I am an image approver without images to approve.  I would love if everyone that reads this finds and uploads 5 images (or more.)  It would keep me busy for a while! Just remember a few simple guidelines to submitting!

Images must

1. Have the extra space around the image (usually white on the sides) cropped off. 
2. Be straight
3. Be clear
4. Be large enough to read the title
5. Be free from any emblems from other sites, such as eBay or Amazon.

Have fun and thanks for helping to make the site better!

I have a general question about this.  Why aren't there more images available from the data company PBS uses?  I have some experience from the music side of this - those companies just really stink at having good data and images, but they're always updating their databases to get more.  So is that happening on the book side here?  It just seems silly overall to rely on users of the site to rely on these images, especially when they're paying a company to provide them just that.

There you go. All the others I have found need to be majorly Gimped on...lol Just can't work into them at the moment.

Why aren't there more images available from the data company PBS uses? 

Suzanne...I am just an lowly approver. That is something that you would have to ask R&R. but I would guess it has something to  do with thte cost of constant updating.  Our members are getting a free service from the site, why shouldn't the site benefit from the members.

Thanks to everyone who has submitted images.

Keep them coming.

Betsy

Why aren't there more images available from the data company PBS uses?

PBS uses Amazon for their database, rather than a database provider like Muze.  I upload images to Amazon all the time and sometimes my image there is "hijacked" to become the "official" image.  On PBS, that image is also the official image, so I can definitely follow the trail. 

A good example (not my image, though) and something our image approvers might want to go REMOVE is the image on this listing (I've already reported it to Amazon) - http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/9780899194158-Trapped+in+Tar+Fossils+from+the+Ice+Age+A+Junior+Library+Guild+Selection

Amazon's database is from a myriad of sources, from publishers to seller to customers.  When an Amazon listing is created without a cover image, PBS doesn't get a cover image.  There are tens of thousands of those listings on Amazon which are now here.  Whatever they're paying for the service, PBS isn't even getting updates to titles, etc.  So when I make a correction on Amazon, I have to submit the correction here as well.

Even other bookswapping sites get THOSE updates, so I assume this is a choice on the part of PBS.  I don't think it's a SMART choice, but if they can get us to do it for free who can blame them?  It keeps their costs down which, in the end, IS a smart thing and has probably contributed to their ability to keep this place fee-free.  Besides, it makes us feel invested when we contribute.  Invested customers care, which is really good for the bottom line.

Wow, too much coffee.  Short answer - I don't think they use a database company, per se.

I'll work on getting some images properly editted and cropped, Betsy!  :-)

You are right about cost being a factor, Anna. The database is either the free version or the nearly free version, which when one thinks about all the variety of expenses that go into the site; ISP fees, database fees, USPS address verification fees, computer system costs, person to maintain the hardware, programmers for both the website and the databases, any corner they can cut must seem like a blessing! I'm so totally willing to work on data & images if it can keep the database cost down.

ETA: I'm so willing to approve more data corrections as well!!! Do all the books on your shelf have descriptions? Correct titles & authors? A cover for Betsy to approve? Better looking shelves get more orders!!!

At this time there are not any pending images to approve.

and

At this time there are no other book edits to approve. Great job!

Send us some work!!

I'm so willing to approve more data corrections as well!!!

That's you guys... um, gals... too?  Wow, color me impressed. 

While I was updating the reviews to clean up thread, I copy and pasted the cover blurbs to their proper place.  Two birds, one stone. I'll try to do that more often.  I've got a sick family this weekend, but they all go away tomorrow so I'll have more time.  I do have a question, though. 

I know PBS doesn't accept binding changes easily and I think that's a really smart idea given all the factors... Once, I sold a book on Amazon for 150 bucks.  The listing was a paperback.  The buyer got the book, changed the listing to hardcover and demanded his money back - without planning to return it! - because it was the "wrong" binding.  But I digress, lol.  Back on track -

...when I KNOW and can PROVE that a binding is wrong, what do I do?  If I submit the correction through the normal route, you folks will just ignore it (as you should), so how do I make my case and to whom?

if they can get us to do it for free who can blame them?

When I wrote that, I apparently didn't realize it sounded snarky.  No one's called me on it, so maybe it's less snarky than I think it is, but I feel the need to say that  "get us to do it" sounds kinda not like what I meant.  If anyone reads that and gets "snarky" from it, I'm sorry!  They've got a passionate volunteer workforce and good for them! :-)

Anna,

You need to send a binding change request through the contact us link at the bottom (then click on send feedback), but before you submit it make sure that you have checked several sites to make sure it wasn't possibly used for both bindings of the book (which happens sometimes)  In the cases where a publisher uses the same ISBN for different bindings they can't change it, but in the cases where it's just a database error they have changed it for me.

