The real problem is that I can't remember the titles of all of the books I love, so my list (with the grand total of 6!) doesn't really represent my reading habits, nor does it help much in the way of recommending other books. Yes, I could work to add to this, but honestly, in the grand scheme of things, I reckon that - even if I managed to input all of the books I have read and loved - there's quite a slim chance that I would remember to put in books as I continue to read them.
So where does that leave LibraryThing? Well, with a lot of scope I think.
In an ideal world, I'd like LibraryThing to already know what books I've read. A parallel site, LastFM logs music listening in the same way as LibraryThing records books. The difference is that LastFM - through an application - uploads this information in the background, automatically while you're listening (on your computer). On your LastFM profile then, appears all of the songs listened to, and the amount of times. By clicking on a "Neighbours" tab, you can then see the music of those with similar tastes. With the additional function of a "radio" you can listen to similar music uniquely programmed to your taste.
The ability to passively add items to one's record is what makes LastFM work. Perhaps something similar could be set up with the ACL website? Instead of requiring a person to type in book titles - as LibraryThing does - the ACL site could adopt a similar function, analyzing patrons' reading habits then, by comparison with others, make recommendations on similar titles.
By incorporating this into the ACL site, the library would make a recommendation process seamless for patrons, and therefore provide the service to a wider range of patrons.
Links:
LibraryThing
LastFM
By incorporating this into the ACL site, the library would make a recommendation process seamless for patrons, and therefore provide the service to a wider range of patrons.
Links:
LibraryThing
LastFM
1 comment:
Great work on your blog :) I have 'The Blind Assassin' on my list of books to read at the moment :)
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