Different book formats, same ISBN-13

[Matthew]

So this question is about a book that is showing up in the Goodreads database in different versions, ie. paperback, ebook and Kindle version, where the ISBN-13 is the same for the paperback and for the ebook (that I'm reading at the moment). The problem is the ebook version in the GR database has a different ISBN-13 than the one I'm reading. The ISBN-13 for the ebook I'm reading, as listed on the copyright page, is already used for the paperback version that's currently in the GR database. Is it common for a paperback to have the same ISBN-13 as its ebook counterpart? And is there anything we can do about it? The only difference I can tell, besides what version (paperback, ebook, etc) is the page count. The ebook I'm reading (download from B&N for my Nook) is listing only 306 pages, whereas the paperback is listed with 370 pages as is the Kindle version. The ebook version in the database is listed with 0 pages, and I was going to update that to show 306, but since the ISBN-13 is different than what I have, I held off.

It's not a big deal, but it throws the progress bar off when I update my reading status with the page count that I've read so far since the only page count in the database for this book is 370.

[Ash]

I'm not sure about how common it is. You can add your ebook as an extra version of the book, and state the ISBN in a librarian's note. I believe that is the customary way to deal with it, at least it is that way with alternate book-covers for the same ISBN.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

It's not as common anymore to use the same ISBN for ebook and paperback, but it was 10 years ago. You can create an ebook edition without an ISBN, if you want, or just use the one with the other ISBN.

As for ebook page numbers, those vary from reader to reader based on user settings.

[Matthew]

This particular book isn't that old, as it was just published in 2010. I currently have the paperback added to my shelf because if I add the ebook that's in the database and try to update my reading status, since the page count is 0, it gets listed as me having finished to book if I put in any number greater than 0.

I may take your advice, Nelson, and create an alternate ebook version and note the ISBN in the librarian's note. I'd hate to update a page count for the existing ebook version when it varies between ereaders, as rivka says.

Or maybe I'll leave it be entirely, since it's not really a "problem".

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Matt, you can update ebook status by percentage, rather than page number. Click on "pages" and it should turn into a %.

[Sandra]

I still come across ebooks with the ISBN 13 of the paperback, as Rivka said, not as common as it once was, but it certainly still happens.

[Sarah]

I have a printed copy of a book that came with the regular IBSN number as well as the eBook ISBN number and I want to add the eBook version to my Kindle reader, does anyone know of a way to be able to do this?

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Are you asking how to add the book to the GR database, or how to add it to your Kindle? If the latter, this group is not the right place.