Social media has become part of every day web use for most people, whether it is connecting to friends, playing games or sharing photographs. I believe social media should either be fun or useful, but I’m struggling to use book sites productively. I love books and I love book websites, but it often feels that I’m spending time duplicating activities or not making the most of the sites, for example using forums.
My favourite sites are:
I use each site for a different purpose, for instance now that Amazon have restricted their recommendations I use goodreads to find new book ideas and I’ve used bookcrossing to meet other book lovers.
However there are overlapping features, the main one for me is wishlist, I currently have bits of my lists on each site, especially bookcrossing and BookMooch as it means people may pass on books I’m interested in reading, but I find it difficult to keep on top of two lists.
I know there are other sites out there as well such as LibraryThing and Shelfari but as I’m not making the most of the sites I already use I haven’t investigated any others.
What reading sites do you use? Which sites would you recommend? Do you combine features productively?
I have been a member of all the ones you mention, but for me Library Thing is the favourite.
I joined LT 6 years ago & twiddled with it, but this year I have upgraded my account to a lifetime one, bought one of the little scanning mice gadgets & have created a series of collections. I am pulling together all my wish lists, e-books,Book review request, physical books & book journals. The plan is that every book owned, read or wished for will appear on my LT shelf. I have even catalogued my genealogical microfiche & articles professional articles, taking the whole library thing to a personal level – if it’s in my study, then it’s on LT! You can have a look at my shelf – http://www.librarything.com/profile/AnglersRest
Despite that people do friend me on Good Reads & I have gained ideas for further reading there.
I used Book Mooch to forward a rare(ish) book in the UK that I had reviewed & wanted others to enjoy.
Hi Julie,
Thank you for your comment. I am a member of LibraryThing, but haven’t used it since 2007, maybe I’ll have another look at it. Do you know if there is an android app? How do you combine it with bookcrossing?
As far as I know there is not an app, but I have heard that it is being worked on. There is a facility to add a Book Crossing BCID number, but on the few books I have done that to, it does not link to the correct book, which I have fed back to LT.
As far as an app is concerned, I am not too bothered that there is not one, but one would be useful even if just for my wishlist when I am in the library etc. It is possible to print it though.
There is a link to the mobile facility on LT http://www.librarything.com/more/sites
Thank you Julie. A mobile site is fine for me, I just need to access a site from my phone because I tend to finish my books in bed and want to log them as soon as possible.