Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

Hi, I have tried to search within the librarian manual but I am not really able to find the answer so...

Are Google Play Books valid for inclusion on Goodreads?

I came across a request to move a book to a correct author profile, which I did, but then I noticed it is a GP book with a weird "ASIN" number so I started to question the validity of the book record.

So can anyone help me out here? Is it valid or not?
Thanks for the help guys :-)

Hi Corinne, thank you for the answer although I do not think the link you have provided is all that helpful considering a lot of answers target whether we can or cannot use the info/covers provided by the site in question (in this case Google Play Books) which I know we can't.

In this case however the Google Play Books is set as a publisher (not just a bookseller) so I'm still not sure how to proceed. One does not need to be subscribed to GPB to have access to those books, so it technically should be valid but is it?


Yes, the author's name was set correctly according to policy but since she has already successfully claimed her author profile with the incorrect use of the initials I assumed it is OK to move the book to her profile.

Google Play Books are just ebook editions. There is no isbn or other identifier on their website, but using the ebook isbn in the search field works to find the ebook edition.

The identifier that is used on your example should not have been added to the book record.

And just like other ebook sellers, we cannot use their website to add books to GR.

Arenda wrote: "Google Play Books are just ebook editions. There is no isbn or other identifier on their website, but using the ebook isbn in the search field works to find the ebook edition.

The identifier that..."

Excellent - so it should be valid as long as we don't take the info/cover from the GPB, correct? Like if the info was provided by the one requesting the addition - from the actual e-book they own, it can be added, right?

I'll contact the staff about the removal of the identifier :-) Thanks for your response.

Corinne wrote: "It is okay to add an ebook (audiobook) when Google Play is the publisher?"

I don't know.
I checked an ebook by a regular publisher to see if they use the regular isbn. Don't know author self published editions.

As far as I know, info provided directly by the author is always acceptable.

Corinne wrote: "Martina wrote: "Yes, the author's name was set correctly according to policy but since she has already successfully claimed her author profile with the incorrect use of the initials I assumed it is..."

Thanks I looked in to it and now see what you meant :-)

I have always thought author's profiles were approved the way they are by staff, so I have never really questioned it when I came across a claimed author's name that was written incorrectly.

Since we can't edit claimed profiles, should I contact the staff to correct the name according to policy?

Corinne wrote: "Martina wrote: "Thanks I looked in to it and now see what you meant :-)

I have always thought author's profiles were approved the way they are by staff, so I have never really questioned it..."

y..."

I think I'll contact them directly :-) Thanks for your answers.