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Book Recommendation Services

OK, this is a neat finding…

The Centered Librarian pointed to LifeHacker’s survey about what their readers thought was the best book recommendation service on the web…

Here’s the chart with the results:

“In first place was GoodReads (39%), a book lover’s web site with lists, lists, and more lists to fit your interests. Second was the recommendation engine at Amazon.com (27%), followed by Shelfari (13%), and then LibraryThing (11%). In last place were “Other” (7%) and GetGlue (5%).”

So I am interested that libraries would have a difficult time making the list since our efforts are both face to face and quite diffused throughout the land and ver many sites. I think we’d be ner the top – except for this lack of concentration.

The Gypsy Librarian points to an interesting article in Salon.com (and makes some good points too) which “is basically describing what a good librarian skilled in reader’s advisory does.”

“The Fine Art of Recommending Books” by Laura Miller.

Anyway, my question is, “Has anyone seen a great site in libraries that highlights the wonderful reader’s advisory services in a modern and interesting way?” I like the work of Bibliocommons and LibraryThing for Libraries, but what else is out there?

Stephen

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Posted on: July 29, 2010, 10:21 am Category: Uncategorized

3 Responses

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  1. If it could be done, having GoodReads integrated with the catalogue to mash up which “reads” are on the shelf now … and put it on a large display near the entrance.

  2. Hello there. Thanks for the linking. I personally use GoodReads, which I find useful to keep track of what I read. It is also pretty good for you to make lists of things you want to read, lists by topics, so on.The recommendations can be a little so so, and since there are user created lists, that has pros and cons (Twilight coming up in top of lists–both as best AND worse book). However, the discussion features are pretty good. I was expecting Library Thing to come out higher on the list, but I think it may be as it turned out because Lifehacker is not just librarians (i.e. I know librarians love Library Thing, but what about non-librarians?).

    And no, I have not seen that great website you ask about–not yet. But some libraries are trying (be it blogs, using IM, so on).

    Best, and keep on blogging.

  3. Lisa Nerpio said

    Assuming one might enjoy authors that are more similar, this website plots authors on a globe.

    http://www.literature-map.com/