1hyperrog
In adding a new book, the dimensions offered are "height", "length" and
"thickness".
The common usage of the word length is as the other dimension from width, as in "what is the length and width of such-and-such?". But in the page for adding a new book, "length" is used where what is meant is "width". So, if "width" is what is meant, why not use that word. Also, since most books are taller than they are wide, both height and length are almost always the same thing; the more desirable term is "width".
Certainly this community is more literate and conscious of language use than most, so please consider making the three dimensions: height, width and thickness.
Thank you
"thickness".
The common usage of the word length is as the other dimension from width, as in "what is the length and width of such-and-such?". But in the page for adding a new book, "length" is used where what is meant is "width". So, if "width" is what is meant, why not use that word. Also, since most books are taller than they are wide, both height and length are almost always the same thing; the more desirable term is "width".
Certainly this community is more literate and conscious of language use than most, so please consider making the three dimensions: height, width and thickness.
Thank you
2gilroy
Well, technically, the thickness is the same as width.
Height is the spine from top to bottom.
Length is the measure of the cover from edge to spine.
Thickness is the width of the spine.
Height is the spine from top to bottom.
Length is the measure of the cover from edge to spine.
Thickness is the width of the spine.
3lemontwist
Thickness to me makes a lot more sense than width (as it is less unambiguous than the term width). If labeled width, I would assume it's the distance between the spine and the edge.
4Bernarrd
Unfortunately some libraries will switch the measurments for Height and Length. So if you want them to be correct, you need to verify the dementions against your own copy. This seems to be especially a problem with oblong books that are wider than they are tall.
5WholeHouseLibrary
Prior to the late and beloved MrsHouseLibrary mentioning LibraryThing to me, and therefore, the reason I'm here, I had cataloged all of the books on our home in an Excel spreadsheet -- 40 columns of information for each book. I haven't updated the LT catalog in years, but I keep the spreadsheet current. I'm culling more than I'm adding.
I wrestled with the length/width/height issue for quite a while. It all depends on the orientation of the book. Laying on a table? Sitting on a bookshelf? Face front on the bookshelf? Eventually, I altered changed the headings in the spreadsheet thusly: Head-to-Tail, Hinge-to-Fore-edge, Cover-to Cover, orientation be damned.
I wrestled with the length/width/height issue for quite a while. It all depends on the orientation of the book. Laying on a table? Sitting on a bookshelf? Face front on the bookshelf? Eventually, I altered changed the headings in the spreadsheet thusly: Head-to-Tail, Hinge-to-Fore-edge, Cover-to Cover, orientation be damned.
6bnielsen
>5 WholeHouseLibrary: I think it should be Tail-to-Head and Fore-to-Hinge. (This is actually how I place my ruler.)
