GoodReads
From LIS 460 Summer 2007
Contents |
What is Goodreads?
This is a site where people can go and list books they've read, are reading, and are planning to read. People can sign up and become members (it's free), from here they can find people they already know and also meet new people and become friends with them as well. After signing up people are able to view their friends reviews and thoughts about the books they've read. Also as a member of goodreads you are able to view other members who are not part of your group of friends reviews. Plus the top books that others on the site (both friends and not) are reading is avaliable. On the site's 'about' page they have a Mission Statement: "Goodreads' mission is to improve the process of reading and learning throughout the world." With a statement like this who wouldn't want to incorporate Goodreads into their library.
Why Goodreads?
In a letter from the founder of Goodreads (Otis Chandler, a software engineer and self proclaimed 'voracious reader') explains that the idea for this site came to him while scanning a friend's bookshelves for his next book choice...suddenly it dawned on him: "When I want to know what books to read, I'd rather turn to a friend than any random person, bestseller list or algorithm." Chandler saw that while sites like Amazon and Barnes and Noble were where he was going to look for books they offered reviews from random people. He was really finding books to get excited about from his friends and their personal reviews. To Chandler it was obvious that the way to get people excited about literature was with reviews from people they know.
How Goodreads Works
Goodreads is a free website where people can view what their friends are reading. Once you join you add books you've read to your 'shelves' along with a star rating and review. You and your friends then helps each other find new great reads. Though, you can also read reviews by people who aren't your friends.
Features:
Shelves - As a user you can create your own bookshelves with names like chicklit, collegebooks, classics, and geek. These names are examples of ones created by other users not names automatically given to every member. However, the site does give you three book shelves to begin your collection with: read, to-read, and currently reading.
Books - To add books to your shelves you can search for books by title/author on either the goodreads site or on Amazon. If your book is on neither site you can manually add the book to your shelves. Plus, there is an option on the site to list your books for 'swap' and 'sell' if you have a copy you'd like to trade or sell. In addition to the review of your book you can also tell your friends the date you read the book, a rating of the book, and who you would recommend the book to.
Groups - Users can create groups with other friends and members of the site. Groups come with restriction settings: public, moderated, restricted by domain, or secret.
Adding books to your Website - You can add books to your blog, myspace, profile, ect. using the recent reviews widget. According to goodreads a widget is "a dynamic image that you can add to almost any site that allows html code."
Importing/Exporting Books - Users can export their book lists to a spreadsheet program. Or if you are already using another book database you can import it to goodreads. The site promises that if they don't already support your book database simply tell them and they'll "make it happen" for you.
Goodreads in the School Library
Ideas for using Goodreads in the Library:
1) Create a Group for students where they can see what each other is reading. This could be used in conjunction with a project, extra credit reading, book club, ect. Even though this site seems like it could be competition for the library in the readers advisory area its not. It just adds another dimension to that resource. The librarian could be reviewing books for the kids to view on Goodreads. Plus, kids can be showing the librarian what it is they are enjoying as well. Really, this could be useful in a lot of different settings.
2) Use the 'add books to your website' feature on your library's web page, blog, or whatever internet source you are using for your library. Goodreads will automatically update this part of your web page with your recent reviews. This way your students and/or their parents can see what is new or worth noting in the library.
3) You can export lists of your student's books in a spreadsheet program for physical evidence of what it is they are reading. OR You can have students export a list of books from specific shelves to a spreadsheet program to show what books they are using for a research or other projects.
4) Teachers could also use this resource. They could use it for pleasure reading and also for school related reading. Reviews of new books of teaching theory could be reviewed. Teachers could keep in contact with other teachers who teach the same subjects they do (maybe county wide to start?) and they could review books they've used in class and how well they worked for the curriculum.
Sources and the Site
[about] [how it works] [Goodreads]
