Everything Booklikes & Leafmarks discussion

Booklikes is in need of "librarians" or "editors" who can ensure accuracy in terms of the books that are available on site. Presently, unlike Goodreads, Booklikes is sorely lacking in that respect.

(I have no definitive answer to the question posed here.)

Goodreads, by far, very unfortunately. I'm still hoping for a new member reader site.

I like both. A lot of my friends are on Goodreads to chat to, and the book data here is fabulous. But I like being able to blog on BookLikes and the sense of community there is much warmer. Also the responsiveness of the owners/admin on BookLikes is wonderful, they listen and act on suggestions. The owners/admin of GR used to be like that too, but that was a while back. But most of all I like the fact people can write what they like without fear of censorship or deletion on BookLikes which is what drove me there in the first place.

I don't see myself using one or other sites exclusively though. I'm happy using both.

Booklikes isn't there yet as a book site. I like it; and I'm sure they'll get there Thursday by New Feature Thursday. I like it better on the social side but currently am still using goodreads for book data and fictfact for series data. A handful of other sites also beat out booklikes in the book cataloging and reviews areas -- and the book + social side (not so much the series info) at The Reading Room, BookRabbit, and anobii are awfully close to goodreads except for fewer members.

LibraryThing could be in the running if they'd re-do a few clunky site things, lighten up in tone, and not frown so much on users shelving "too many books" (particularly their stance on shelving books you don't own or plan on buying) -- when Visual Bookshelf shut down, I imported there but found it very unfriendly and stagnant in design (I realize small in programming resources is why they aren't making a lot of changes) and in welcoming VS refugees; despite owner comments they don't seem to be very welcoming of goodreads members and existing power users seem to treat us as if a bunch of illiterate lower class bullies.

Booklikes is way ahead of the game by actively putting itself out there as the place for goodreads members to go if they still want to have a community and write honest, non-bookseller controlled reviews.

Goodreads existing database and statistics will be hard to beat for a while but its influence will start dying off as its reviews and groups become more and more a clone of amazon reviews and community forums.

As readers stop using gr for reviews and adding content, then some other sites will wake up or startup to try and be "the" site for actual reader reviews. By that time, I think booklikes may very well have already beat out the pack by seducing all the top reviewers and largest number of fleeing goodreads members. But it's also early yet and some of the sites with better book cataloging and better book data could also start wooing goodreads members — some are being cautious and getting scared at the probable resources needed but as goodreads loses influence advertisers will start exploring other avenues meaning resources could grow.

I'm with you on your assessment of LibraryThing.

I think they all have benefits and I am no longer sure I would ever subscribe to one reading social media site.

Like DA I like ficfact to help me keep up with series and I think they do the best job at that.

I like booklikes for its blogging feature. You know I had no idea how much I would enjoy that. It feels much different then reading reviews on goodreads.

I still like GR for exploring new books and groups.

I like both sites too.
If it were a little easier to maneuver around at Booklikes, I might just switch over to that site altogether. I have found it a little difficult to learn my way around that site. However, they seem to make it better every week and the few times I've used that "Need help?" feature, I have received a personal response tailored to my question. I love that. I also am very much enjoying the blog feature.

The funny thing is, I would have never even joined Booklikes if it weren't for this censorship thing going on here at GR. I'm still very disappointed about it.

I also like both of them for different reasons. I like BookLikes because it is more private, I like to post my reviews there more than I do here. However, I need GR to search books and to read reviews.

I exported my books to Booklikes in September after the "announcement" GR made, and am using it to post reviews, status updates and shelving my books. I like the format of the dashboard, I like that the owners are so responsive, I like that we get new features every Thursday and I like that most of my top friends are active on the site.

I use Goodreads primarily now to stay in touch with groups and friends, and for their (currently) superior data, but no longer review here.

I think that once Booklikes starts having librarians who will update the data and correct it, including combining of book editions, that site will become the one to beat, as GR's influence dwindles with the top reviewers and readers having moved off the site. I do hope that the owners will use the advertising income wisely, and not be swayed by purchase offers from Amazon.

As Dawn said, in light of the developments over the last few months, I'm also reluctant to put all eggs in one basket. Reviews are posted on my review blog, and I back that up frequently, just in case.

D.A. - barely here ☺ - wrote: "LibraryThing could be in the running if they'd re-do a few clunky site things, lighten up in tone, and not frown so much on users shelving "too many books" (particularly their stance on shelving books you don't own or plan on buying)"

Wow, they'd hate me. I've got a huge to-read list, plus I'm a heavy library user. It's not anyone's business whether I borrow or buy.

