Goodreads Librarians Group discussion
Book & Author Page Issues
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Need help with these "Jr" author oddities
date
newest »


Barbara, Luke, Barbara, Williams Cook ...
Bob, Beltz, Bob, Galasso ...
Bobby, D Hopper, Bobby, L. Lovett...
Carol, Darnell Guerrero-Murphy, Carol, Taylor...
Cindy, Ed. Golden Ed., Cindy, Ed Bunch...
Deborah, L Hannah, Deborah, Uhler ...
Debra, R. Bryson, Debra, S. Kleinberger...
Donna, R. McGrew, Donna, Et Al. Alvermann ...
Elizabeth, Siegel Watkins, Elizabeth, Lady Decies, ...
Elisabeth, A Haug, Elisabeth, and Gordon, Margaret, and Wood, Ivor Beresford ...
Ellen, M. Immergut, Ellen, Kathleen O'Neill ...
Frank, Richard G. / Glied, Sherry A. Frank, Richard G. / Glied, Sherry A., Frank, Jr. Slansky ...
I'm sure lots more will show up under other common last and first names followed by a "," -- goodreads search doesn't locate easily, the "add book/author" feature of messages will let you search the commas in a name. (Unfortunately, not a comma all by itself or I could get a more complete list).

Just asking to keep it together so I don't go back and check each time ;)

Correct example:
L.E. Modesitt Jr.
Incorrect example:
L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
Question
John A.^Smith Jr.
John A.^^Smith Jr.
or
John^A. Smith Jr.
John^^A. Smith Jr.

I got 105 results in the first link.
__________________________________
(caution, if says author of and book name not to be deleted, for some reason it is not showing the book count)
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And there are a lot or dots missing after initials.
(Search John A^, John B^, ... etc. and Jr^)
Incorrect place for Jr (John^Jr)
Someone used spaces quite wildly. I find two spaces between names and Jr.

Note that 0 books, 0 books if often misleading because these counts only take into account books where the author is the primary author. Please make sure you are double checking these authors before merging them into another profile to clean them up.
As examples, the following authors all show up as 0 book, 0 books added on the Similar Names page, but have books attributed to them:
John F. Langowski Jr.
John F. Keaney Jr.
John G. Navarra Jr.
John G. Peluso Jr.

Yes, that was my logic as well
Note that 0 books, 0 books if often misleading because these counts only take..."
I agree, that is why I said: (caution, if says author of and book name not to be deleted, for some reason it is not showing the book count)
If the profile shows ANY books I do NOT combine :)
Just saying that I have been careful :)

Just asking to keep it together so I don't go back and check each time ;)"
If it helps, the suffix/prefix section of manual (http://www.goodreads.com/librarian_ma... ) says with examples:
"Suffixes and prefixes for authors names
Only social suffixes are used. This includes Jr., Sr., and Roman numerals. There is no punctuation between the name and the suffix.
Examples:
Frank B. Gilbreth Jr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
Andre Dubus III
Other suffixes and prefixes are not included with authors names:
*Academic degrees (BS, MS, PhD, MD, DDS, Prof, Dr. etc.) should not be used
*Honorary degrees (KBE, LLD, Sir etc.) should not be used
*Professional (Esq, CPA, CFA etc.) should not be used
Examples:
Diana Derval (not Prof. Diana Derval)
Robert C. Atkins (not Dr. Robert C. Atkins)
The only exceptions are those where the author is known primarily by a name that includes the honorific:
Example:
Mahatma Gandhi (not Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi)"
I expect "Sr." "II" "III" suffixes with common names to search in bad shape like the "Jr." ones.
A few months ago, I did go thru and clean a lot of "PhD" because was easily searchable just from normal goodreads author search. But they hagve been breeding again. "Dr. " variants I found by "Dr A" "Dr B" ... "Dr Z"— those have also grown again.

