I’ve been using LibraryThing for a couple years now. I started with Shelfari but didn’t like the interface or widgets and quickly switched to LibraryThing. I enjoy the Early Reviewers program, although as of late haven’t had anything appeal to me from there.
I’ve also been working with LibraryThing’s vast resources to try and rebuild my childhood reading list. For books you read but don’t recall the name of, there is a group called Name That Book where you can post what you remember about a book and others will help find the title/author. I’ve been enjoying using LibraryThing a lot.
Then today, I hit my “limit”. I wasn’t even aware there was a limit with LibraryThing! I got this message:
Free memberships are limited to 200 books. Upgrade to a paid membership and catalog as many books as you like.
So I read about the memberships. You can do a yearly membership for $10 (typically) or a ‘lifetime’ membership for $25 (typically). However, GoodReads is free no matter how many books you have. I’m not sure if they’ll always be free, or if GoodReads is ad-supported… but part of me likes LibraryThing and wants to support it. I don’t know.
So I’m asking other bookish types: What do you use to track your books? Why do you like it?
January 24, 2011 at 10:26 am
I use Shelfari. I don’t think they have any limit, as I have 480 books on my shelf at this time. I like it because it’s easy…altho I never have been able to get their widget onto my blog…My only complaint is that I can’t sort the books on my shelf in all the ways I would like to sort them. Otherwise, happy, happy.
January 24, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Wow, a 200 book limit??? How totally lame. I would have hit that in the first week I joined!
I’m a member of LibraryThing, Shelfari, and GoodReads, but the only one I use regularly is GoodReads. There’s a lot of activity on it, it’s super-easy to use, and simple to connect to your Facebook, twitter, iPhone… I just love it!
February 23, 2011 at 9:05 pm
Fortunately I’ve only been adding as I’ve read, so it took me a while. I haven’t yet added my entire bookshelves/library. It’s been more of a “I finished reading it” thing.
But if I buy LibraryThing Pro, I’ll definitely make better use of it.
January 24, 2011 at 6:59 pm
I have GoodReads and Shelfari accounts but haven’t bonded with either. I use I am Reading on Facebook, but it doesn’t have any features at all worth mentioning. Keep me posted!
January 29, 2011 at 10:17 am
I also can’t believe there is a 200 limit on books…has anyone checked out an up and comer http://www.booktrib.com? Lots of galley offered – I am getting to like this site for book info.
July 15, 2011 at 8:27 am
I support librarything and have paid for the lifetime membership. I just happen to prefer their interface and features more than goodreads.