Illegitimi Non Carborundum wrote: "I like both. A lot of my friends are on Goodreads to chat to, and the book data here is fabulous. But I like being able to blog on BookLikes and the sense of community there is much warmer. Also th..."

All of this +1

I've been following fellow goodreads refugees on booklikes whether or not we have books in common. And I'm enjoying the hell out of it (don't think I'll unfollow someone no matter how many of their reviews are on books I'd never read).

For some reason, I was pickier on goodreads about what I wanted on my feed (not a problem with anyone except that I followed a few people initially that did nothing but flood my feed with adding "to read" books and as more "likes" and other things would get added to feed making it hard for me to find friend updates and reviews ...)

I am loving BookLikes so much more than I thought I would. I actually look forward to Friday's (I'm in Australia, so Poland's Thursday is my Friday) just to see what new features they've added.

Saying that, I still come here for the group activity, and I do find it easier to add books to my GR shelves (one step) as opposed to BL (5 steps). I'm doing all my reviewing and shelving at BL though.

I can't wait for the librarian features to be added at BL - I am itching to contribute towards a brand-spanking-new book database. Plus, I miss making changes/edits/adds to the database here.

Sandra wrote: "I think that once Booklikes starts having librarians who will update the data and correct it, including combining of book editions, that site will become the one to beat, as GR's influence dwindles with the top reviewers and readers having moved off the site. I do hope that the owners will use the advertising income wisely, and not be swayed by purchase offers from Amazon. ..."

I think you should post that as a blog on BL. I will reblog it!

I'm really loving BL but am still using GR for book data. And I too look forward to BL's updates every Thursday. It's nice to know that they're listening and I can count on positive changes every week. I have my own blog and used GR often but BL is so much easier than screwing with my own blog and trying to find readers in a world flooded with book bloggers. I have found a great bunch of friends who I interact with daily on BL. It seems much cozier (and friendlier) than GR has been these past few months. It makes me sad because I used to feel this way about GR but those feelings are gone.

Same here, Bark. Well said. :)

Illegitimi Non Carborundum wrote: "Sandra wrote: "I think that once Booklikes starts having librarians who will update the data and correct it, including combining of book editions, that site will become the one to beat, as GR's in..."

??

Feel free to quote me. :)

Sakura Yue Michaelis wrote: "...I like BookLikes because it is more private..."

My GR profile is public, but I have friends with private profiles, and I don't think BL has an equivalent.

Given that you can use any name and avatar you like, I'm not sure how BL is more private, but I'd be interested to know.

Randolph wrote: "Booklikes doesn't steal your content or censor it."

:D

Bl is perceived by some as somewhat private until they add features like messaging, seeing friends reviews easily in one place, etc. It's basically currently blogging for books so makes some members feel as in control as if it's their own blog versus the more public displays on goodreads and how goodreads is pushing our content to kindle.

Now pretty much all you can see is what is currently on your feed (without clicking thru to member blogs or actively seeking out content).

Fewer members, less publicity for book reviews (not even seen on all editions of the book), no top reviewer types of lists readily apparent, not the reviews shown first in a google search for the book -- so has attracted fewer bba authors and trolls that make you feel creepy and want more privacy options.

Messaging was added today. It works well too.

You're right about the bbas as of right now. I'm kind of liking that. :)

I love Thursdays.

Me too!

Thursday candy!

*He said sarcastically.* :)

Randolph wrote: "Wouldn't it be great if a social network you belonged to gave you a new feature every week, say on Thursday, instead of say carefully hidden take-aways late on Friday afternoons?"

Or for something really big, the whole chocolate box before a holiday weekend.

I wonder what gift GR is planning for this coming Wednesday, which is the beginning of a US four day weekend. Probably something really big so they can hide for four days instead of the normal three.

What is the holiday?

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving followed by Black Friday then cyber-xxxx-day ...

☯Emily is tired of waiting for GR announcement, so now has Booklikes account. wrote: "I wonder what gift GR is planning for this coming Wednesday, which is the beginning of a US four day weekend. Probably something really big so they can hide for four days instead of the normal three."

Lol, cynical much?

D.A. - just one more game ☺ - wrote: "Thanksgiving followed by Black Friday then cyber-xxxx-day ..."

cyber-xxxx day?

Cyber-Saturday, Cyber-Sunday, Cyber-Monday, Cyber-Tuesday ... where retail sales on the internet blow up as badly as traditional instore Black Friday doorbuster specials.