What I mean by that (just making up an example), Instead of correcting straightaway to "Dr. Alex B Tiddly" To "Alex B. Tiddly"
changing to "Alex B Tiddly" finds an author profile to merge that correctly had no "Dr." but incorrectly was missing period after initials so a second profile cleaned up
then changing "Alex B Tiddly" to "Alex B. Tiddly" and merging cleans up a third profile
If a common sounding name or a lot of titles, initials, prefixes and suffixes that could create a lot of incorrect variants, I would also edit the profile and actually look at similar names to right-click open incorrect variants in new tab to edit (or "hold" on a touchpad to open in new tab)—being careful about merging when similar names had versions with extra spaces meaning disambiguated authors.
The incorrectly added degree/honorific/title of "professor" really gets a lot of variants, too, (all of which need deleting from author names) along with variants of the author that might also include variants of PhD suffix. Some odd abbreviations with and without and capitalizations of both even when added by same member (if any justification ever needed for not using titles, degrees, etc. all the odd variants that get used is a good one).

Is BSN social suffix?
More Authors for fixing:
Etc + multiple names
et al
by
LYRICS???
Editor
COMPOSER
contributor
Prof
trans
It would be good if the search was getting results for thhose symbols: ( ) , : ;
I also suggest sending messages to everyone that's been adding those, I think it would save us work in the future.
_____
Debbie wrote: "changing to "Alex B Tiddly" finds an author profile to merge that correctly had no "Dr." but incorrectly was missing period after initials so a second profile cleaned up"
Good idea, thank you

All goodreads members can add books so long as not duplicating isbn numbers (I think you only have to have been a member about three to five days). Not feasible to message everyone who ever added wrong. Or to even necessarily message them in a language they speak.
Plus not sure a message or an email would help anymore than the popup tool tip they get when adding an author. I do think it would help if the poup would clarify that prefixes and titles like Mr., Mrs., Dr., Prof. were not to be used, but right now if adding an author name everyone sees the below screenshot:




No, because too many members joined to keep a catalog of their books. Librarians would not be able to keep up with all the rarer editions, out of prints, slef-published ebooks, etc. members have squirreled away. Plus in some instances members actual books are the cover image source, back cover information, etc. for books librarians cannot get in their own hot little hands.
Not every member even knows about librarians or would come to the group to get a book added (support would be flooded with emails to get a book added).
Members would leave for sites they could add books to easier so they could keep their catalogs complete.
Everyone can read librarians manual or check help screens or ask if questions.
And "librarian" is just a volunteer member supposed to have read the manual. Sometimes librarian edits or "corrections" are worse than anything a member adds. I think some authors become librarians because they don't realize they can claim author profile to have librarian status on their own books ... Not all librarians seem to have actually read the manual. Some of the cover changes and series deleting/editing by some librarians is totally fouling up my own books plus the damage to the goodreads database ....
Nope, I like that members can add books the database might otherwise never have gotten.
A polite message when something is done wrong by a newbie librarian is fine; I do wish that there was a quickie quiz to make sure you knew some things in the manual (like these titles/suffixes and alternate cover editions versus changing book covers) before you could be approved as a librarian would be nice. So would revoking goodreads librarian status for authors who change covers versus creating ace works or who never add to the database other than editing their own books (dittos for their buddies who became goodreads librarian but only ever edit a single author's books) ... Much rather that happen than only librarians able to add books.

P.S. Are you guys having problem with GR today? It's showing me overload.

P.S. Are you guys having problem with GR today? It's showing me overload."
Yes, over capacity. I'm still trying to add author adding screenshot....

P.S. Are you guys having problem with GR today? It's showing me overload."
Solely music, not usually. These are usually treated as NAB (Not A Book)
Overload to the hilt for me today too. Copy/Paste any comment before posting or it loses, 15 mins to do a combine... Frustrating because I do edits here while waiting for the Catalogue to update edits here at work... :(

Overload situation is beyond ridiculous.

One of my personalities is hoping the over capacity/load errors are because amazon now adding back their data feed and all the "unknown books" and "unknown autthor" issues are going to go away.
Another voice in mu head is sure if so that the data feed will contain a bumper crop of new author name variants that will have to be corrected. Some real oddities on the Amazon site plus lately their site has had trouble keeping books on the right author profile and keeping paperback and kindle editions combined (or so personal searches and author chatter are finding). Certainly the amazon site does not punctuate and pace author initials the same as we do (but, goodreads has had the data feed before so maybe some correcting scripts already in place for some import issues).
Just guessing. All I know for sure is that amazon bought goodreads so maybe some data rollovers/imports/exports or indexing going on; the feedback group also had been chattering about improving search — I'd love to see that.

a and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
b and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
c and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
d and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
e and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
f and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
g and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
h and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
i and: iww.goodreads.com/search?utf8=✓&q...
j and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=... 14 pages!
k and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
l and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
m and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
n and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=... (cleared)
o and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
p and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
q and: NONE
r and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
s and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
t and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
u and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
v and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=... (cleared)
y and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=... ( ONE LEFT)
x and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=... (THIS one left, not sure what to do with it so I'm leaving it like this)
z and: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=... (CLEARED)
GOD: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=... :D
USA: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=...
Nintendo http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=... (blink, blink)

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
When will the acquisition close?
The deal is closed.
Can we use data from Amazon?

