Goodreads Librarians Group discussion
Questions (not edit requests)
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SOS - Goodreads Support say they are removing external links & images from groups!
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Another clarification - How are you all going to work your librarian magic without being able to post external URLs as plain text?I wrote:
Okay, we are getting much closer to 100% understanding. I shared your latest response with a few of my groups and this is the next question:
- Within our group messages/comments we currently aren't able to post an external link into the "a href" html code, but we can copy and paste a URL and it turns into a link, a link where you can see the address before you opt to press.
- With the upcoming change, will we no longer be able to copy and paste a URL and it turn into a link? Will we have to post URLs as plain text?
GR Support Responded:
Hi Beige,
If you are going to enter a URL, even in plain text, the system will still recognize this as an external link so you will not be able to add this.
Sincerely,
The Goodreads Team
To me they are still being vague are not directly answering - does this mean all groups can no longer have images in the posts? "Thanks for contacting us. Please note that external links are not permitted to be shared via the messages and comments section as well as the broadcast message sent by the group moderator."
Comments section of what? To me it's not clearly stated still.
So many of the biggest groups on Goodreads are challenge groups and they use Google spreadsheet links for the challenges, but the images being removed, if so, will take away collection badges and a lot of the site
What I find strange is that external URLs aren't allowed in the description of book entries. And when I make some edits, for example to the title or series title, I get this warning about external links in the text when I submit.When I check, that annoying amazon_catalogue bot, which makes more mistakes than it gets right, was allowed to insert the link.
Or simply, if there's no space after a period at the end of a sentence, it's recognized as an external link. What kind of nonsense is that? It's extremely annoying.
I think if external links aren't allowed to be shared in groups anymore, then we're going to have serious problems keeping the database correct and clean (especially when other members request changes).
It seems to me that they're making things worse rather than better.
Why hasn't Goodreads managed to add the duration of an audiobook, either in minutes or in the data format [0:00]?
I've run into that too where the spacing was too close together and it gave me a link error with book descriptions.
I think useful development on the site ended around 2013.
Has anyone had any reponses from GR support that are worded differently, or more concisely?
Beige wrote: "Has anyone had any reponses from GR support that are worded differently, or more concisely?"No, I've checked help for updates too but nothing that I can see
Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "No, I've checked help for updates too but nothing that I can see"Thanks, Erin
(A fellow MacHalo, I should stop by there soon)
Many of us probably feel it is futile to express our displeasure at these upcoming changes. However, I thought I'd at least share what I've found...A couple of days ago a few younger folks jumped into action. They have created:
◼️ A Petition on change.org:
https://www.change.org/p/urge-goodrea...
◼️ A Protest Group with Resources: (It already has more than 1000 members)
A form letter to send to GR and where to send it, Suggestions for status updates, etc.
I created a summary of their links in their group here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Beige wrote: "Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "No, I've checked help for updates too but nothing that I can see"Thanks, Erin
(A fellow MacHalo, I should stop by there soon)"
Hey, small world with us group addicts here :D
I'm hoping one of you can get through to the powers that be, and confirm this employee at Goodreads Support is correct, and if so, explain that we can't run bookclubs, and this group, without the ability to use external links and images.
Here is my latest exchange with GR Support:
I wrote:
I've shared your response with other goodreads group members and we are split on what you actually mean by "remaining messages". It's important for us to be 100% clear on what is changing, so let's try this again...
1. Within a group itself in the "messages" & "comments" we type to each other, which are located inside "topics" and "folders" - will we be permitted to post external links and images in those messages?
2. As a group moderator, I understand I will still be able to send a "broadcast to all members" - I assume we will no longer be able to post external links and images in these broadcast messages, is that correct?
GR Support Responded With:
Hi Beige,
Thanks for contacting us. Please note that external links are not permitted to be shared via the messages and comments section as well as the broadcast message sent by the group moderator.
If there's anything else I can help you with, please let me know. Alternatively, I can also suggest visiting Goodreads Help, where you'll find answers to many commonly asked questions about the site.
Sincerely,
The Goodreads Team