BiblioTech Web

For what it’s worth, I’m doing a little presentation today at the IOLUG (Indiana Online Users Group) Fall Program called “Reaching Digital Natives and Immigrants: Library 2.0.” They’re having a Science-Fair-style session where different people are “exhibiting” different programs and I get to do LibraryThing! Below is most of what I’ve got in a handout (and will also be in the Proceedings booklets):

What can I do with LibraryThing?

• Catalog your books online
• Find other people who own the same books you do
• Check out what other people have in their libraries
• Get recommendations for new books to read
• Social Networking in all its forms
• Discuss books in online groups
• Display my library in customizable sort views including a Virtual Bookshelf, which displays the covers
• Access my virtual library from my cell phone while standing in a bookshop (point cell phone’s browser to http://www.librarything.com/m)

Why should I use LibraryThing?

• It uses the Z39.50 protocol to standardize information.
• Fully web based
• You can search Amazon, the Library of Congress, and almost 100 other collections to add the exact volume you own.
• Who better to recommend a new book to you than someone who owns a similar collection to yours?

Cool Features

• Zeitgeist
• Groups
• RSS feeds for recent books added by your friends or groups
• Tag clouds, author clouds, widgets

How Libraries can use LibraryThing

• Collection Development
  • “People who own this book also own…”
  • Search or browse tags
  • Find foreign-language books
• Book Reviews
• Zeitgeist - http://www.librarything.com/zeitgeist
• LibraryThing For Libraries - add tag-based browsing, book recommendations, ratings, reviews and more to your OPAC - http://www.librarything.com/forlibraries/
• Widgets to display new or featured books on your library website

Presented at the “Blinded Me with Library Science” Fair by Scott Pfitzinger
My LibraryThing profile: http://www.librarything.com/profile/spfitzinger