Library+Thing

I have always been an avid reader. Growing up my mother never allowed me to purchase any books from a book store. //"What's the point Christie? You will be done in a few hours any way."// So instead she got me a library card to three local libraries along with an education in wonders of secondhand book stores/book swaps. Needless to say, now the concept of an online organizational format for all my reading would be too intriguing to pass up.

LibraryThing was created by Tim Spalding, a web developer and web publisher based in Portland, Maine. What was the purpose behind this programming? The answer is: that this is a web based catalogue site that allows for the cataloguing and organizing of any books that you have read/will read/want to read by any organizational style you want. It gives you the ability to log on and preuse your personal list of books. It also offers the “reader” the ability to social network with other “readers” on books that they've read, reviewed and desired to share their points of view. This website has amazing potential but leaves something to be desired in ease of use and overall site appeal. //How to Get Started // The first step in using the website is creating a free account. It is optional to give an email address and the site asks if you're using this for personal use or if you're with an organization. Once you have done these simple steps you are brought to your homepage. This page looks like a mash up between craigslist and the beta test version of Face book. There are tabs along the top of the page to helpwith navigation. There is also a side panel with information that changes depending on which screen you've choose to navigate to. Now you are ready to add your books.

//Features and Specials // The purpose of this site is in a way to help you join that book club that you always wanted to without the book mandates. You choose which “book club meeting” (aka forum) you want to participate in. The choice of books means that more people are going to participate because they get to talk to other people who loved, liked, or hated the book. You are giving the opportunity to create your own profile which allows for people to find common interests with you. All authors on the site are automatically given their own website, and there are forums here in which authors interact with their readers.

//What can Library Thing be used for? // · Allows you to search all five Amazon sites, the library of congress, and over 80 world libraries. · Great potential for students to see what teachers are reading on their free time. · Because this is a social network, you can swamp book lists, book reviews, etc. · Allows you to talk directly with some of your favorite authors.

//Advantages // · Gives, authors, readers, and libraries the chance to social network. Since this site does not lend, sell, or borrow books it gives libraries a huge advantage for staying alive. This network allows the libraries the chance to appeal to authors to come and speak at their library. It also allows for the libraries to promote and carry the most talked about books on this site. · As I stated before it allows people to join online “book clubs” where they can jump from forum to forum tapping into the forum that's most interesting to the genre their reading. · It gives authors a place to chat up their newest releases and answer questions about their characters.

//Disadvantages // · The site itself is not the most atheistically pleasing to look at or work with. The tabs are easy to use but the formatting is very basic. · You only get 200 free catalogues, after that you need to pay either a $10 yearly fee or a $25 lifetime fee.