Avoid adding new editions?

[Kristen]

(Hopefully this hasn't already been asked. I went through the threads but only the titles.)

"The book you are adding may already exist in our database. If it appears below, please use that edition instead of adding a new one."

Just to be sure, if I am reading a book that is already in the database but in an edition which is not, I should just use a pre-existing edition and not add mine?

That seems to be the rule, and I don't have any problems with it, but SO many books have multiple editions entered that I just want to confirm.

Thanks!

[rivka, Former Moderator]

If it really is a different edition (different ISBN, different cover, different language, etc.) then there's no problem with adding it. However, the vast majority of books people add are already in the database -- so it tries to tell you about them to avoid real duplicates.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Exactly what we librarians are for. ;)