Greetings Logos Users.
We need your feedback on this question: Would you find it valuable to have more consistent author names, even if there are some unwanted short-term side effects?
Over the years we have worked hard to standardize how author names appear in our library and on logos.com.
This works well for Logos Editions where we have the ability to control the metadata. It breaks down for Faithlife Ebooks.
For Faithlife Ebooks we use an automated system that pulls book information directly from publisher data. Because publishers don’t always follow the same conventions we use, this can lead to multiple display names for the same author. This makes searching for products and finding the author you want in your library harder.
We have an improvement ready to go that will solve this problem. Multiple display names for a single author will be a thing of the past. It will also solve the problem where some authors display as “First Last” and others as “Last, First”:
As excited as we are about this improvement, it would have two potentially unwelcomed side effects. And we wanted to give you a heads-up and hear your reaction to them.
1. Sort order in the Details view in the library
Our primary sort order in the details view in the library has been “Last, First”.
This will change.
The new primary sort order in the details view in the library will be “First Last”.
We will probably be able to change this in the future back to “Last, First,” but we didn’t want to hold up shipping these improvements unnecessarily.
In the meantime, you’ll still be able to use the find box or the author facet to filter down and find the author you’re looking for.
2. Collection rules
In this forum thread users have shared some of their collections. In some collections, they assume the author name following a “Last, First” format. There is a potential for some of these collections to be altered. We’ve run some tests internally, and it appears the changes will be minimal but they might occur.
We’re interested in getting your feedback. We’re leaning toward shipping these improvements with these two drawbacks, and addressing them later. But we want to make sure you’re aware and on board. Please let us know what you think. Your input will help us figure out the best way to move forward.
If it is the same author, Logos should be able to indicate that. I am very much on board for this. It would eliminate us needing to come up with fancy filters in our collection rules (or inadvertently missing/including works).
Jacob HantlaPastor/Elder, Grace Bible Church gbcaz.org
Kyle G. Anderson:Would you find it valuable to have more consistent author names, even if there are some unwanted short-term side effects?
Definitely.
Very happy to accept any side effects (e.g. not matching my collection rules) if this can become more consistent.
Thanks.
Definitely worth a bit of pain to get consistent author names.
Orthodox Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."
Sounds fine to me although I much prefer last, first.
You know what else would be great? Including authors' articles in books and journals in the library (with toggle on and off ability).
Tom Reynolds: You know what else would be great? Including authors' articles in books and journals in the library (with toggle on and off ability).
Yes!!! Authors in journals
...And titles for books within works (and articles within journals with toggle) to be searchable from Library
Tom Reynolds:Sounds fine to me although I much prefer last, first.
Very happy with the concept, although long term would prefer last, first
Thanks for continually tweaking Logos to make it better for users.
Kyle G. Anderson:We have an improvement ready to go that will solve this problem. Multiple display names for a single author will be a thing of the past.
Great!
Kyle G. Anderson:We’re leaning toward shipping these improvements with these two drawbacks, and addressing them later. But we want to make sure you’re aware and on board. Please let us know what you think.
Go for it!
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Kyle G. Anderson:We need your feedback on this question: Would you find it valuable to have more consistent author names, even if there are some unwanted short-term side effects?
Yes. (can use author: filter with last name to reduce consolidated list to desired author subset, same as today)
Concur with new feature idea of Library showing author articles (journals & magazines) along with chapters (books).
Keep Smiling
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Generally yes. This has been an annoyance to me for some time although I've never said anything about it. I would appreciate consistency here so long as those "short-term side effects" don't become long-term problems.
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James Hudson: Tom Reynolds:Sounds fine to me although I much prefer last, first. Very happy with the concept, although long term would prefer last, first
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Kyle G. Anderson: The new primary sort order in the details view in the library will be “First Last”. We will probably be able to change this in the future back to “Last, First,” but we didn’t want to hold up shipping these improvements unnecessarily.
I guess I will be the odd one out. I don't think you should make the change until you can keep it "Last, First." The author's first name is often irrelevant. What if I remember the first letter(s) of the author's last name (which is a frequent occurrence) but not the (irrelevant) first name? Now, I simply scroll through my library looking for author's last name. I won't be able to do that with this change.
I am strongly against this move.
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JT (alabama24):I am strongly against this move.
Luckily, I'm relaxing on L7. Backwards names is something Logos would do at some point. But be smart enough to (a) not plan ahead, and (b) get a pre-mea-culpa in the pocket. This is where you get the popcorn out.
"God will save his fallen angels and their broken wings He'll mend."
Request U not ship till Last First.
Like the old traditional phone books.
JT (alabama24):I guess I will be the odd one out. I don't think you should make the change until you can keep it "Last, First."
I agree.
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I don't think it is a good move, just looking at my bookshelf, I can see half a dozen books where I know the authors surname, because it is always showing on the spine of the book, however I am not certain on the first names, and several authors I only know from their initials + surname.
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As much as I will love the consistency in naming, I don't think you should do anything until you can have the Last, First name convention. Having the first name first is just not going to work well for me.
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My vote would be to wait till you're really ready with "Last, First."
That also solves the problem with Collection rules.
Thank you for asking!
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BillS:My vote would be to wait till you're really ready with "Last, First."
Why is it called "first name" if everyone wants it last, and last name first...
No, I'm just kidding... Please do wait until you're ready with "Last, First".
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Randy W. Sims: James Hudson: Tom Reynolds:Sounds fine to me although I much prefer last, first. Very happy with the concept, although long term would prefer last, first
After following along and reconsidering, I'd like to change my vote to No. Respectfully, Faithlife does have an unfortunate tendency to not finish what they start and I'd hate for that to happen here and leave it in intermediate state for ages. Please wait until it can be completed before rolling out the change.