My query is regarding the "format" of mass market paperback - if that is the correct word.
 Within the past few years there has been a new format introduced, it;s still mass-market paperback, but, the books are about 1in longer, and the print lines are spaced further apart. I beleive the idea is that they are easier to read. My question is this - in the pbs system, is there any way of knowing which style of mass market paperback a book is?

I asked something similar recently and I believe the answer is that these larger books are identified as "trade paperbacks".  I really like them because they are much easier on my tired old eyes than a traditional paperback.  I picked up one paperback the other day that I have decided not to even bother to try to read.  The lines are so closely spaced (tighter than even a normal mass market paperback) that my eyes started twitching when I started trying to read the page.

I have been tempted to buy a Kindle because you can set the type size on it, but until such time as the books available for the Kindle are priced much less than $9.99, I guess I'll stick to reading paperbacks with my 2.0 reading glasses.  It cracks me up when people say that the Kindle is so great because books are cheaper.  The only books they are cheaper than are hardback books.  And the thing about a Kindle books is that you don't even own it.  If I buy a hardback book I can loan it to a friend or even sell it.  You can't do either with a Kindle book.

Thanks Kate -  I thought trade paperbacks were even larger again. Anyonme else want to weigh in with an opinion?

My question is this - in the pbs system, is there any way of knowing which style of mass market paperback a book is?

The only way I know would be to go to Amazon with the specific ISBN and look at the listed book measurements.  Or in a pinch you can find the book in PBS's database, click on "Options" and "Edit Book Data" and see what measurements (if any) are in the database for that book. Just don't change anything or hit 'submit'.

Many books in the system have that info, and I don't know why it's not displayed with the other public information.

Even then, if they've reused the ISBN number, you could get a larger size.

I have been tempted to buy a Kindle because you can set the type size on it, but until such time as the books available for the Kindle are priced much less than $9.99, I guess I'll stick to reading paperbacks with my 2.0 reading glasses.

IIRC, the kindle will read other formats than just the Kindle one, and you can put other content on it from other sites. Many ebooks are less that $9.99 at various ebook stores on-line. Especially when you can earn money back (reward points, micro-rebate, what ever they call it.)

Not to mention all the free stuff out there, like at The Gutenberg Project, where there are thousands of free, classic books and audiobooks.

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

I've had various Sony eReaders for years, and don't think I've ever bought a book from their store because they run a bit pricy. So I load it with stuff I get elsewhere, cheaper.

I think the format you are talking about is called comfort sized.  The books are the same width as mmpb but are a little bit taller.  I think the only way to tell the difference would be to look on Amazon and in the book description look at the size of the book.

Mass Market Paperbacks come in two sizes: classic is 4 3/16" x 6 3/4" and premium is 4 1/4" x 7 1/2". Premium has larger type, and bigger spacing between the lines. It looks to me like the type goes closer to the margins and binding too, but that could be an optical illusion.

Trade Paperbacks are not the same as premium mass market paperbacks. They are printed on higher quality paper and they are usually the same size and layout as the original hardcover, just bound with flexible cardboard covers instead.

You cannot tell from a PBS listing whether you will get the Classic Mass Market, Premium Mass Market or Trade Paperback book. If a listing says Paperback, then it might be any one of these sizes. You can check at Amazon for the dimensions of the book, but you can't rely on that information. Sometimes publishers reuse ISBNs and print books in multiple formats using the same ISBN. If you really want one or the other, the best thing to do is specify that in your Requestor Conditions. Be aware though that most mass market paperback books are either classic or premium sized, not both.

If you go to the book details page and look under Other Options and then Edit Book Data you can see the measurements of the book. This won't guarantee you get that size because measurements don't have to match and many MMP, comfort sized MMP and trade size will have the same ISBN, but it will tell you one of the sizes available for that ISBN.

8X5 or larger are generally what's thought of as trade size, the taller MMP (comfort) that you refer to will be around that height, but under 5 in width and MMP will be less that 8 by less than 5. That is generally, there are little variances some put into their books to make them different, but I find that guideline to be pretty accurate.

As Cathy said, the size of mass paperback that you are referring to (same width, about 1" taller, with more spacing inbetween the lines) is called a premium mass paperback.  It is NOT a trade paperback.    It's sized the way it is so that it can still fit into the racks that hold mass paperbacks.  Allegedly, the reason for introducing this new size of paperback was that it would be easier to hold and read.    Personally, I think that while they may be easier to read because of more white space between the lines, they are harder to hold - not easier.     Oh - and at $9.99 they cost $2 more than the average mass paperback.   I do think that  binding may be better than the usual mass paperback, so maybe the paper won't wrinkle and the book won't fall apart after only a few readings like many new mass paperbacks these days.

Here on PBS, there is no distinction for these special sized mass paperbacks.   As someone said above, you really need to go to the book description page and click on the "Buy from Amazon" tab so that you can see the actual dimensions of the book.

I have a Kindle.  On it I have several books.  So far, I've paid for ONE book.  There are lots of books available that cost zero.

Premium/comfort paperback...I agree with the above.  Tradesize is the next size up from that, and they also come in several dimensions!

And ditto what Melanie said...

This won't guarantee you get that size because measurements don't have to match and many MMP, comfort sized MMP and trade size will have the same ISBN, but it will tell you one of the sizes available for that ISBN.

They seem to be reusing more ISBN#s than ever these days.

My Mom buys the "comfort" sized MMPs and she gives them to me to post when she is done. The ones that I have had have always used the same ISBN as the regular MMP (IF it was also published in the regular MMP size)

That's good info, Sara, thanks.  Any particular publisher your mom favors?

Whatever they are called, I like 'em...  much easier to read.

easier to read ... but so much harder to wrap!

Regarding the publisher, I've never noticed. She reads mostly mysteries and mystery / thrillers, though.