NEW FEATURE: Adding a book to the EYB Library

Until now the only way for members to add a missing book to the EYB Library was to import the ISBN number using Import Books, which is available under the My Bookshelf tab (for Premium members only). We then import the book data from Amazon. However this system did not allow for books without an ISBN number or books not listed on Amazon. And even for books listed on Amazon, we have the requirement that the book has a food or drink tag (to prevent new members importing their entire book collection, as has happened several times).

Now we have added a new feature that allows members to add the data for any food or drink book. The link is again under My Bookshelf – click Add Member Books. There is a new Help section that explains all the data you need to add. Please add as much data as possible – if you don’t then we will have to spend a lot of time tracking down the missing data. If you have the book in your hand, it is much easier for you to add the data.

Please note for Vegan and Vegetarian books – add that filter in the “Book Category” not the category labeled “Nutrition”.

Over the years many members have imported ISBN numbers that did not get added. If you would like to refer to your own requests, you can now do so by opening My Added Books, again under the My Bookshelf tab. There is a selection on the right in the green search bar:

  • Imported – books that you imported the ISBN for that are now in the Library
  • On Amazon – books you imported that are listed on Amazon but did not import as the book was not tagged as food or drink
  • Not on Amazon – books you imported that Amazon does not list.

These lists will help you find out which books you own that are missing from your EYB Bookshelf. Members will now be able to have every food and drink book they own listed – no matter how old or how obscure.


Now that it has been a month, just a reminder: Please remember to complete all the data – full title, ISBN (if not a vintage book), publication date, page numbers, etc. Also please do not just add a book title with no other information. For example, before you add Plenty More with no other data – check the Library first as recent, popular books are already in the library. You add those titles to your bookshelf instead of manually “adding a member book”. If you have any questions, please email info@eatyourbooks.com.

Further update: Although this feature is called Member Added Books it can also be used to add magazines and pamphlets.

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30 Comments

  • Shelmar  on  May 30, 2022

    From John, spouse of Shelmar: Thank you.

  • racheljmorgan  on  May 30, 2022

    I’m so delighted. The site improves every year! This has been a wish of mine since I joined. Thanks to the developers and staff.

  • anya_sf  on  May 30, 2022

    This is great!

  • Ganga108  on  May 30, 2022

    Wonderful! Thank you.

  • moilechef  on  May 30, 2022

    Thank you! What we really, really need is to be able to add the ASIN for Kindle books, and then have EatYourBooks automatically tag the book as a Kindle book.

  • Jenny  on  May 30, 2022

    Moilechef, Kindle books are added all the time. You can find the ISBN on the Kindle content. When I add books now I try to add the Kindle versions …. getting the ISBN from the publisher’s website. When I edit an imported book I note if it is an ebook or not.

  • AlineLorieri  on  May 31, 2022

    Great job guys! And thank you! Will add some I couldn’t find for sure! 🙂

  • AlineLorieri  on  May 31, 2022

    Moilechef, I think that’s a good idea too!

    Until then, I have created tags and I call one “Kindle” so as soon as I add a kindle book, I tag it. I can then later click on the tag and have all my kindle books listed.

    I hope this helps 🙂

  • wester  on  May 31, 2022

    Excellent, excellent.

    A question: If I have several books by the same unlisted author, would it be better to enter all of them with the author in the comments field, or should I enter one and then wait until the author has been included in your datadase?

    It would also be nice if book covers could be directly copied from internet links. LibraryThing has that possibility, and it does make it a lot easier to add a cover.

    • Jane  on  May 31, 2022

      It is helpful if you are able to add the author yourself (and saves you having to add that note on each book). But if you are impatient to get the books added, it’s not a big deal for us the add them after the author entry is created.
      I don’t really see the time taken to import/copy the cover is very different to the couple of clicks it takes to save and upload. For the LT import, don’t you have to first copy in the URL where the cover is located? There is also a risk that if the cover is on a page with other images that the wrong image imports.

  • mjes  on  June 3, 2022

    I found some books without titles on my bookshelf of accepted books e.g. 9781781460085. It actually shows with a title in my library.

    This is a great addition that is well implemented. Thanks.

  • JennyS26  on  June 4, 2022

    I tried inputting an old paperback cookbook without an ISBN. The page wouldn’t save to the site.

    • Jane  on  June 4, 2022

      Can you please email us with further info on that book? We have had almost 100 books added since the new feature started, and many do not have an ISBN number, so it definitely works. I’m not sure why you had that issue but we will try to help you resolve it.

  • dzeldaz  on  June 7, 2022

    Love this option! Thank you. EYB is great!

  • Sparrowspetal  on  June 11, 2022

    Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

  • pomona  on  June 26, 2022

    This is wonderful news.

  • FritB  on  June 29, 2022

    I’am happy!!
    FritB from the Netherlands.

  • JBitney  on  June 29, 2022

    Thank you for doing this.

  • manond  on  June 29, 2022

    Thank you!

  • Nancith  on  June 29, 2022

    Will this work for special magazine issues, such as Cuisine at Home special publications that aren’t part of the subscription magazine series?

  • GillB  on  July 2, 2022

    Yeah!

  • kungfustu  on  July 10, 2022

    So many books about cookies!

  • Mrlew1  on  July 25, 2022

    Oh, I can’t believe I missed this!! I’m so excited; thank you!!!!

  • JenjiRM  on  August 13, 2022

    This is exciting! Thank you EYB!

  • EmmaJaneDay  on  September 3, 2022

    OMG! This is the BEST!!! I love this website just a little bit more, which I would not have thought possible!

  • EllenHolt  on  September 8, 2022

    This is so helpful! Thank you!

  • bittrette  on  September 10, 2022

    I added an old ISBN-less book to my Bookshelf, but when I saw it on my Bookshelf it had several errors. The author was wrong, and other details were missing or in the wrong place. How can I edit it?

    • Jane  on  September 15, 2022

      If you find after adding a book to the Library that you need to make corrections, please email us and we can make them for you.

  • Shanria  on  September 13, 2022

    Oh yes, ASIN stuff please as soon as you can ! I spend hours looking for things on my shelf only to realise I won’t find them there. Lately I have made a personal note to say they are kindle copies, but sadly all the earlier ones (most of those I own) didn’t get tagged.

    • Jane  on  September 15, 2022

      ASIN is an Amazon only reference. The link we use to Buy Book affiliates (Amazon and The Book Depository) is the ISBN. Kindle and other eBook editions usually do have an ISBN – you will find it on the book’s copyright page. Rather than adding a Note that your editions are Kindle copies, it’s better to use Bookmarks. Then you can filter your search results to just look in your Kindles e.g. when you are away from home and don’t have access to your print books. If you aren’t familiar with Bookmarks, you can learn more here in Help.

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