Two versions of the same book available in Libby

[Colonel Cathcart]

This is not the 1st time I come across this. It seems like my library have two versions of the same book, published by the same publisher available for borrowing, with different covers, different descriptions and different number of copies.
Why is that? What are the differences I can expect? I'm thinking these might be British English and American English versions, or something along those lines, but which is which? Or is it something else completely?

[Sirtel]

The one on the left is the US version, the one on the right is the UK version.

[Colonel Cathcart]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

The one on the left is the US version, the one on the right is the UK version.

Is there a good source for figuring this sort of thing out? Also, any good source to learning about the differences between these editions? which one is or should be considered the original?

[Quoth]

If a US author, pick the US or UK editions (probably the same)
If a non-USA author, then the UK edition as the US version is likely to have been edited.

[John F]

Looking on A kobo website, from the second one:

...
Accessibility Features

Font and text formatting adjustments

Navigation features include: table of contents, single logical reading order
...

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Colonel Cathcart

Is there a good source for figuring this sort of thing out? Also, any good source to learning about the differences between these editions? which one is or should be considered the original?

Not really. I just searched for the book on both the US and UK Amazon without logging in to either. As to which is the original, depends on who the author is - US, UK or neither. If neither, then look at the publication date of the two editions. If they're more or less the same, then it probably doesn't matter.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by John F

Looking on A kobo website, from the second one:

Those descriptions are a bit random.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Not really. I just searched for the book on both the US and UK Amazon without logging in to either. As to which is the original, depends on who the author is - US, UK or neither. If neither, then look at the publication date of the two editions. If they're more or less the same, then it probably doesn't matter.

One difference could be the use of double and single quotes. Some books in the UK use single and double quotes differently to the US. If that's the case, pick the one you like best. I prefer the US way vs. the UK way. So if that was the case, I'd be the US version.

Sometimes it doesn't matter as they are both the same. They can both be the US way or the UK way. And because one says about accessibility and the other doesn't does not mean that the one not mentioning accessibility doesn't have it.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

One difference could be the use of double and single quotes. Some books in the UK use single and double quotes differently to the US. If that's the case, pick the one you like best. I prefer the US way vs. the UK way. So if that was the case, I'd be the US version.

Sometimes it doesn't matter as they are both the same. They can both be the US way or the UK way. And because one says about accessibility and the other doesn't does not mean that the one not mentioning accessibility doesn't have it.

Frankly, I've read so many editions from both US and UK that I barely notice the different way of doing quotes any more, and couldn't care less. YMMV.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Frankly, I've read so many editions from both US and UK that I barely notice the different way of doing quotes any more, and couldn't care less. YMMV.

I agree with this. As long as the quotes are consistent, I'm not bothered.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I agree with this. As long as the quotes are consistent, I'm not bothered.

I'm not bothered, but if I have a choice, my choice is the US way.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I agree with this. As long as the quotes are consistent, I'm not bothered.

I don't care unless the closing quotation mark isn't consistent with the opening quotation mark.

[Sirtel]

For some reason I'm sure we can now expect a passionate and heated discussion about US quotes vs UK quotes going on for 15 pages at least...

[j.p.s]

I hope that a moderator moves all the quotation messages in this thread to some other thread in some other forum.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

I hope that a moderator moves all the quotation messages in this thread to some other thread in some other forum.

The question’s been asked and answered. So if people want to have some fun with it now, why not? It’s not as if the thread’s been derailed and the OP has been left hanging.

Originally Posted by Quoth

If a US author, pick the US or UK editions (probably the same)
If a non-USA author, then the UK edition as the US version is likely to have been edited.

There’s editing and there’s editing. If the US edition has been edited to change the quotes, replace the “s”s with “z”s and get rid of those extraneous “u”s, then I’m indifferent. It’s when the text has been dumbed down for the US audience that I mind. A lot.