Tuesday Thingers: LibraryThing Blog Widgets
by Belle on November 25, 2008
Tuesday Thingers
I learned something new with today’s Tuesday Thingers:
LibraryThing has blog widgets! I went in and played around with all of the variations, and decided that I liked the book cover mosaic the best. I’ve set it to recent books, which means I will have to get used to entering my books into LibraryThing more regularly than I’ve been doing.
Here is today’s Tuesday Thingers question:
Blog Widgets. Do you use them? Do you have them on your blog? Do you know what I’m talking about? 
A blog widget is that list of books “From my LibraryThing” and such, that you’ll sometimes see on someone’s sidebar. If you use it, do all of your books show up or do you have it set to only show certain books? Do you have a search widget, which would allow your blog readers to search your library? Have you ever made a photomosaic of your book covers? You can find widgets and photomosaic information on the “Tools” tab in LibraryThing.
I wasn’t using a blog widget, but I am now! I’ve added it to my middle sidebar, down below. I have it set to show recent books, and I’ve chosen 12 covers. I don’t have the search widget up, though.
I’m curious about something, though. Do people enter only books they actually own into LibraryThing, or do you use it to keep track of all the books you’ve read or that you have on hand in your TBR pile? I’ve been using it to track all the books I own plus all the books I’ve read, including ones that I’ve later given away or swapped or returned to the library.
Related posts:
- Tuesday Thingers – Most Popular Book
- Tuesday Thingers: Popular book list
Tagged as:
reading fun,
Tuesday Thingers
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I think different people use LT different ways. I think using it for books you’ve read is a good idea.
I use my LT to show books I’ve read and own. I try not to keep too many books, but still like to have a record of what I’ve read.
In general I only use it to show books that I own, but sometimes there is a book that I don’t own and want to review, so I add it to my library so that I can review it. Also, I haven’t updated very well when I have donated or swapped books, so I may not own some there.
I like widgets, but other than the LT one I’ve got, and the few that I’m using for basics on my sidebar (Blogger’s cut/paste widgets), I’m still learning!
Here’s my Thinger!
I use LT to catalogue the books I actually own. I’ve been using Shelfari to keep track of the books I’ve read and intend to read, whether or not they’re in my physical library. I like the way the books are displayed on shelves, although the covers don’t always match my actual editions. I’ve also got a GoodReads account, but I don’t use it much. Overall, I really prefer LibraryThing to the other two, although I haven’t made much use of their widget features.
Different people use LT in different ways. I know of several who use it to keep track of the books they have read. I use mine as an actual representation of my physical library.
The great thing about LT is that your library can be as unique as you are. I use LT primarily to catalog books that I personally own. However, if I’ve written a review of something that I no longer own (or borrowed, thus never owned in the first place), that title will be in my library.
I use my Amazon wish list A LOT for books that I want to read (which is why my relatives freak out at this time of year when they see that I have 200+ items on my wish list).
I have a paper journal where I record all the books that I’ve read. There’s a nice satisfaction when I finish a book and can add it to the list.
Thanks for giving me an idea of all the various uses for LibraryThing, everyone! I think I will continue using it to hold all books I own and all books I’ve read, too. I also really like the idea of the paper journal – there’s something just so lovely about that!