And now there's "early Black Friday," where the stores are opening Thursday night.

When folks are supposed to be stuffed to the gills with turkey and semi-watching football with glazed eyes.

I wouldn't mind some retail sales myself. (It's Petra, of course, with new sock puppet).

I've been using GR, BL, and LT for several months now. There are differences. My experience on LT has been very positive. It is definitely NOT for those who want a lot of interaction and comment with regard to reviews. The nature of the site makes comments on reviews quite private. I have no problem adding as many books as I want, with or without reviews, and assigning any collection names I wish. LT is great for identifying series and drawing information from a wide variety of resources. It also has a very strong link to local resources like libraries and book stores, superior to anything else I've seen. Their local links are incredible. The folks have been very welcoming and the staff responsive.

BL's structure is the opposite. It almost forces comments and makes it very easy. It's harder to actually write reviews and link them to bibliographic information. Categorization of books is (as yet) almost impossible. Adding shelves is often problematic and the process for adding books takes some getting used to. Staff is extremely responsive. Clearly they want to expand and become the new powerhouse on the block.

GR's current structure represents the best of both: easy to comment and dialog on reviews (some might argue that's part of the problem) and has a robust bibliographic database well-maintained by a host of volunteers. I have had little opportunity to interact with staff; they appear to be hunkered down at the moment.

@21: You grant BL the right to use your content anyway they want. All three services have that stipulation in their TOS, so by granting them the right to use your content anyway they want (LT is the most restrictive on outside use) I think "stealing" is perhaps not the correct term.

Booklikes TOS:

"You also agree that this license includes the right for BookLikes to make all publicly-posted Content available to third parties selected by BookLikes, so that those third parties can distribute and/or analyze such Content on other media and services.

Note also that this license to your Subscriber Content continues even if you stop using the Services, primarily because of the social nature of Content shared through the Services - when you post something publicly, others may choose to comment on it, making your Content part of a social conversation that cannot later be erased without retroactively censoring the speech of others."

GR TOS

"By posting any User Content on the Service, you expressly grant, and you represent and warrant that you have a right to grant, to Goodreads a royalty-free, sublicensable, transferable, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, worldwide license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, list information regarding, edit, translate, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, and make derivative works of all such User Content and your name, voice, and/or likeness as contained in your User Content, in whole or in part, and in any form, media or technology, whether now known or hereafter developed, and to grant and authorize sublicenses of the foregoing for any purpose at the sole discretion of Goodreads. "

LT
"By posting content to LibraryThing, you grant—and you represent and warrant that you have the right to grant, represent and warrant—LibraryThing a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, omnipotent, royalty-free, fully-transferable and sublicenseable right to display, use, analyze, aggregate, modify, adapt, publish, translate, transform, create derivative works from and perform in any venue or media, online or offline, as well as

"In Painting, Sculpture, and rapt Poesy, / And arts, though unimagined, yet to be." (Shelley, Prometheus Unbound)
We do NOT assert copyright over the things you post to LibraryThing. The phrase "non-exclusive" above means you can post your content elsewhere. By posting something to LibraryThing you let us use it, but you do not restrict what you can do with it. We love it when people post their reviews on their blog, on Amazon and other sites!

As stated above, LibraryThing will not sell any personally-identifiable information to any third party.

You can control whether your reviews will ever be made available to libraries or others. Click here to edit your profile and change your preference."

Eric_W wrote: "I've been using GR, BL, and LT for several months now. ..."
Thanks for a good review of the differences. It confirms my own observations.

That was a good review of the differences.

Thanks a lot, Eric. Yes, I agree with your assessment, and you've proven that it's always a good idea to read the fine print!!!

Yes, Eric, good summary.

I never minded that goodreads could make use of my content (and even though "using" our content goodreads staff always made it clear it, particularly reviews, was always our copyright and could be non-exclusive to goodreads).

That by placing content on goodreads (a free booklovers community with book cataloging and reviewing capabilities) and allowing them to use, amazon is interpreting that as meaning that by agreeing to goodreads TOS I am also granting amazon (a commercial/retail bookseller) the right to use my content is the sickening part for me.

I've pulled my reviews at amazon and at goodreads (okay, a long time ago I moved my reviews from amazon to goodreads—yes, I am aware of the painful irony).

