in the edition field?


Additional "authors":

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... author deleted

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

EDIT 7/2/16: added 3 author/publishers

Added:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...


message 2: by Paula (new)

Paula (paulaan) | 7014 comments Publisher should not be listed as an author unless there is no other name known, then I would argue the name should be unknown and not the publisher anyway


Elizabeth (Alaska) Paula wrote: "Publisher should not be listed as an author unless there is no other name known, then I would argue the name should be unknown and not the publisher anyway"

That is what I have always understood. However, there is a publisher listed - Createspace - in the publisher field. But I disbelieve that.


message 4: by Tal (new)

Tal (taliesien) re: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, they are the "publisher of record" for print on demand indie & self pubbers just like lulu.com on demand publishing. They are considered a publisher although non-traditional in that they are a turnkey on demand shop.

http://www.abebooks.com/9781508735052...

http://www.amazon.com/Bruges---morte-...


message 5: by Elizabeth (Alaska) (last edited Apr 24, 2016 05:31PM) (new)

Elizabeth (Alaska) Tal wrote: "re: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, they are the "publisher of record" for print on demand indie & self pubbers just like lulu.com on demand publishing. They are considered a publisher..."

I believe my question in #1 indicates I am aware of that. They are the Official Publisher, but not the true publisher.

My real question is that since Createspace is the publisher of record, do I ignore the supposition that the other apparent publishers are not publisher and are, in fact, editors, leaving them as an author. Or do I make a strong assumption that those companies as editors are the true publishers and delete them as authors. And if I delete them as authors, is it appropriate to put them in the Editions field.


message 6: by Tal (new)

Tal (taliesien) As someone who as part of a book club has taken public domain works and edited a new edition for printing on demand I fulfilled the role of an editor in the trad pub equivalent setting. My reformatting of the public domain work and design of a custom cover along with a club specific introduction did not make me an author of the new edition, it made me an editor. We used lulu.com to publish the book so I was also not the "true publisher" whatever you define that as. It is very common for public domain reprints to list the originator (instigator, sponsor or what have you) as editor since that is the role they most often fall into. I don't think it matters if it's an individual, a book club or a "company" if the role they had was editing then editor they are. Being an editor doesn't make them an author any more than a narrator is the author of an audiobook. They can only be publishers if they actually did the publishing themselves.


message 7: by rivka, Former Moderator (new)

rivka | 45177 comments Mod
These should not be listed as authors, or editors, unless there is no known author. They can be listed as publishers, in the same way that we generally prefer an imprint in that slot.


Elizabeth (Alaska) rivka wrote: "These should not be listed as authors, or editors, unless there is no known author. They can be listed as publishers, in the same way that we generally prefer an imprint in that slot."

Thank you, Rivka. This felt "right" but didn't want to move ahead with your stamp of approval.


message 10: by Hannah (new)

Hannah (bookwormhannah) | 198 comments I just ran across this "author"...it appears to be another instance of publisher as author. I don't have time to fix them all, so maybe someone else does. ;)

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...


message 11: by Abcdarian (new)

Abcdarian | 26579 comments Hannah wrote: "I just ran across this "author"...it appears to be another instance of publisher as author. I don't have time to fix them all, so maybe someone else does. ;)

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/..."


All titles remaining have Grandma's Treasures as second author, so the author can be deleted.


message 12: by Hannah (new)

Hannah (bookwormhannah) | 198 comments Abcdarian wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I just ran across this "author"...it appears to be another instance of publisher as author. I don't have time to fix them all, so maybe someone else does. ;)

https://www.goodreads.c..."


How does one do that?


message 13: by Abcdarian (new)

Abcdarian | 26579 comments It takes staff or a super or someone. Since Rivka drops by, I thought she might notice.


Elizabeth (Alaska) The other way is to simply remove the author from all titles, and an empty author will be deleted by the system.


message 15: by Krazykiwi (new)

Krazykiwi | 1767 comments If they are definitely secondary on all books, Rivka gave permission to post them in the GR authors to merge thread to get her attention to delete.


message 16: by Abcdarian (new)

Abcdarian | 26579 comments Krazykiwi wrote: "If they are definitely secondary on all books, Rivka gave permission to post them in the GR authors to merge thread to get her attention to delete."

Done.


message 17: by Krazykiwi (new)

Krazykiwi | 1767 comments Re posting publisher secondary authors: Please check and double check that they really are secondary on every book.

A quick way is to look at the combine books page. If there are any entries on it, they're primary author on at least one edition of something. We're only allowed to post these "authors" for mass deletion over there, if they really are only secondary authors.


message 18: by Ayshe (last edited Feb 19, 2017 02:53AM) (new)

Ayshe | 3084 comments Assimil requested merge in GR authors thread: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done
Centaur Classics requested merge in GR authors thread: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done
Fb Editions requested merge in GR authors thread: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done
Hollybook requested merge in GR authors thread: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done
Kif-e-book https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done
Ligaran requested merge in GR authors thread https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done
Only Books requested merge in GR authors thread: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done
Penny Books requested merge in GR authors thread: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done
Riverside Press requested merge in GR authors thread: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done
Scribner Press requested merge in GR authors thread: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done
Shdn Books requested merge in GR authors thread: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done
Summit Classic Press requested merge in GR authors thread: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... done

Albin Michel https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Assimil https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Ballantine Books https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Blackbirch Press https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Charles River Editors https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Charles Scribner's Sons Publishers https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
DK Publishing https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Fairmont Press https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Forgotten Books ttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1425289... - 21,962 distinct works
General Books https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Golden Books https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Houghton Mifflin https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... - 8,363 distinct works
Inchworm Press https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Mark Twain Media https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
McDougal Littell https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Oxford University Press https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Random House https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Rosen Publishing https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Rough Guides https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Western Publishing Company Inc https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Xist Publishing https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...


message 21: by Ayshe (new)

Ayshe | 3084 comments Dobby0390 wrote: "...requested merge in GR authors thread..." Thank you, I edited my post to mark them as such. I noticed just now that Fb Editions and Hollybook were in Elizabeth's list in message 1.


message 22: by Elizabeth (Alaska) (last edited Nov 25, 2016 10:11AM) (new)


message 23: by Dobby (new)

Dobby (dobby0390) | 7873 comments Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..."

