Believe it or not a social software site that I have never used is LibraryThing. LT is a site that some of my fellow students have casually mentioned in class but because it sounded so similar to NoveList, I never bothered to check it out. LibraryThing allows users to create "library-quality catalog of their books". Once users create their library they can rate and review books as well as add tags. LibraryThing connects you with other users by allowing you to see who else has the book in their library. LT will also recommend other, similar books that you might be interested in reading.
Like I said I've never used LibraryThing but I have used NoveList. What I like about this site, and other similar sites, is the access to book recommendations. A large portion of the books I read for pleasure are books recommended by others. In fact, most of the books and/or authors that I've loved have been recommendations. Browsng a site like LibraryThing can also turn users onto books they may never have heard of or thought to read otherwise. I think it's great that users can create their own library. Best of all, LibraryThing is free!
In the future I hope to work in a public library and provide users with reader's advisory. So far I've only done reader's advisory on a personal basis, haven't had the need while working in an academic library. Just recently I was trying to help my mom find books for my dad. My dad is a fairly picky reader AND he's at an age where he needs large print books. My mom was having a hard time finding new books for him, so I helped her out using Amazon and NoveList. LibraryThing is another site that can be extremely useful in reader's advisory. This site might also be great to encourage teens and young adults to read. The social aspect might appeal to your teen patrons and the library can encourage these users to have fun by creating their own library and hopefully reading more books in the process.
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Just took a look at this site. It is really neat.
ReplyDeleteI actually just discovered a similar service, Goodreads, myself and I love it! It really is great for RA, though I find the fact that it provides reader's advisory for me a bit problematic: I've already got a TBR (to be read) list the length of my arm! So many great books, so little time!
ReplyDeleteI also don't get to do much RA in my job, but since starting library school I get called upon by my friends and family to do it all the time. It's really a pleasure. :) You already mentioned NoveList, but do you subscribe to Fiction-L? It's a listserv for reader's advisory that can be really helpful.
I've never used Goodreads or Fiction-L, I'll look into them, thanks! I know what you mean about too many books, too little time :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning both of these. I will have to check them out. I use imdb to keep record of my movies so it will be nice to keep record of my books.
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