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
When will the acquisition close?
The deal is closed.
Can we use data from Amazon?"
Rivka said they would let us know when we can resume using Amazon for data, I'm sure someone will let us know.
There will be an announcement thread in this group when we can do so. I think it may be after the Amazon feed has been re-added, which should reduce the amount of manual data importing needed to do by librarians.

John , M. Gross
John , Nac Cudjoe
John , Van Horne
John , IV Elder
John , D. Kelly
John , F Parker
John , F. Perott
John , C. Hoogstad
John , C. Hoogstad
JOHN , T. HARRICHARAN
John , B. Craven
John , R. Schneider
John , J. Whittemore
David , G. Boggs
David , O. Agbeti
David , S. Westfall
David , A. Simonson
David , W. Palmer
Tim ,Dr Meynen
Tom ,Dr Williamson
Thomas , C. Utts
Thomas , Colley Grattan
Terry , Hasley Wright
Terry , A. Smith
Robert , Barlow Fox
Robert , C. Schuler
Robert , Garrett Rodriguez
Robert , O Day
Robert , Jackson Douglas
Robert , Harding Morris
Banks, Rosie
Edward , M. Bolger
EDWARD , T. DURANTY
Edward , M. Crispen

I would love if another librarian helps me with this task.

Peter. STRAUB
Peter. Ackroyd
Peter. Morris
Peter. Schultze-Kraft
Peter. from old catalog Cole
Peter. Cowie
Peter. Lambley
Peter. Horvath
Peter. Horvath
Peter. Reichel
Peter. Causton
Peter. Causton
Peter. Kentie
Peter. Stepan
Peter. Kühn
Peter. Hahn
Peter. Roberts
Peter. Luck
Peter. Goldammer
Peter. J. Sell
Peter. (From Old Catalog Bisset
Peter. Andrews
Peter. Higgins
Peter. Vary
Peter. Rye
Peter. Paterson
Peter. F Smith
Peter. Coats
Peter. Coats
Peter. Chan
Peter. Cooley
Peter. Waldhoff
Peter. B Hirsch
Peter .R. Rodrigues
Peter .J. Bickel
Thomas. Hoover
Thomas. Goddard Bergin
Thomas. H. Rich
Thomas. Savage
Thomas. Locke
Thomas. Froncek
Thomas. Vaterlauf
Thomas. Cn Wetherald
Thomas. Best
Thomas. Lyell
Thomas. German
Thomas. Tattershall
Thomas. Davye
Thomas. Spring
Thomas. Umfreville
Thomas. Hughes
Thomas. Bilton
Thomas. prt Menard
Thomas. Brodrick
Thomas. Bluett
Thomas. Bluett
Thomas. Hauser
Thomas. Heider
Thomas. Tomlins
Thomas. Frank
Thomas. Thibodeau
Thomas. Troughton
Thomas. Roch
Thomas. Dawkes
Thomas. Amery
prt Caxton Press
prt Norwood Press
Prter E. Furst
Prter F. Hajuy
from old catalog pseud Disciple of the Washington school
Pseud) Seth
pseud fro SenexPseud Altair
Professor Sid Watkins
Prof Malcolm David Eckel
Professor Grant L. Voth
Prof Teofilo F. Ruiz
Professor Robert Soloman
Professor Richard Wiseman
Prof David Roochnik
Professor Arnold I. Davidson
Professor Bret W. Davis
Professor Denis McQuail
Professor Giorgio Campanini, University of Parma, Italy
Prof Stephen C. Solosky
Professor Ladelle McWhorter

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10...
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11...
P.S. "Junk etc" has been flagged.

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

Thanks, fixed. :]

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I had to merge few days ago an "added for my re-read stats" edition!

It seems you are right.
Brenda that is a good tip. The add author/book search option is different then the general search and gives better more exact results.