Requested merge in GR authors thread.


Elizabeth (Alaska) Dobby0390 wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..."

Requested merge in GR authors thread."


Thanks, Dobby. As many times as you've posted here, I keep forgetting I can go do that. Some of the publishers as authors are mine of titles that lead to other work, so I'd hate to offer most of the others. On the other hand, there is plenty of work if we all worked full time until 2116, so I guess it doesn't matter.


message 26: by Emy (new)

Emy (emypt) | 5037 comments Ki4ki_b wrote: "editors as authors https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..."

Editors can be authors, or is that not what you are indicating?


Elizabeth (Alaska) Ki4ki_b wrote: "editors as authors https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..."

I think those are legitimate. They are Wikipedia articles, not the books with the same title.


message 28: by Ki4ki_b (new)

Ki4ki_b | 33 comments Maybe Rivka can give a ruling on this one "All of Bookvika's titles are copied from Wikipedia using automated software, usually without any subsequent editing of Wikipedia content. They contain, therefore, material freely available online but packaged between two covers as a book.

The two "editors" or "authors" of all Bookvika products were, as of December 2012, Jesse Russell and Ronald Cohn. Amazon.com in the USA listed 185,225 publications by Ronald Cohn.,[1] suggesting this was the current extent of the Bookvika offering."
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...


Elizabeth (Alaska) Ki4ki_b wrote: "Maybe Rivka can give a ruling on this one "All of Bookvika's titles are copied from Wikipedia using automated software, usually without any subsequent editing of Wikipedia content. They contain, th..."

I had to look awhile to find a comment from Rivka on this subject. I think there are others.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


message 30: by rivka, Former Moderator (new)

rivka | 45177 comments Mod
Elizabeth is correct. They are published books.


message 31: by Ki4ki_b (last edited Oct 21, 2016 09:50PM) (new)

Ki4ki_b | 33 comments ty for confirmation
Clarification for why I asked for a definitive answer. There was a librarian note within the author "librarian note: I guess this "author" ought to be deleted together with his "pal" Ronald Cohn and all "their" books which are a shameless scam." I have change the note to state this is valid and put a link to this thread


Elizabeth (Alaska) Tailtiu wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..."

I think that is the author. A legitimate author.


message 34: by Ki4ki_b (last edited Oct 27, 2016 11:19PM) (new)

Ki4ki_b | 33 comments yeah rivka/Elizabeth already confirmed above that wiki source books are still "books" and their authors are valid


message 35: by Ayshe (last edited Feb 21, 2017 07:07AM) (new)


message 36: by lethe (new)

lethe | 16368 comments All found in one search. Some may be legit:

Lion Hudson UK: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Lion UK: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (keepsake book acc. to Worldcat; one for NAB'ing?)

UK Comic Books: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Collins UK: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...


message 37: by rivka, Former Moderator (new)

rivka | 45177 comments Mod
This one definitely has some for which it's correct -- and many from which it should be removed. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...


message 38: by free (new)

free (frdn) | 5200 comments Thomas Nelson Publishers: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...


message 39: by Ayshe (new)

Ayshe | 3084 comments I just found this: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Should publishers be kept as primary authors-editors for various collections? I was thinking that first actual author in the collection (or the one that is first listed on the cover) will do as primary author in such cases (if no actual-human-name editor), but there is librarian note: "Used for the Publisher as Editor of various collections of classic works."


Elizabeth (Alaska) Ayshe wrote: "I just found this: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Should publishers be kept as primary authors-editors for various collections? I was thinking that first actual au..."


No, should be deleted and work combined where possible as per Post #7 above.


message 41: by Ayshe (new)

Ayshe | 3084 comments What do we do with the followers of such profiles? I was thinking of merging this: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... to "Caitlin Drake Smith" but it has 4 followers?


message 42: by Ayshe (new)

Ayshe | 3084 comments For how the story goes: the merge appears to have been done. Thank you, Tailtiu.


message 43: by Ayshe (last edited Apr 15, 2017 09:38AM) (new)


message 44: by Emy (last edited Nov 29, 2016 05:55AM) (new)

Emy (emypt) | 5037 comments Re #39/40 There are a vanishing few books where we de keep the publisher as editor BUT in all cases that I have come across there has been a Staff notice on the record to indicate this.

Re #41 I would say that was the correct process when the "Publisher" is a single author body, but if you / the editing Librarian can add it to the Publisher field before merging that would be best. However if there are multiple authors on that Publisher record, I'd pass it to Rivka for comment first (personal rule).


message 45: by free (last edited Feb 20, 2017 09:43PM) (new)

free (frdn) | 5200 comments Alfred A. Knopf Publishing Company, Inc.: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...


message 46: by Deon (new)

Deon (deonva) | 3718 comments Penguin Young Readers Group
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...


message 47: by Ayshe (new)

Ayshe | 3084 comments I think Ploughshares is in the same category although it is GR author: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...


message 48: by Elizabeth (Alaska) (last edited Aug 09, 2017 01:56PM) (new)

Elizabeth (Alaska) Illumination Publishing:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...


Elizabeth (Alaska) All of the existing needs upthread here have been moved to

Publisher as Author: General List

because that thread is active. This thread can be closed.


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