I have heard/looked at LibraryThing before. I read the articles, and looked at the libraries using GoodReads. My problem with these sites is the same as my take on Amazon reviews: there is too much discrepancy in the reviews. Some are superficially accurate: using the jargon to nail the writer, talking about "being up all night reading it". But the responses are all over the place. One person "loves" the way the writer used one person's perspective to tell the story, another "hated" that device and felt distanced by it. Too me, they are just a waste of time. A lot of ego gratification. To me, if I have forgotten a book I read, that book deserved to be forgotten. I think small group discussions which grow and blossom because of the people getting to know each other are an important vehicle for every public library, but I don't think cyberspace can provide the equivalent. If someone wants to keep their bookshelf online for organizational purposes, that seems fine. But note - these "bookshelves" are what someone has read, and it doesn't mean they have them at home. So how much do we "own" these books we read, if we pick them up and read them and then move on? To me, the books I actually take home have value because they "remind" me of what they contain and why they were important to me - just by their physical presence. I guess my point is that I don't see the value of social bookmarking, just individual bookmarking.
For "Library Thing for Libraries" - I don't know how much it costs, but I did like their attempt to make the catalog more user friendly. I like the virtual shelf browsing.
It's interesting about being paid by Amazon for certain widgets of displaying your books. I do a lot of shopping on Amazon, but I am aware of its way of edging out bookstores. I wonder if the libraries are getting some revenue through this avenue.
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