[Wikipedia-l] ISBN links

[Ray Saintonge]

Axel Boldt wrote:

>I seem to be the only one around here with a visceral hatred for
>ISBN numbers, so I suggest the following experiment:
>
You are not unique,   I have a personal library that exceeds 10,000 
items, and I can proudly say that ISBN (or ISSN) numbers were never a 
factor in any acquisition.

>The first search gave you a single book, and in three years it won't
>give you anything, because that  book will be out of print. The second
>search gave you 44 different editions, from different publishers,
>ranging from leather bound to softcover and even an audio edition.
>
I've sometimes wondered about the purposes of the ISBN links in 
articles, especially when they appear without the author or title of the 
publication being mentioned.  For me links to books are more in the 
nature of bibliography.  Wikipedia is not in the business of book 
promotion, and even less in the business of promoting these books as 
produced by specific publishers.  Your experience with the Goldsmith 
book is highly illustrative.

Eclecticology