Also, know that when you send in the feedback it might take a while to get back to you because I know they are busy right now, but they will get back to you.

Okay, hope this helps.   Keep on submitting those book edits and images.   Let's get our database looking good!  :-)

Also, know that when you send in the feedback it might take a while to get back to you because I know they are busy right now, but they will get back to you.

And you may not get a response at all. They  are so busy that they do not actually personally resond to every PM.

Update.....So far today. I personally have approved 290 images. (not sure how many the others may have done)

I have had to deny about 20 due to bad images or cropping issues. Please recheck all images before submitting.

Still waiting for more!

You need to send a binding change request through the contact us link at the bottom (then click on send feedback), but before you submit it make sure that you have checked several sites to make sure it wasn't possibly used for both bindings of the book (which happens sometimes)  In the cases where a publisher uses the same ISBN for different bindings they can't change it, but in the cases where it's just a database error they have changed it for me.

Not a problem!  :-)  I don't waste my time with sites - I talk to publishers!  I figure once the publisher's sent me proof, there's little room for argument, lol.

Here's a new thing.  Sherry might want to kill me because I PMed her several of these.  SORRY!  Didn't realize I'd see SSSOOO many.  Non-ISBN listings, where I can't submit edits because there's no ISBN to enter... these people are putting their own item's details under "book description".  What do I do with them??  All except the first one, I did send to Sherry, BTW.  I just, I'm baffled as to how they should be handled.  WTH?!?!?  There's more, many many more, too.  HELP!

http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/85290-The+Biblical+View+of+Science

http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/43936-Andrew+Jackson+Soldier+and+Statesman

http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/91986-Angelas+Ashes (and I promise there's never been an Angela's Ashes issued without an ISBN)

http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/80378-Arithmetic+2+Test+Speed+drill+teacher+key

http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/39259-Baltimore+Oriolesa+science+I+can+read

Sorry, here's a fave of mine - http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/62765-The+Biggest+Bear+Teaching+Unit - book not included?  It's a BOOKswapping site!

2 images on the way!  Sorry, that is all that is missing from my bookshelf.  I will check my husband's.

Anna,

Non-ISBN listings, where I can't submit edits because there's no ISBN to enter...

Open the listing and click on the arrow on the right hand side. tha last choice is edit lisitng.  YOU CAN EDIT NON ISBNs!!! YEAH

Just be careful in changing the info too much of there a book posted to the listing. But you can remove physical descriptions and fix titles and authors,

Betsy

just a silly question, but is it okay to take a digipic of a book that doesn't seem to have a good pic anywhere and upload it to you?

I will - I sincerely hope - never come back to this thread again.  :-P  Tell ya why in a sec.

Thanks, Betsy - that's awesome!  Pippa, since I'm here, I'll say - YES!  LOL!  I'm nobody, but if it meets all the criteria for size, cropping, markings, etc, I can't see why it wouldn't be accepted.  Scanning seems to get the best results without glare but if you haven't got a scanner, you might try a pic.

O. M. B. (I don't do god, I call her Bob-the-invisible-woman, lol)  For everyone who peeks in here and says "not relevant to ME!" and ducks back out - get to work!  Holy c....anoli! 

I do not ever want to return to this thread because it feels like a challenge and I can never resist.  I can't get to my scanner or PC but have been at a laptop for hours, on and off.  For fun, I went to Browse Books by Genre and just randomly picked Homeschooling.  First, let me say I worry.  The folks listing these books are currently teaching the next generation of geniuses - and the mistakes!  You'd think we couldn't read at all!  j/k j/k  But it is pretty bad.  Well, it was.  ;-)

I went and found 40 images or so on other sites and uploaded those.  I couldn't tell you how many mistakes I corrected, but a lot more than 40.  And I only got to the end of the Fs!  The PBS database is kinda embarrassing.  So, really - give them something to do!!!!  I'll do more, maybe tomorrow, but... wow.... I'd be speechless if I was the type to ever shut up. 

After seeing all that, I bow to Betsy, Sherry and all the rest of you folks!

I've been uploading like a fiend (going to all the PBSers shelves who've requested books from me and trying to find images for their books).  And sorry to Betsy (again) I know I was sloppy w/my cropping.  Now that I've sorted out what I was doing wrong, I promise to be a good girl.  Also, I - duh - remembered my handy little "PrintKey" shareware program that lets me take a picture of whatever I'm viewing on my computer, so now I can solve the white space problem before I save the jpeg.  Love my PrintKey - it  has been invaluable - even for work-related stuff.

Thanks for all you do to make thihs such a great site!

Thanks everyone!! Keep up the good work! I have approved over 600 images just today!!

And yes I am challenging people to clean up thier shelves and any other that they feel like helping out!