Re: What LibraryThing means to OPACs

From: Ross Singer <ross.singer_at_nyob>
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 22:35:13 -0400
To: NGC4LIB_at_listserv.nd.edu
Sadly, I'm not kidding.  I'm also not confusing it with an OPAC.  I am
trying to figure out the motivations of those who willingly take the
time to enter their personal libraries in it.

I'm a lazy user.  I choose to put my bookmarks in unalog (rather than
del.icio.us or furl) because I can contribute (and benefit from) the
code4lib group.

I use last.fm because I just listen to music and it figures out on its
own what else I might want to listen to.  I don't have to do anything.
 If you want crack, it's found at last.fm.

I see a lot of potential uses for LT but I don't use it (and, as I
mentioned, am lazy and probably won't) and so therefore I'm curious.
Why do you use it?  Where do you expect it to go?

-Ross.

On 6/21/06, K.G. Schneider <kgs_at_bluehighways.com> wrote:
> > So, in a meeting today (in a group that is designing our community
> > contributed catalog, Communicat) we were discussing LibraryThing.
> >
> > Who uses this?  And for what?  It seems a... somewhat pointless service.
> >
> > Regardless of how useful it may be to actually get the metadata and
> > whatnot.
> >
> > -Ross.
>
> I sort of wonder if you aren't kidding. So I'll answer in that vein.
>
> LibraryThing was invented by Satan to distract librarians, readers, writers,
> and bibliophiles from virtuous activities. Once you are in LibraryThing's
> clutches, you will be fully assimilated. You will catalog every book you
> own. You will search. You will find. You will browse. You will explore
> affinities with other readers. You will roam the Zeitgeist. Adding books...
> it's so easy... it's too easy... the dark side... it calls me...
>
> LibraryThing is crack.
> LibraryThing is enchanted Turkish Delight.
> LibraryThing is the black hole in space into which innocent readers fall.
>
> Two things LibraryThing can't do: read; and write. I have to do both this
> summer for a master's thesis. Get thee away, Satan!
>
> K.G. Schneider
> kgs_at_bluehighways.com
>
Received on Wed Jun 21 2006 - 22:39:44 EDT