LibraryThing vs Storygraph

2018. LibraryThing gets Alexa skill


Online book catalog service LibraryThing now offers a Skill for Amazon Echo, Dot and other Alexa devices. The LibraryThing Alexa Skill is an unusual but straightforward way to add books to your LibraryThing account. Simply stand in the foyer with a stack of new books or on top of a creaky bookshelf ladder in the attic and say: Alexa, tell LibraryThing to add [Book Title] by [Author]. Alexa will attempt to add the book. If it doesn't succeed, for better results, skip the title and author and just read the barcode or ISBN number from the back of your book: Alexa, tell LibraryThing to add [Barcode or ISBN Number]. There are also a few other commands like: Alexa, ask LibraryThing how many books I have. At least you can impress your friends with your smart personal assistant and your extensive library.


2017. LibraryThing gets own Android app



LibraryThing, the online service for managing personal libraries, has launched an app for Android. It replicates the iPhone/iOS app. You can explore and search your library overall and by collection, add books, CDs and DVDs by scanning barcodes (barcode scanning is EXTREMELY FAST), add items by searching by title, author, ISBN, etc., browse and upload covers using your Android’s camera and perform minor editing, such as adding books to collections and rating them (major editing is done via a link to LibraryThing.com). It’s designed for a phone but will also function on your Android tablet. Additionally, LibraryThing is offering lifetime memberships to anyone who uses the app.


2016. LibraryThing allows to export your home library to excel



Online library management tool LibraryThing is introducing a “true” Excel export feature for your book catalog (after years of CSV and TSV exports). It’s a basic, straightforward implementation. The developers made the headings bold, adjusted some column widths and designated some columns as text and others as numbers, but otherwise kept the data unchanged. They have tested it, but with so many versions of Excel available, they would welcome feedback from users as well.


2015. LibraryThing released iOS mobile app



Online service for book collection management LibraryThing has launched an official iPhone app. This initial version is limited to performing the basic tasks necessary for cataloging. You can browse and search your library, add books by scanning barcodes, search for books, browse and upload covers using the iPhone camera and make minor edits such as changing collections and ratings. LibraryThing is offering free lifetime memberships to anyone who uses the app within the next month. You need to create a new account using the LibraryThing app.


2015. LibraryThing unveiles an online tool for small libraries



LibraryThing, the online personal library organizer, has introduced TinyCat—a robust, user-friendly online catalog for smaller libraries (fewer than 20,000 titles). These smaller libraries—such as churches, synagogues, small schools, community centers and academic departments—have been utilizing LibraryThing to organize their collections for nearly a decade. This tradition continues with TinyCat. TinyCat provides a refreshed way to view the catalog, offering a cleaner interface focused on helping patrons find and explore books in your library. LibraryThing developers recently added numerous new features, many of which were crucial for making TinyCat possible (including Barcode Support, Circulation, Advanced Search and now the new MARC Import feature). TinyCat incorporates the best and most useful enhancements LibraryThing can provide—more than nearly any “big-library” catalog offers.


2014. LibraryThing for Libraries advises what to read next



Library users will find it easier than ever to discover what to read next as LibraryThing for Libraries broadens its Book Recommendations feature to include a wider array of “if you enjoyed this, try that” suggestions. The new, free and automatic upgrade for existing subscribers to LibraryThing for Libraries’ Catalog Enhancement Package will showcase book recommendations by the same author, similar authors, genres and more, all based on the library’s current collection. The upgrade improves LibraryThing for Libraries’ distinctive tag-based discovery and links to other book editions and translations, offering more ways for users to find books they will enjoy. Insights from readers, librarians and professionals—through ProQuest’s Syndetic Solutions and Books In Print—are combined to generate the recommendations in LibraryThing for Libraries, creating an unusually rich and balanced service.


2013. LibraryThing offers free accounts



Following Amazon’s acquisition of Goodreads, online book organizer LibraryThing (which typically charges users for a subscription to manage more than 200 books) decided to offer some complimentary memberships and enhance customer retention. The service is giving away free annual accounts to everyone who registers before the end of Sunday. After a year, your books will remain accessible, but you'll need to purchase a subscription—pay-what-you-want—to add more than 200 books. LibraryThing is an online service designed to help users catalog their books easily. You can access your catalog from anywhere—even on your mobile phone. Since everyone catalogs collectively, LibraryThing also connects users with similar books and provides recommendations for what to read next, among other features.


2009. LibraryThing faces Amazon incursion



Amazon is instructing online book management software LibraryThing to remove links to other booksellers (such as IndieBound and Barnes and Noble...) from book pages and to ensure that the primary link directs solely to Amazon. Links to other booksellers are now prohibited. The team at LibraryThing opposes this decision. LibraryThing is a social cataloging and networking site for book enthusiasts, not just for Amazon users. In response, LibraryThing is developing a new “Get it Now” page, which will include links to other booksellers, especially local bookstores and libraries, along with a range of new features. This new page will focus on Amazon for primary links while providing enhanced secondary pages. It will be edition-aware and utilize feeds or live data (to ensure functional links). Many members have requested live pricing data for the books they already own and these new features will address that need as well.