Comments on: LibraryThing—I give up!

By: heather

heather — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:43:12 +0000

Jervis: It’s great—just plug in to your USB port and scan the ISBN code. I’ve already scanned more than 700 books, and still going!

By: Jervis

Jervis — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 03:30:14 +0000

So how does the scanner thing work?

By: heather

heather — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:01:00 +0000

Scott: Here’s some info on the bar code scanning option. One way to keep track of books you’ve read but don’t own would be to use your tags; I’ve noticed a lot of people use their tags to keep track of things like “home,” “office,” “unread,” “library copy,” “advanced reader copy,” and things like that so they can track everything they read. Since you can look at all books a person has in their catalog that have been tagged with a certain tag, that would then let you essentially have such a virtual bookshelf. Also, there appears to be a lively feature suggestion group there, so there’d be no harm in suggesting it as a future feature! They seem to be big on finding new ways to crunch all the numbers in the vast database so as to give the users fun new toys.

By: ScottM

ScottM — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:26:57 +0000

I also hadn’t heard about the scanner thing– can you link to it, so I can read up on it? That might be enough to push me into using it for real…

Also: I wonder if you can make a “virtual” or library book category. That way I could keep track of the books I’ve read but don’t own at home.

By: heather

heather — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:58:08 +0000

Hehe! If you go for LT, drop me a note with your profile page. I can see why people have trouble choosing between the various sites out there—they all have things to recommend them!

By: SciFiChick

SciFiChick — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:56:25 +0000

I didn’t know about the scanner thing! Okay. I’m going to have to break down and buy that soon.. And I noticed you can get a lifetime membership for as low as $19..

By: heather

heather — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:18:21 +0000

LF: I’m pretty amazed by the number of uses to which they put their database—pretty much any way they can crunch the numbers to give you information, they do! That’s very fun.

Tara: Yeah, that’s definitely enjoyable! It’s fun looking at the libraries of people I’ve gotten to know through blogging.

SFC: I find LT quite easy, but what pushed me over the edge in the direction of LT was the ability to easily use a cheap bar code scanner to enter books. There’s no way I could imagine tackling our library without one—the 200+ books I’ve entered by hand are just scraping the surface! Besides, $25 for lifetime seems like a pretty paltry fee, and I’m willing to support a site with that many features to that tune.

By: SciFiChick

SciFiChick — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:38:30 +0000

http://www.goodreads.com/ is actually easier (and I think more fun).. and completely free.. no matter how many books you have.

By: Tara

Tara — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:51:55 +0000

LT is great fun, isn’t it! It’s quite addictive and fun. I enjoy looking at other peoples libraries who have similar interests to my own.

By: Literary Feline

Literary Feline — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 22:06:29 +0000

I’m so glad you decided to give it a try, Heather! It didn’t take me long to decide that shelling out $25 dollars for a life time membership was worth it. It’s actually a very reasonable price considering it’s a one time fee. I hope you will continue to enjoy it even after the honeymoon phase is over.