What is your take on social books? I'd love for librarians and library related vendors to chime into this discussion. I think we have something to add!
What about this to start? I'd say this is the ultimate social reading tool for libraries: LibraryThing for Libraries offers reviews in the catalog. Person searches for a book at a library, can check out user generated reviews and contribute their own:
(for example: 1745 reviews! goo.gl)
It's a pretty major shift, but there are some exiting platforms out there that have taken this to heart: candide.nypl.org
Based on this:
digress.it
Justin - tell me more about what you mean by "social books."
I really enjoy LTFL, but watching patrons use the catalog they so rarely look at anything other than "Do you have this book, and where/how do I get it?" I think WE like the reviews and stuff as librarians, but I don't think users so much like contributing them--not within a library context. Maybe I'm wrong.
I think gamifying reading (and I hate the word "gamifying", fair disclaimer) is a social reading aspect that libraries can embrace. Making reading a community activity, one in which you compete against others or yourself, and share what you learn/read/know.
Justin Hoenke added Richard MacManus.
Justin, thanks for starting this thread. Sarah, by "social books" I mean the social activity around books or read/writing books. I've done 3 posts in this series so far:
Goodreads (social network for book lovers)
WritersBloq (social network for book writers)
Social book highlights (Kindle Profiles and Findings)
This thread has given me the idea of exploring this theme from point of view of libraries. I still visit my local library often, to borrow books (and CDs/DVDs). I'd love to hear some more of your thoughts on how the library experience is being socialized (or not) thanks to online services such as LTFL.
I went ahead and wrote something up, but still keen to hear your thoughts! readwriteweb.com
I have mixed feelings about "social reading." For most readers I know, GoodReads is the place to be; followed by their own blogs and Twitter. I'm not sure how many are using LT, to be honest. My concerns about social reading aside, for years I've thought that libraries can do more regarding those readers who are taking advantage of social media to network, connect, share opinions, review, etc. For example, how many librarians attend BBC? Or are aware of it if they are not book bloggers?
@Sarah: Quite a few teens use the LT "if you like this then you may like this" feature. It's especially handy with the trendy teen book topic of the moment (vampires/steampunk/magic)
@Richard: Thank you so much for the post! I'm glad you dig your library. You have some good ones over there in NZ! And you also have some great librarians!
@Liz: You got that right. I would love to see a librarian scouring LT or GoodReads to inform other local readers about library stuff.
Justin Hoenke added Lisandro Gaertner.
How can we use social media to improve content on technical libraries? Is wikipedia a library?
Justin Hoenke added Jacob Greer.
Beyond the Harvard Library Innovation Lab's podcast (soundcloud.com), reading.am as article-reading social network, and the foundation of the book Reading Communities (amazon.com)...
I tend to be more interested in the librarian as curator and the library as something of a makerspace. Similar discussion in: lj.libraryjournal.com
Open access tends to further promotes social spaces attempting to supplement normal library roles: reddit.com
The social aspect directly relates to value 3 of Worldcat's 7 values: oclc.org
Library gamification has been discussed before: acrlog.org
I really enjoy this direction for IFTTT for digital literacies: rail.geneseo.edu
