LibraryThing
From LIS 460 Summer 2007
LibraryThing
Contents |
What is it?
LibraryThing is an online catalog for book lovers. It has two functions: to catalog the book lover's collection for personal reference, and to connect them to other book lovers' catalogs based on the books they share. LibraryThing is free for inputting up to 200 books, and costs $10/year or $25/life for an unlimited collection. LibraryThing is similar to Delicious and Flickr in that users can place personal TAGs on their collection. The personal profile created on LibraryThing connects the book lover to other users, and sometimes "eerily similar" libraries are revealed! The Groups and Talk pages provide additional opportunities to connect with other users or clubs, and the personal profile pages can be open or personal to public comments.
How does it work?
LibraryThing's philosophy is based on simplicity: sign-up is easy as they don't ask for any information other than user name and password, and entering books is easy as the information is downloaded from Amazon and 78 other libraries (inlcuding the Library of Congress) after a title, author, or ISBN is entered. Once the information is downloaded, the book lover can search for books, sort books, edit book information, and add TAGS. Book reviews an ratings are also integral to LibraryThing and function much the same way as Amazon in their recommendations. After books are inputted, the book lovers can chose how they like to have their books represented: either in a virtual shelf or a simple list. The books usually have a photo of the book cover associated with each cataloged entry.
How can LibraryThing be used in a school library?
For a piddly $25/year, LibraryThing can house an unlimited number of books. By simply typing in an ISBN, the corresponding record will be downloaded onto the school library collection and voila- Amazon-style entries complete with book covers and metadata! This is such an exciting tool for tiny school libraries with limited budgets and it doesn't require a techno-savvy librarian. Although it doesn't have a "circulation" mode, it can enhance the school library's collection by having all sorts of user-generated metadata attached to a book. It is easy to attach to the school website or library wiki so the collection can be accessed from home.
Alongside of the cataloging function, LibraryThing is a powerful networking tool for school librarians and teachers. If each class or each school kept an online catalog of resources and included them in a "school library" TAG, the potential for ongoing education and professional development is huge. For the school librarian, it is useful to connect with a larger group not only for professional collection development, but for general student materials. The opportunity to discuss relevant issues with a larger professional group through group discussion also provides great opportunity to bounce ideas and ask for advice from "like-minded" professionals.
Questions still lingering...
238 groups are found after searching "school library." There are many different special interest groups (ie. home school, Christian education, and things more specific like girl's fiction and different schools). A lively group called "Librarians who LibraryThing" is dedicated to discussing all things library, from metadata to Library 2.0. A similar group was created under the name "School Media Specialists, Teacher Librarians, and School Librarians" exists, but the discussion is far from lively! There are only 11 messages since the group was created. I wonder if these 238 groups could be somehow consolidated? I understand that special interest groups have specific issues, but I bet school librarians can learn from each other regardless of the affiliation.
One person commented that this "group" function on LibraryThing is just another group to join in the world of online social networking and after a couple of comments are made, participation wanes. Is LibraryThing overkill in the social networking world? Does FaceBook or MySpace provide better opportunity to mingle with professionals from around the world to discuss professional issues? I love the cataloging function of LibraryThing and see the value in connecting with other users' catalogs, but I wonder if the discussion groups are an unneccessary add-on (especially in the midst of all of the other places where you can social network!)
I wonder what would happen if the school library had a special collection of local books with no ISBN? Is there opportunity to tailor entries, or create the records from scratch? 07/26/07 YES- there is... a book's information can be manually inputted and the cover can be scanned and attached to the record. (Me answering my own questions!)
LibraryThing is a bit limited in that it's only books... if school libraries were to adopt it, how could we list educational kits, workbooks, or DVD's/Videos? 07/26/07 Tim Spalding talks about a LibraryThing Pro version he'd like to develop that would include all sorts of various media (to appeal to the libraries of the world).
There is no circulation option on LibraryThing so it can not take the place of a check-in/out system.
07/26/07 No, but there are some free open source softwares like Koha and Evergreen that could work alongside of LibraryThing for a complete library system.
Articles of Interest
Bates, Mary Ellen. “Get Your LibraryThing On.” OnlineMag 30, no.6 (2006): 64.
Blumenstein, Lynn. “A Public Library Tries LibraryThing.” Library Journal 132, no. 11 (June 2007): 16.
Rethlefsen, Melissa. “Chief Thingamabrarian.” Library Journal 132, no.11 (January 2007): 40-2.
Rodgers, Rachael. “A Book Lover’s MySpace.” School Library Journal 53, no.10 (2006): 24-5.
Sheehan, Kate. “LibraryThing for Libraries.” Net Connect summer (2007): 3.
Starr, Jennie. “LibraryThing.com: The Holy Grail of Book Recommendation Engines.” Webmastery July/August (2007): 25-32.
