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Topic: I'm confused, search question...

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Subject: I'm confused, search question...
Date Posted: 12/6/2009 11:56 PM ET
Member Since: 6/22/2008
Posts: 455
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Today I was searching for a book in a series that I really like. When I went to search for it on the posted copies it said it wasn't available, however when I clicked on a description of another book in the series it suddenly appeared as one of those "Other readers have enjoyed these titles as well" or something to that effect . I was able to get the book that way instead of using the search mode. I just thought it was odd, why wasn't the book listed on the regular search?

Sorry if my post is confusing, I can't think of another way to convey it!                  

EmilyKat avatar
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Date Posted: 12/7/2009 12:48 AM ET
Member Since: 7/19/2008
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There may be several versions of the book, with different ISBNs.  Often only one version shows up under the author page.  But if you search by the title, the other versions show up.  This can happen when the book changes publisher, is reissued. is a special print run such as a promotional version for a conference or is a book club version.   Some times a different number is used for a chain store. 

Or it could be a short (5) ISBN, which means it is a PBS number.  These are made up when the hardback and paperback have the same number and also for books without ISBNs.

The system is suppose to link the different versions.  (Which makes them show up in red or green on the book page.)  This does not always happen.  Spell the name slightly different (middle name vs initial) and they don't link.

 

ETA.  Oh.  It could have just been posted as well. 



Last Edited on: 12/7/09 12:51 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
CozSnShine avatar
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Date Posted: 12/7/2009 1:37 AM ET
Member Since: 2/5/2007
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It works often to look for the author and then the book.  Or look for another book by the same author and then click on the author's name.  It will list all books in the system wished and listed by that author.

sarap avatar
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Date Posted: 12/7/2009 1:56 AM ET
Member Since: 1/17/2009
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I find searching for the title of the book works best. Then you see all the different ISBNs. If it isn't a very common book title, then I also leave off extra works like "An" or "The" since sometimes books get listed without them. People will fix the mistakes in the very common titles, but the offbeat titles ... sometimes there will be several variations on them in the DB.

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Date Posted: 12/7/2009 7:15 AM ET
Member Since: 8/23/2007
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Searching by title after the author search is always best.  Between typos on other websites that get into our system, authors who change their names a lot (sometimes they use a middle initial, sometimes they use a psuedonym, sometimes they reissue a book and use a married name etc...,)  Plus manually added books to PBS where the member miss spelled the name. 

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Date Posted: 12/7/2009 12:08 PM ET
Member Since: 11/13/2005
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It is also possible someone posted a copy in that time.