LibraryThing

[Ryzel]

I don't know if you have already discovered it around here, but there is a nice new website that allows you to enter all your books and make a virtual library shelf. It is called LibraryThing, and can be found at: www.librarything.com.

If you want to browse my catalog, go to:

www.librarything.com/catalog.php?view=egb

[I'm Murrin]

I've been using Librarything for a couple of weeks. Quite handy, though I'm not quite sure what to do with the tags.
www.librarything.com/catalog/Murrin

[Ryzel]

I use the tags to categorise the different kinds of books. For my RPG books they are quite useful in letting me find all the books related to a specific game system.

I am also wondering if I might use them to indicate exactly where I am storing those books that I do not have readily available, and possibly those that I have lent someone.

[Avatar]

Interesting, although I'll never have the time to do it.

What exactly is the point of it though?

(Haha, that's quite a collection you have there Ryzel. )

--A

[Ryzel]

As you see I have too many books to really keep track of without some tools, and this has been the most useful I have found so far, because

-it is available to me from everywhere (where there is an internet connection)
-it has graphics, which allows me to see the books
-much of the information is automatically entered from external sources (I only need to input the ISBN)
-there are some other useful functions (export to Excel, mobile lookup etc.)

[Avatar]

Yeah, but what good is it to you to look up what's in your library when you're somewhere else? Now, if it included the text of them from an external source, then great.

As it is, all it lets you do is say, "Look, I've got that book."

My own library probably roughly matches yours in size, (hence my surety that it would take too long to capture), but I just don't see the actual advantage of sitting all those hours putting in ISBN numbers or whatever.

Hey, if it helps you in some way, great. And you've got more patience than I to capture them. I just don't see much of an advantage.

--A

[Ryzel]

I guess I have more patience for entering ISBN numbers than you have.

In any case I like working with books, the other advantages are just icing on the cake.

[Avatar]

Haha, you sure do. When I want a book, it's headfirst into the study and digging through the piles that don't fit on my shelves. (After first checking if it is where it should be in my rudimentary shelving/catalogue system. )

But what I'm really asking here is what are the advantages?

Why do you find it useful to have access to a virtual list of all your books from anywhere?

--A

[Ryzel]

But what I'm really asking here is what are the advantages?

Why do you find it useful to have access to a virtual list of all your books from anywhere?

--A

The advantages of a list is the same as it always is: You know what you have. That it is available from everywhere and that you have it on the internet in case you want to refer to it is IMO an advantage. For example if you want to buy a book and are (like me sometimes) wondering if you have that book. I have a few doubles already.


And it is good to be able to browse my list from anywhere, should I happen to not be where my books are located. This is good, as about 1200 of my books are stored in my mothers house. Located quite far away from where I live now.

[Avatar]

Good points. Especially the storage one...I too have plenty of books where I can't get to them immediately. Luckily, I don't have much problems with doubles because I always have a fair idea of what I have, in terms of current books (things that I'm looking for at the moment) at least.

Thanks for the clarification...I can see why it's handy. I'm just too lazy to even attempt it.

--A

[Lady Revel]

my catalog:

www.librarything.com/catalog/hilleyanne

I love librarything, some say I have a tendency towards OCD, but I catalog all of my books. Hey, I want to be a librarian when I grow up!

[Chrysalis]

Wow! I can now take my work home with me!

I can certainly see the use for this and I am tempted to try and put up some of my collection.
However as a library worker I don't think I can rustle up enough motivation to try. My book shelves are packed with so much stuff it would take me days!!

How long did it take you to catalogue all of yours Ryzel? With a proper scanner I can see it wouldn't take too long but manually entering all the IBSNs must have been tedious!

[Vain]

my catalog:

www.librarything.com/catalog/hilleyanne

I love librarything, some say I have a tendency towards OCD, but I catalog all of my books. Hey, I want to be a librarian when I grow up!

Go rustle up some members for us Put that OCS to good use

[I'm Murrin]

I bought a lifetime membership last year (it's very cheap), because I finally hit 200 books. I don't enter ISBNs when I do it, just the title, but then I don't have anywhere near as many books as others here, so I can do that without having to dig the books out and look...

[I'm Murrin]

Bump from the distant past.

I just saw this Librarything new post from yesterday and had to share, one of the funniest things I've seen from this year's April 1st.
www.librarything.com/blogs/librarything ... cy-change/

I'm still keeping my library updated on librarything, though I'm still not sure what use it actually has.

[aliantha]

That's pretty funny!

I think Goodreads has kind of superseded Librarything, hasn't it?

[I'm Murrin]

I wouldn't know, I've never looked at Goodreads.

[Avatar]

I don't have the time for either.

--A