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Book Not Found

When you scan or search for a book and it’s not found in our database, here’s what you can do.

Why Books Aren’t Found

Section titled “Why Books Aren’t Found”

Common Reasons

Section titled “Common Reasons”
  • Very new releases — Books released in the last few days may not be in databases yet
  • Self-published books — Some indie or self-published books aren’t in standard book databases
  • Older editions — Very old printings may have outdated or missing ISBNs
  • Regional editions — Some international editions aren’t in US databases
  • Non-book items — Journals, magazines, or other items with barcodes

Barcode Issues

Section titled “Barcode Issues”
  • Wrong barcode scanned — Some books have multiple barcodes (price codes, store codes)
  • Damaged barcode — Worn barcodes may scan incorrectly
  • ISBN-10 vs ISBN-13 — Older books may have different ISBN formats

Finding the Right ISBN

Section titled “Finding the Right ISBN”

The ISBN is the unique identifier for a book. To find the correct one:

  1. Check the back cover — Look for a 13-digit number starting with 978 or 979
  2. Check inside — The copyright page often lists the ISBN
  3. Look for “ISBN” — The number should be labeled

[Screenshot: where to find ISBN on a book]

Tip: If you see two numbers, use the 13-digit one (starting with 978 or 979).

Try Different Search Methods

Section titled “Try Different Search Methods”

Search by Title

Section titled “Search by Title”
  1. Go to Add Books → Search
  2. Type the exact title as it appears on the book
  3. Try variations (with/without subtitle, series name)

Search by Author

Section titled “Search by Author”
  1. Search the author’s last name
  2. Browse their books to find the right one

Search by ISBN

Section titled “Search by ISBN”
  1. Type the full 13-digit ISBN
  2. If not found, try removing any hyphens
  3. Try the 10-digit ISBN if the book is older

If the Book Still Isn’t Found

Section titled “If the Book Still Isn’t Found”

Check Online

Section titled “Check Online”

Verify the ISBN and title on a source like Amazon, Goodreads, or WorldCat, then try entering the exact ISBN in search.

Report the Missing Book

Section titled “Report the Missing Book”

Help us improve our database:

  1. Contact support
  2. Include the book’s title, author, and ISBN (if you have one)
  3. We’ll work to add it so everyone can find it

Scanning the Wrong Barcode

Section titled “Scanning the Wrong Barcode”

Books often have multiple barcodes:

Barcode TypeLocationUse
ISBN barcodeBack cover, starts with 978/979✅ This one!
Price barcodeBack cover, smaller, 5 digits❌ Won’t work
Store barcodeInside or on sticker❌ Won’t work

Look for the barcode with 13 digits starting with 978 or 979.

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Still Need Help?

Section titled “Still Need Help?”

If you can’t find a specific book, contact support with the book details.