K12 learning 2.0:  Tools for 21st Century Teaching & Learning

THING “Sixteen” (Session Seven)

TASK:  Discovery Exercise - The LibraryThing Experience . . . 

Wow, this is my first visit to LibraryThing. Can you imagine having over 35 million books on your bookshelf? Honestly, I am not sure that there is a physical library anywhere in the world that could accomodate this many organized books available for the general public. LibraryThing’s community of over 600,000 book lovers in over 30 languages seems to be growing even larger. Nearly 700 world libraries are at your fingertips from anywhere in the world. 

Well, first, let me say, the tour is very direct and gives a very good review of the features available. There is an enormous amount of positive reviews surrounding this tool. There are many on the site itself under the “Buzz” tab. I must agree that it is an excellent resource. The website is well designed and easy to read. There are excellent book reviews and ratings from users all over the world.

Using LibraryThing for personal learning and growth is an excellent way to join a group of like-minded individuals sharing a love for reading. Book talks are great and the author chats are wonderful, especially, if you are one of the lucky ones to actually get to interact with your favorite author. One of the most interesting features is the “early reviewers.” If you are a member of this group, you have an opportunity to review books that are newly released and get “freebies” from the publisher. Participating at the site can be personally rewarding in many ways, including a large book selection, interaction with other book readers, book clubs and the reviews of others.

In the classroom, student’s have online access to book reading groups where they can discuss their book and see how others review the content. The additional insights could assist students in various classroom projects.

Additional Online Resources:

25 Places To Read Free Books Online - 25 Excellent Online Libraries . . . (I am really surprised that LibraryThing wasn’t included in this list.)

The Library Spot - a free virtual library resource center for educators and students, librarians and their patrons, families, businesses and just about anyone exploring the Web for valuable research information.