Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Thing #29 Book-Based Social Networks

I chose weRead as the Book-Based Social Network that I would join. It is a pretty interesting site and also easy to use. The profile section was simple to set up and the features like adding favorite books and books that you have read are easy to understand. It will even recommend more books for you to read.

Some interesting features of weRead is the never ending quiz which sounds like exactly what it is, a never ending quiz and their collection of books that you can read online.

I believe that services like weRead and all the other Book-Based social networking sites could indeed complement and not compete with programming offered by libraries. If anything it is a way to expand a libraries reach with patrons. It allows more of a personal feel or sense of community around what people read. Patron's could see a librarian's favorite books and the library can see what the patrons are reading and would like to read. It would make things like setting up book groups easier and reviews are readily available. Overall I see these services as a supplement to the library and not competition.