[Alexandria-list] ISBN number - errant?

[Lissa]

On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 22:37:09 +0100, Rolf Marvin Bøe Lindgren wrote
> Frederic Leroy <fredo at starox.org> writes:
> 
> > Le dimanche 08 janvier 2006 à 20:25 +0100, Rolf Marvin Bøe Lindgren a
> > écrit :
> > > I have a book sporting the ISBN number 140212124.  I can find the book
> > > by that ISBN number on Google.  however Alexandria refuses to
> > > acknowledge it.
> > > 
> > > bug? 
> > It isn't a bug, just a miss in the search. You must use 'add manually'
> > to enter your book.
> 
> No, Alexandria says it's not a valid ISBN number and refuses to 
> search.

It isn't a valid ISBN. It isn't long enough
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isbn, for more information). So, it fails the
checksum. google doesn't validate checksums. Searches that use librarian
standardards (such as at abe.com) will refuse to search it, also.

However, like duplicate ISBNs, invalid ISBNs aren't uncommon (I'm a librarian,
although not a cataloger, even if I've had that training).

> > Another Idea... since we only rely on a collection a limited website
> > for searching, It would be wonderful to have a database user
> > website. A bit like freedb but for books ;)
> 
> that would be very nice to have.

I'm not aware of a National Library that doesn't have this, and provide
read-only access to everyone. 

Be well,
Lissa