CK Original Pub Date

When I go to CK from main menu, the Orig Pub Date allows for only 1 line item. After refreshing, there is add an item. It would be helpful if the add item was available at first, I frequently want to enter paperback, hardcover, and ebook dates.

> Surely there can only be one original publication date which is the same for all editions? It's the Date and Publication fields where you put the edition-specific publication data.

Original publication date is the original publication date. If there are later editions they are not the original publication.

Translations have traditionally been entered on LT with multiple original publication dates (original language and translated language, eg Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone, click on some of the language tabs), although LT v.2 appears to have put the kibbosh on that, and leaving some seriously messed up data in its tracks as members have edited CK or combined titles (eg, some Asterix and Tintin titles).

Hardbacks, softbacks, ebooks, audiobooks, different publishers' edition etc. have never warranted their own OPDs. I've occasionally added information about successive editions in the "Book description" field at the bottom of a work's page. You could try that, or in the Comments field of your own catalogue.

Food for thought?

"Common Knowledge Help or FAQ page:
Knowledge (CK) is a LibraryThing system that lets you contribute interesting facts and data about books, authors, editions, and other items within the LibraryThing universe. This information affects all users and is visible on works pages. Some of it can also be made visible in your personal catalog by editing your display style."

Original publication date
"The original publication date refers to the original publication date of the work -- edition-specific publication dates are included in the edition records."

"To include multiple original publication dates, simply add the distinguishing text in parentheses. "

this opens the door for other original dates, i.e. different country publications, translations, languages, and "interesting facts and data about books, authors, editions, and other items within the LibraryThing universe".

I find the date a book was published in different media interesting. I add the distinguishing text in parentheses as directed.

The world of publishing is evolving technology it is nice to see this history in a single work.

"Some of it can also be made visible in your personal catalog by editing your display style."

If I sort (display style) my catalog by style (i.e. media) I am only allowed one selection, I prefer to sort by author or series. Then I can "pop" into CK to check media status if noted.

I frequently search LT universe for books to read.
Looking for books listed in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die as an example

On the "main page" there is no indication of edition (if it is not in my personal catalog). It gives language, series, other works it is contained in.

On the "work details page," it provides language statistics, other language titles, subjects, etc. But, no edition info unless it is in your personal catalog.

>5 Bettesbooks: It specifically says "edition-specific publication dates are included in the edition records." So, no, it doesn't open the door for including those in OPD. Please don't make a mess of the field. We do include it in our catalogue views.

>6 SandraArdnas: Thanks for your comment "don't make a mess" I will be sure to adhere to your direction. (offended)
eta

There is a point beyond which more data becomes noise.

Also, I think the New Series publication sort relies on the CK OPD field, and if you have multiple dates and/or text it's going to fail.

I have no problem with leaving the OPD as you all have recommended. In fact, most of my books have no OPD. I have a spreadsheet I maintain that has that info.

What I found disheartening and offensive was being told I was creating a mess when I was asking a question and making a suggestion, which I thought was the purpose of this forum.

>10 Bettesbooks: I'm sorry if you find it personally offends you. It's merely a comment on how it looks. It IS a mess in my catalogue if instead of a single date my column is taken over with multiple lines of the sort 2016-10-10 (US mass market paperback).

Include them in book description as suggested if you think it's worthwhile info site-wide, or RSI for a new CK field. You'd have my vote for the latter because then we could move all but the genuine OPD there (like constituent parts of omnibuses and collections)

>11 SandraArdnas: Sandra isn't this RSI? See msg 5 Food for thought. And, as you may have noticed I maintain the info in a spreadsheet

It would absolutely be nice to have an original publication field for my translations of Homer (just an example) somewhere.
Agreed : Work-wide CK isn't the place, but putting it in the Publication field for my copy isn't very satisfactory either

If OPD was changed to a single entry field then it would be sortable in Your Books which would be wonderful

>12 Bettesbooks: Yes, but for something entirely different

>1 Bettesbooks: I think you should enter this as a bug because, regardless of whether there "should" be the ability to add more than one item to the OPD field, the page should show the same thing every time regardless of whether you have refreshed the page.