Instead of doing a search for similar authors, on the author's edit page click similar authors: https://www.goodreads.com/author/simi...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ladelle McWhorter (other topics)Peter Cole (other topics)
Peter Ackroyd (other topics)
Peter Morris (other topics)
Peter Schultze-Kraft (other topics)
More...
Author profiles needing to be corrected and/or merged because "Jr." with commas and/or wrong order in names:
Open the similar names page for http://www.goodreads.com/author/simil... ; hold CTRL key and press F to search for ,^Jr. where ^ equals a space and there are more than a hundred John something Jr. entries that have the commas.
John, Jr. Ottley
John, Jr.John Lawrence Jr.
John, Jr.John Cibinic Jr.
John, Jr. Williamson Jr.
John, Jr. Woroniecki Jr.
Robert, Jr. Banks
Robert, Jr. Feduccia
Robert, Jr. Fatton
Robert, Jr.Robert Morrissey Jr.
Robert, Jr. Alderson
Robert, Jr. Henning
Robert, Jr. Sprackland
Robert, Jr. Demoss
Robert, Jr. Dunnavant
Robert, Jr. Longsdorf
Robert, Jr. Posch
David, Jr. Rivera
David, Jr.David Demarest Jr.
David, Jr. Flitner
David, Jr. Smith
David, Jr. Carey
David, Jr. Denslow
David, Jr. David Smith Jr.
David, Jr. Polly
Edward, Jr. Batchelor
Edward, Jr. Keister
Charles, Jr. Peifer
Charles, JR. Seymour
Charles, Jr. Terrell
Charles, Jr. Biddle
Charles, Jr. Askins
Charles, Jr. Barchok
Charles, Jr. Rockwood
Charles, Jr. Bohatka
Charles, Jr. Charles Dean Jr.
James, Jr. Hotchkiss
Larry, Jr. Larry Crabb Jr.
Michael, Jr. Todd
Michael, Jr. Votta
Adam, Jr.Adam Gifford Jr.
Nicholas, Jr. Delgado
Paul, Jr. Goodwin
Paul, Jr. Coker
Paul, Jr. Ecke
Paul, Jr. Paul Coker Jr.
Paul, Jr. Cornell
Paul, Jr. Fleming
Peter, Jr. Torres
Ralph, Jr. Haselmann
Ralph, Jr.Ralph Blasingame Jr.
Ralph, Jr. Heussner
Ralph, Jr. Morales
Sam, Jr. Kinch
Stephen, Jr. Everett
Thomas, Jr." Callister
Victor, Jr. Oddo
Victor, Jr. Masayesva
William, Jr.William White Jr.
William, Jr. Smith
William, Jr. Darity Jr.
William, Jr. Rogers
William, Jr. Fry
William, Jr.William Haddon Jr.
William, Jr. Conklin
William, Jr. Lachicotte
William, Jr. Oldendorf
William, Jr. Schell
comma in the name for some reason
John , Joseph Collins
John , M. Gross
John , Van Horne
start a message anywhere and click "add book/author" and search for John^, (again, ^ equals a space) to find another large list.
Repeat for John, for even more such as:
John, Calvin, John, Rataczak...
Repeat for Brown, for names such as:
Brown, Parry Ebonysatin, Brown, Robert G., ...
Repeat for for names such as:
SMITH, PHILLIP GARY, Smith, C. Alphonso (Charles Alphonso)
Repeat for Miller, for names such as:
Miller, Henry, Miller, Dean M. ...
and other common names followed by a comma to find authors like:
Taylor, Ph.D. Hartman, Taylor, B.C., ...
Cook, Vivian Cook, Vivian, Cook, Sherburne Friend, ...
Cooke, Tim, Cooke, John Peyton...
White, William A., White, John H....
O'Brien, Frederick, O'Brien, Glen
O'Neil, William, O'Neil, Mary Anne O'Neil, Mary Anne...
Murray, Andrew, Murray, Robert F. (Robert Fuller), ...
Brian, Jacques, Brian, Bohun Barlow...
Brian , D. Rothi, Brian ,Dr. Murat...
Mary, Mary, Mary, E. Hanshew...
Abby, L. Alger, Abby, Alger, Abby Langdon Alger, Abby...
Betty, Seagle Lawing, Betty, Vaughn Evans