LibraryThing?

[viviena]

I have a paid membership at LibraryThing. I like it a lot. The interface is ugly compared to similar sites and its social networking features are so-so, but its strength lies in its powerful book cataloguing features. Very flexible and customisable when it comes to dealing with metadata or filtering through one's books in their library.

I also like LibraryThing because:

1) the developers are active and fairly involved in the community;

2) it's well integrated with a book-swapping site I use, BookMooch.

Haven't dabbled much in GoodReads so far, but what I've seen I've liked. GoodReads seems to be more of a 'social networking for readers' website. I avoid Shelfari (yet another book cataloguing/social networking site) out of suspicion of past distasteful marketing practices.

[crich70]

I didn't know that dial up modem was still in use in the U.S. Course I imagine it probably depends on where you are too. I'm in town whereas I imagine if I were out in the country it might still be dial up. I get what you're saying though jgaiser. Even on DSL the more graphics etc. are on a site the slower the page loads (at least sometimes).

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Interesting comments. Maybe because it was the first book cataloging site I found, but I've not found it hard to navigate and because most of my online time is on a dialup modem at about 22K baud, the fancier the website, the less I'm interested.

[SeaBookGuy]

I started there, and am still active in a couple of forums, but by the time I started hitting their free book limit, I'd switched to Goodreads, which I find less ... clunky (for lack of a better term).

[mandahill]

I've been using LibraryThing for three years and am being quite diligent about adding my books there as I finish them. I've also recently joined Goodreads and automatically imported all my LibraryThing books there and am now updating both. Not sure how long I'll want to keep both going, though - and at the moment I feel more comfortable with LibraryThing, but that's probably because it's more familiar.

Amanda

[ManosHandsOfFate]

Never heard of librarything. I'm currently using the Books feature of LivingSocial on Facebook. I wish there was an easy way to transfer my books from LivingSocial to Goodreads.

[sakura-panda]

I don't remember why I originally picked Goodreads over LibraryThing, but I remember that I checked them both out (based on recommendations from here) and eventually signed up with Goodreads.

[abookreader]

I'm the same way about Shelfari. I picked it over GoodReads and LibraryThing and now I don't remember why. I did try them all out for awhile though.

[brainycat]

Why I like goodreads better: I found it first. I'd never heard of LT until now, and I only have time to hang out on one book-lover's site.

[Crusader]

Originally Posted by grooks

I never thought to look for an Android app. Found MyBookDroid and currently syncing my Goodreads library to my Android phone.

Yes, it's a great app. I use it to organize my various bookshelves and add books to Goodreads using the barcode scanner.

[=X=]

I use GoodReads, the site design is just so much better than LibraryThing. I joined GoodReads and LibraryThing at the same time and I found GoodReads easier to understand. The UI was cleaner and easier to import books and had a great search engine. Also what I really liked about the site was I could create my own book, if it did not exist in the database.

And probably the feature I like the most is being able to organize your books. They both probably have this feature but it was easier to pick up on goodreads
GoodReads also continues to get better and better, while LibraryThing does not really improve much.
=X=

[mish]

Overall I just prefer the way goodreads works but I am a member of both sites. Each site has a different feel and emphasis and they catalog books in a different way. I think GR is much more author-friendly and it is easier for readers to connect with authors there as well (IMO). I think it is also much easier to use and navigate in general. It is also easier to see what my "friends" are reading and reviewing. I can also see blog entries for authors I'm following all in one place.

I do like the early reviewer/member giveaway program on LT better than GR's program. Indie authors should take more advantage of these programs to promote their work and get reviews!!

The one thing I do like about LT is no ads!!! Goodreads is littered with them and many of them autoexpand and autotalk. They are not allowed but they are always getting through the ad server. GR just says they can't do much about it except block them when reported. yeah, whatever...

[Klim Chugunkin]

Never heard of it. Now I did. What's the point?

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by Klim Chugunkin

Never heard of it. Now I did. What's the point?

Now there you go.. A worthwhile answer if there ever was one...

[MR. Pockets]

Oops. I just voted and then realized that I just joined LibraryThing about a week ago.

I joined because of their automatic book suggester.

[thinkpad]

I use LT to keep track of what I've read and when. I also use it to store books I want to read in the future. Haven't looked at Goodread, registered at LT after hearing about it here at MR.