Benefits of social networking sites for readers - stock.xchng
Discover how social networking has developed its own niche for book enthusiasts, find out where readers can connect with others online and the benefits of joining.
Social networking is no longer restricted to chatting with friends and family on MySpace and Facebook. A growth in interest-specific networking sites has lead to a wide array of niche networks for everyone and every interest. Book lovers can rejoice and indulge in some of these user-friendly sites for everything literary.
- Shelfari. Shelfari.com advertises itself as the "premier social network for people who like books". The most obvious feature that appeals to book lovers on this site is the large virtual bookshelf that members can display their books on. Members can also post reviews, rate what they've read, join reading groups, post book questions and make new friends.
- Goodreads. Goodreads.com allows its members to organize their books based upon what they've read, what they are currently reading and what they would like to read. It also offers ratings features and the ability for members to write reviews of books they've read. Additional benefits of Goodreads is that members can join book clubs, contact authors and participate in book giveaways.
- Booksconnect. Booksconnect's main feature is that it strives to connect readers, authors, publishers, librarians, independent booksellers and book event coordinators together in one online site. Like the other sites listed, Booksconnect offers members the ability to create virtual bookshelves and interact with the rest of the community. In addition, Booksconnect also offer a book store for those interested in purchasing books (readers should note that their site and online bookstore are both based in the U.K.).
- ConnectViaBooks. Connectviabooks.com allows members to publish their book lists, participate in book discussions, post book ratings and reviews and access book recommendations. Members can also search for new friends by finding out what other people are reading, both locally and globally.
Benefits of Using Book-Centric Social Networking Sites
Regardless of which site readers choose, they all offer similar features to their members. These include:
- Free membership. All of these sites are free to join and use, which makes it easy to try them all and find which one(s) best suits an individual reader's needs.
- Book Lists. These sites all over their own variation of a book list. Readers can easily keep track of what they are reading, what they've read, what books they own and what books they would like to read in the future. This is one of the most useful features of literary social networking sites.
- Book Recommendations. Another helpful feature of these sites is that they offer readers a glimpse of other books that they might be interested in based on their own book list.
- Discussion Groups. Many of these sites offer their own variation of discussion groups and book clubs. This is a great feature for readers who would like to participate in a reading group but are limited by time or geographic constraints.
- Book swapping. Some of these sites allow members to swap books among themselves. This is a great way for readers to get books for free.
- Meet people. What would a social networking site be without the ability to meet other people with similar interests? All of these sites offer a friends feature which allows members to connect with each other and discuss all things readable. Members can search for friends by location or by book preferences.
Each reader will find their own reasons for joining a social networking site, but rest assured there is something for everyone.
Copyright Lisa Rufle. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Lisa Rufle - If I had to describe myself in one word, it would easily be: curious. So as a natural extension of my curiosity, reading is my life's ...
