Revisiting LibraryThing

If you've been reading this blog over the last few months, you already know about LibraryThing. I first wrote about it on March 5th in a post entitled "My New Favorite Thing."

On June 27, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) did a lengthy article on LibraryThing called "Social Networking for Bookworms." I thought this would be a good time to revisit the website located at www.librarything.com.

The theory behind LibraryThing is that users can log on and catalogue their personal libraries for others to browse online. It's incredibly easy to do. You click on "add books" and enter whatever you want--the author's name, the book name, the ISBN number. LibraryThing will then offer you a list of suggestions from which you can select the appropriate volume. Other users visiting the site can pull up a list of your selections or a graphic display of the book covers.

To get an idea of what I'm saying, you can visit my catalog at
http://www.librarything.com/catalog.php?view=MayaReynolds.

LibraryThing also tells you the most popular books on the website, which users' libraries have the most books in common with yours, and recommends books that you may enjoy. Users are invited to rate books for other users. You can even email other users to chat.

According to the WSJ, the site was created by Tim Spalding less than a year ago. "Ten months later, his concept has blossomed into a vibrant community with 47,670 registered members--some paying--and a user-created catalog that includes more than 3.6 million volumes. In theory, that makes LibraryThing the 58th largest library in the U.S."

In May, Spalding sold a 40% stake in the website to AbeBooks.com, the network of independent booksellers. That has permitted him to hire a full-time librarian named Abby, as well as two more programmers.

LibraryThing will allow you post 200 books for free. After that you can register for unlimited access for a year for $10 or forever for $25. The WSJ says that the largest LibraryThing user library has 9,218 books.

I have 195 books listed and now need to decide whether to purchase the additional access. I'm in no rush. These days, I enjoy cruising the site for suggestions of new books and authors to read. Probably one cold winter night when I'm iced in, I'll add the additional access to my account.

Do yourself a favor and visit LibraryThing.