Openlibrary: Add Pagination help text instructing how to add lowest page number

[BrittanyBunk]

Right now, it only shows highest number, but a useful bit of info are the lowest numbers to, to know where a book starts at.

[mekarpeles]

Hi @BrittanyBunk thanks for this issue! When you say highest number -- highest number of what? Editions? Date?

[BrittanyBunk]

Highest number pages. Like the lowest number might start at page 3, not 1.

[seabelis]

You can format the pagination like this if you'd like to include the lowest page number, [3]-357 p.

[BrittanyBunk]

it would be good to add it to the instructions, as it says 'max' right now

[xayhewalo]

I've changed the title to account for this threads context

[seabelis]

I've self-assigned. I have a lot of issues involving the edit form, so it's probably good to group them.

[seabelis]

You can format the pagination like this if you'd like to include the lowest page number, [3]-357 p.

I'm correcting myself. After reading technical documentation, I've realised the square brackets has a designated purpose when used in the pagination area.

@BrittanyBunk , please do not use square brackets for noting the lowest page number. You are not expected to revise any records you've added with this pagination. Going forward you may note the lowest page number without the brackets, i.e. 100-300p., but this is not typically necessary unless the paging is continuous across multiple volumes.

[BrittanyBunk]

@seabelis it's true that I'm able to do it, but if it's not written in the field instructions, no one else will follow it and then the formatting will be uneven - and that has consequences like everyone undoing each other's work. That's why I propose for it to be in the instructions for all books, as some books would have say 100 pages but end on 300p. I find it a necessity and I don't think anyone really knows the best format to use without the instructions (even you got confused and I still am).

[seabelis]

@BrittanyBunk It does need to be clearer on the form. I also wanted to note the correction here so that you would see it.

[BrittanyBunk]

@seabelis thanks

[tfmorris]

We have fields for both pagination and number of pages. Pagination is mainly a classical librarian thing and perhaps it does add enough value for us to keep in addition to number of pages which is a single number rather than a fancy text string.

[LeadSongDog]

OL’s “pagination” is more properly called “extent”.
There is a good short explanation at https://collation.folger.edu/2016/05/physical-description-book-cataloging/#easy-footnote-bottom-3-12574
Perhaps a simpler write up for the wiki, to be linked from the edit form?

[BrittanyBunk]

@LeadSongDog cool. Thanks for letting me know about extent. This website doesn't use the International Standard Bibliographic Description though, so what should we do?

[mekarpeles]

I like @LeadSongDog's suggestion. And I think this thread demonstrates that clarification (instructions) may be useful in this case.

[BrittanyBunk]

thanks everyone for solving this.

[BrittanyBunk]

I actually don't think this is 100% closed though, as the 'help' button doesn't address the numbers with brackets. @seabelis said not to touch them, so I feel a note should be added for this @cdrini