DISQUS

eclectic librarian: LITA 2008: What is "Social Cataloging" and Why Should You Care?

  • Dani in NC · 1 year ago
    Thanks for giving me a name for the types of social networks that I like best. The first one I joined wasn't about books at all. It was Ravelry, which is devoted to knitting and crocheting. I knew right away that it was different. The social aspect is there, but it is not the main reason you join a site like Ravelry. I use it to keep track of the knitting books I own, the ones I've used but don't own, the projects I've done, and the projects I want to do. I occasionally use the social side, but I can still get a lot out of the site even if I don't.

    I'd be interested to learn why you prefer LibraryThing over Goodreads or Shelfari. Right now I'm using Goodreads because the interface is prettier and it gives me the option of listing books that I've read but don't own. Then again, I'm not a librarian, so there may be other features that I want but don't know that I want yet :-).
  • Anna · 1 year ago
    I haven't used Goodreads or Shelfari. They weren't around when I set up my LibraryThing. I think that LT appeals to librarians more because of the data sources and the ability to tweak records to your heart's content.

    LibraryThing allows you to list any books you want, even if you don't actually own them. I've started noting books that I have owned in the past but no longer have, particularly if I contributed a review, which I can only do if I still have the book in my "collection." I suggest you enter 20 or so books in LibraryThing and see if some of the features are appealing enough to keep on with more.
  • Dani in NC · 1 year ago
    I guess the term "collection" is my hang-up with LibraryThing. When you enter a book on your shelf at Goodreads, there is a check box for whether you actually own the book or not. It's important for me to see what I have somewhere in this house!

    Two other things that play into my decision are which site my online acquaintances are using and whether the site has good blog widgets. Just like we've seen with services like Pounce and Jaiku, they can be great but that doesn't mean anything if your friends aren't using them. In the case of a book site, I would use it even if no one else I know uses it but I'd rather not have to make new friends on every site I use. As for the widgets, I like being able to take what I'm doing on the site and show it on my book blog.

    I guess I'll spend a little more time with LibraryThing and try Shelfari, as well. I usually try to figure which site I like best so I don't have a bunch of inactive accounts out there, but sometimes you have to spend some time on a site before you know whether you like it.
  • Anna · 1 year ago
    LibraryThing has widgets. :)

    I'm with you on the main benefit of a social networking site being that your friends are using it too. That's part of why LibraryThing works for me - many of my librarian friends are on it.