diff --git a/core/models.py b/core/models.py
index f4686ad6..ea69fb83 100755
--- a/core/models.py
+++ b/core/models.py
@@ -619,10 +619,11 @@ class Work(models.Model):
     @property
     def googlebooks_id(self):
         preferred_id=self.preferred_edition.googlebooks_id
+        # note that there's always a preferred edition
         if preferred_id:
             return preferred_id
         try:
-            return self.identifiers.values('type', 'value').filter(type='goog')[0]['value']
+            return self.identifiers.filter(type='goog')[0].value
         except IndexError:
             return ''
 
@@ -639,7 +640,7 @@ class Work(models.Model):
         if preferred_id:
             return preferred_id
         try:
-            return self.identifiers.values('type', 'value').filter(type='gdrd')[0]['value']
+            return self.identifiers.filter(type='gdrd')[0].value
         except IndexError:
             return ''
 
@@ -650,7 +651,7 @@ class Work(models.Model):
     @property 
     def librarything_id(self):
         try:
-            return self.identifiers.values('type', 'value').filter(type='ltwk')[0]['value']
+            return self.identifiers.filter(type='ltwk')[0].value
         except IndexError:
             return ''
 
@@ -661,7 +662,7 @@ class Work(models.Model):
     @property 
     def openlibrary_id(self):
         try:
-            return self.identifiers.values('type', 'value').filter(type='olwk')[0]['value']
+            return self.identifiers.filter(type='olwk')[0].value
         except IndexError:
             return ''
 
diff --git a/core/tests.py b/core/tests.py
index 6878cefa..086c13c0 100755
--- a/core/tests.py
+++ b/core/tests.py
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ class BookLoaderTests(TestCase):
 
         # work
         self.assertTrue(edition.work)
+        self.assertEqual(edition.work.googlebooks_id, 'IDFfMPW32hQC')
+        self.assertEqual(edition.work.first_isbn_13(), '9780441007462')
         
         # publisher names
         old_pub_name = edition.publisher_name
diff --git a/experimental/test_id_speed.py b/experimental/test_id_speed.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e671bb64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/experimental/test_id_speed.py
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
+from django.contrib.auth.models import User
+from datetime import timedelta
+import datetime
+from regluit.core import models
+
+num=0
+start = datetime.datetime.now()
+for work in models.Work.objects.all():
+    try:
+        id = work.identifiers.values('type', 'value').filter(type='goog')[0]['value']
+    except IndexError:
+        pass
+    num += 1
+    if num == 10000:
+        break
+end = datetime.datetime.now()
+print "2 values "+str(end - start)
+
+num=0
+start = datetime.datetime.now()
+for work in models.Work.objects.all():
+    try:
+        id = work.identifiers.filter(type='goog')[0].value
+    except IndexError:
+        pass
+    num += 1
+    if num == 10000:
+        break
+end = datetime.datetime.now()
+print "orig "+str(end - start)
+
+num=0
+start = datetime.datetime.now()
+for work in models.Work.objects.all():
+    try:
+        id = work.identifiers.values('value').filter(type='goog')[0]['value']
+    except IndexError:
+        pass
+    num += 1
+    if num == 10000:
+        break
+end = datetime.datetime.now()
+print "1 value "+ str(end - start)
+
+num=0
+start = datetime.datetime.now()
+for work in models.Work.objects.all():
+    try:
+        id = work.identifiers.values('type', 'value').filter(type='goog')[0]['value']
+    except IndexError:
+        pass
+    num += 1
+    if num == 10000:
+        break
+end = datetime.datetime.now()
+print "2 values "+str(end - start)