LibraryThing, GoodReads, Shelfari

[Brenda Branson]

Who is using which? How do they compare? Does anyone use more that one? I've started using LT which I really like. Then found Goodreads and I've found the other participants are more active in GR than LT. AND then I found Shelfari and I really like their cool bookshelf for the widget but there's a lot of advertising. I really have attempted to analyze any but if you have strong pros or cons about any of these or know of others, please share.

[Tricia]

I started out on LibraryThing, which I think is really cool if you are someone who owns a large personal library. I don't, and I rely a lot on the library. Sooo, I like GR and Shelfari. I actually like the look of Shelfari better, but I started on GR first and that's where I've built my network.

[Brenda Branson]

I want to post books I'm reading on my blog and hope the students will go a bit further. What about advertisements. Did you find one had more that others? And I keep getting emails from "authors" - mostly new ones.

[Trixie]

I like the widget from Shelfari on my blog, but I also like how easy it is to use Good Reads to create my book review posts with a snapshot of the book cover. And I've been doing Tuesday Thingers from Boston Bibliphile even though I'm not using Library Thing at all, so I may have to check that out at some point too.

[Maggie]

I love LT and Shelfari for different reasons! LT is where I post my booktalks and have met some of the authors through comments, and in Shefari I enjoy the cool shelf on my blog. I have not tried Goodreads and am interested!

[SuziQ]

I never joined LT. I started on Goodreads at the invitation of a friend. I gave Shelfari a shot, but decided I liked Goodreads better.

[Marie]

I am on all three -- but honestly use LT and GoodReads most of all. I keep track of the books I've read, regardless if I own them (library books are tagged "borrowed but read") - and if you've built a large library in one, you can export it via excel to the other one (it was a little tricky but I managed it) -- so don't feel forever locked into one or the other.
I really like them both -- and have connected w/different people on each one. I get early review books via LT -- but have connected w/authors via GR. So there you have it. :)

[Brenda Branson]

That's very helpful - I'm glad to know I can export my library. Thanks for the info. There are features of each that I do like and I didn't want to give up either of them.

[Miriam Parker]

Oh goodness. I would love to know how to import a library from one into another! You are a technology genius! Can you let me know? I'm mainly on Goodreads but would love to get those books onto Library Thing and Shelfari.

thanks,
Miriam

[Marie]

You go to "My account" and under that, on the right hand bar, under "tools" is import/export books -- on the right hand side is a button for export books -- and there are some basic tips listed as well. It's not perfect -- I had 1200 books or so on LibraryThing - and about 400 didn't transfer. If I had time on my hands, I'm sure I could figure out why/fix it -- but I'm ok with close enough for that. Hope that helps! Let me know if you get stuck!
~Marie

[Meg Waite Clayton]

I would love to hear the details on how to do this, Marie!

[unfinishedperson]

I use both LT and Shelfari: Shelfari for books I've read, am reading and plan to read, both books I own and books I borrow from the library; LT, exclusively for books I own. To be honest, I've never heard of GoodReads. The only thing about exporting from one to another that I've found, that the ISBNs aren't always available in Shelfari so I have to manually enter them, which is a pain.

[Miriam Parker]

Yes, I think that is my frustration with Shelfari, also it is hard to remove something from your shelf if you add it by accident.