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Topic: ISBN listing inaccurate

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Subject: ISBN listing inaccurate
Date Posted: 10/22/2011 3:27 AM ET
Member Since: 11/15/2008
Posts: 210
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I attempted to list a book by ISBN.  It is a hardcover bookclub edition.  The listing showed up as a paperback edition of the same book.  The book is in postable condition, but how do I list if the type of cover listed is innacurate?



Last Edited on: 10/22/11 3:27 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
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Date Posted: 10/22/2011 8:43 AM ET
Member Since: 3/4/2007
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You will need to list it as a book without an ISBN. smiley

When do you need to Post a book using the Post Books Without an ISBN feature?

  • When your book has no ISBN
  • When your book's ISBN is unknown to the PBS database (has not yet been added by regular updates)
  • When your book's ISBN "brings up" another booktype in the database
    • Such as the paperback if you have the hardcover, and vice versa
    • Such as Large Print when you have the regular-font version
    • This happens when the publisher assigns the same ISBN to multiple booktypes).

If your book does not match the listing information (title, author, booktype) in the database for the ISBN on the book, it must be Posted without an ISBN

To post your book without an ISBN:

  • First, make sure to look over your book really well
    • Sometimes ISBN numbers can be found in unexpected places like the spine
    • The back of the book and in the publishing information in the front of the book are the most common places to find an ISBN.
  • If your book has no ISBN (or the ISBN you have doesn't work in the system):
    • Go to the Post Books page
      • From My Account: click the Post Books tab
      • From anywhere on the site: place your cursor over My Account on the toolbar at the top of the site and click Post Books in the menu that drops down.
      • From your Bookshelf, click the link "Post Books" at the top of the page, in the yellow bar.
    • On the Post Books page:
      • Click the "Post a Book without an ISBN" link at the top of the page, in the yellow bar.
      • Enter the information about the book in the form that comes up:
        • Mandatory information includes: title, author, book dimensions, Subject (genre), booktype
        • Optional information includes: Large Print, Homeschool, Publisher, # pages, Back cover Description (synopsis of the book content), Book Cover image.
        • Your Book Cover Image needs to be less than 5 MB in size, and in .jpg format.

When you are done, your book will be listed in the database with a customized listing that has a "short ISBN" or "PBS ISBN", which is the 5 or 6 digit number that PBS assigns in place of the ISBN to keep track of the book in the system.

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Date Posted: 10/22/2011 10:08 AM ET
Member Since: 8/23/2007
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This is pretty common with BCE's. They frequently use the paperback ISBN as many are only released in hardcover as a BCE.  They don't take into consideration us poor book swappers who have to now list them without an ISBN.

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Date Posted: 10/22/2011 11:50 AM ET
Member Since: 11/15/2008
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Thanks!  I have listed it as a book without an ISBN.

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Date Posted: 10/23/2011 2:41 PM ET
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Nice catch Cindy, hope your book finds a new home quickly!