Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

Hi - I need to change the covers of 3 published books on Goodreads (both kindle and paperback versions). How do I do this now? There used to be an Email you could make the request to, but I see that no longer exists. Thanks!

It depends on the situation.

If they are your books and covers have been changed but ISBN/ASIN remains the same you can add alternate cover editions.

ow do you do that please? I don't think you could when I last did this.

If I try to delete the cover photo, I get the message: 'Only librarians have permission to delete the cover for this book.'

You don't need to delete anything, add an alternate cover edition.

How do I do that without changing the book edition? I can see the option for 'add a new edition', but will this not create a new book edition? It's asking me for ISBNs etc. Or will it be possible to combine all editions afterwards?

More details here https://help.goodreads.com/s/article/...
Use the button with three dots next to 'edit book details'

Okay, so yes - if I try to create a new edition, I get this message: 'Asin is taken by an existing book [ ] in 'Public' status. If you believe this is an error please double-check your data, then check the Goodreads Librarians group. ASINs are optional so you can also add this book without an ASIN.' So I need another way to do it, as it's the same book with the same ASIN.

Add an alternate cover edition not a new edition, it moves the ASIN for you.

Thanks - I'm still not seeing the link it describes next to the 'Add new Edition' link, though. The only other link seems to be 'expand/collapse details'.

To see the alternate cover edition link, you need to be on the edition that has the ISBN or ASIN.

There's only one edition.

Or, rather, there's a paperback and kindle edition, but both have different ASINs - I need to update the cover for both. No sign of the link anywhere.

Maybe you could tell us what book you are trying to update.

City of Dreams and Dust by Ru Pringle (ASIN: B08CHMBJ74 / B08CJ7RLJL, both paperback and Kindle version)

A Haven in the Stars by Ru Pringle (ASIN: B08CHKWK8K / B08CM37YW8, both paperback and Kindle version)

Surfers by Ru Pringle (ASIN: B08BG54F66 / B08BD9CVVX, both paperback and Kindle version)

For the first one listed there go to the edition with correct ASIN
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Click the button with three dots and it gives the correct option 'Add an alternate cover edition'.
The others should be the same, just navigate to correct edition and click the button.

The ACE link shows up for me. It is the second link in the drop-down menu.

They both have the correct ASIN. Not seeing a button with three dots on it ... Is there any way you can share a screengrab?

Sorry, yes - got it now!

Okay, that seems to have created another problem - it's created a new, separate book edition, dated today. The edition should be the same, dated 2020 - it's just the cover that's updated.

We use the date that the new cover was initiated. If you know that exact date, we can put that in.

Thanks - it's 9th July 2020. Is there any way to stop both covers being shown as separate editions? I remember from before there was a way to combine 'editions'.

It wouldn't be the same date as the old edition. We keep all editions on site so that readers can log the exact one they read. New editions or alternate cover editions are automatically combined.

Now seeing an option has appeared to 'combine' editions. Will that combine paperback and Kindle editions, or just the different cover editions? Also noticing that the thumbnails haven't updated. Will that be automatic but just slower?

Your books are already as combined as they are ever going to be. The edition that shows on your profile will always be the most shelved edition, unless you change it. To do so, navigate to your preferred edition and edit it. There will be a setting on the edit page to make it the default.

Thanks Scott. Can you point me to the setting that makes it the default? I'm not seeing it.

Also, the paperback cover just doesn't seem to want to update - the option for an ACE has disappeared now.

Ru wrote: "Thanks Scott. Can you point me to the setting that makes it the default? I'm not seeing it."

I am not an author, so I do not know exactly what it looks like or where it is on the edit page, sorry.

Ru wrote: "Also, the paperback cover just doesn't seem to want to update - the option for an ACE has disappeared now."

Please link to the edition you are trying.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

You have already created an alternate cover edition here:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Okay, that's now started showing - must have been a long time delay. I still can't find any way to make the latest cover the default, though ...

Yes, most changes to GR database take a little while to show everywhere.

Thanks. Still need to find out how to make the new covers the default, though?

https://help.goodreads.com/s/article/...

Thanks, found it - but now getting the message: 'Sorry, this book could not be set as the work's primary edition.'

Okay, this is really bizarre. I've just changed the cover of 'A Haven in the Stars' and have been able to set it as the default version with no issue. But I get the error message 'Sorry, this book could not be set as the work's primary edition' if I try doing it for the other two. Also, 'A Haven in the Stars' automatically updated its thumbnails before I requested it be the default - the other two have still to update.

Librarians can't do anything about that. If you have further issues you should contact support.

Don't suppose you have a link to support? I'm sure it's hidden somewhere, but I can't see it. Following the help menus (as expected) takes me round in circles.

https://www.goodreads.com/about/conta...

Thanks!