But, I seriously think amazon needs to do a new TOS for the site (not that their idea of TOS and author, book or review guidelines makes for clarity). A member-respecting new owner would have done so right away. A new owner not wanting to rock the boat until post-holiday kindle sales will wait or even avoid for the legal gray area of "well, that was the original, pre-buyout blah blah blah" potential.

How much of the current anger and issues would have been partially defused by site wide announcement, new TOS to agree to, clarifying the partner/third-party sharing business ...

Hooray, now that I discovered how to delete more than one book off my planning to read shelf I am much happier with booklikes. It is still too much trouble to add a bunch of toreads there, but I didn't like having books on there I decided weren't for me from Gr in 2012. I prefer GR over librarything and booklikes for adding my toreads due to the app.

The problem with librarything is you are expected to add books to either wishlist or read but owned. The GR export automatically adds all books to your owned shelf. :(

Lauren said (#46) The problem with librarything is you are expected to add books to either wishlist or read but owned. The GR export automatically adds all books to your owned shelf.

Perhaps someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it has more to do with the way you have your collections and shelves defined in GR as they are imported into the existing structure on LT which has “tags” instead of “shelves.” All of my books were imported in LT correctly and divided into one big collection called “Your Library” and a sub-collection called “Currently -reading”. Those two match the equivalent on GR. Where LT differs is in assigning those books marked as “To-read” (whether you own them or not is irrelevant) to a “tag.” They all show up tagged as “to-read.” Symantic differences, I think. All shelves except for “Read” and “Currently Reading” are considered as tags on LT.

Refer to my earlier post for other observations (#41). I have found the staff to be extremely responsive and welcoming and well-worth the $25 lifetime cost. Its structure does tend to discourage the υπερβολικά συναισθηματική. For that, GR has been most satisfactory.

If anyone has some extra time, I have another book sharing site to investigate -- Riffle Books.
http://www.rifflebooks.com/
I've been a member for about a year, but I've never really been active with it. I'm not sure I understand how it works. It appears that they want members to post groups of books of various categories, and the sharing of this information among the members will help them find new books. If somebody can figure it out I'd be glad to receive a report about your experiences.

I've just received an notice from them that those who like Riffle Books on facebook will be entered into a drawing for an iPad mini.

Riffle seems to be sort of like pinterest, sort of. I gave it a try when the GR hammer came down in september, but I couldn't really figure out how I would use it either. So I second that, if there's anyone who really has a handle on Riffle, please speak up and 'splain it to us :)

I don't think the two sites are compatible. But GR is by far superior to any other readers' site :(

I tried Riffle Books and ditched very quickly. It just struck me also as just pinterest or tumbler for bookcovers. No book cataloging, no reviewing, no groups, no comments, no anything other than seeing book covers and potentially picking your next read for you. Rather just explore other book sites by genre, listopias or friend shelves if I want to see a bunch of thumbnails.

Possibly with more members those groupings of bookcovers might improve to become closer to exploring by genre or listopia types of lists but still won't be for me be ause I very rarely pick by bookcover. At most if I see some book cover on a brick-and-mortar bookstore shelf that looks like genre I like I'll flip it over to spread the book description.

Admittedly, I didn't play with Riffle Books enough to rule out anything for sure including if you could get to book descriptions; but, without being funneled out to bookseller sites, book covers were all I was ever able to see on Riffles. Probably I didn't get it. I don't do Tumblr or Twitter (and Pinterest sporadically for holiday DIY stuff but never for books).

Randolph wrote: "gr activated a "Sign-In with Amazon" feature today. You NEVER want to do this ..."

I had similar problems after Amazon bought Audible.com. When I tried to sign in to Audible I ended up at Amazon's website, and all my purchase credits had vanished. After a few minutes of panic I figured out how to click through to my regular Audible account.

I have different emails on Booklikes, Goodreads, Facebook and Amazon. Not linking anything.

Fish Lips wrote: "I have different emails on Booklikes, Goodreads, Facebook and Amazon. Not linking anything."

FYI, these things tend to be publicly displayed on the site as well. For example, on GR, if you sign in with Facebook, then I think it's in the meta for the html page, even if your GR account page is private...

But seriously, if you use the same browser and check back and forth between Amazon and GR within short periods of time, then I suspect they can easily deduce your identity anyway....IP address.

I'm much happier with different emails for devices and such. For example, I have a distinct email for the household nook account and if I see anything there not from Barnes and Noble *zap* automatically as spam. Plus no one is getting into my personal email or having to have that password just to check that a purchase, gift card or coupon went thru correctly or to setup a newly purchased device.