Goodreads

= Goodreads = toc



Goodreads uses a Netflix style recommendation engine to generate reading recommendations its users. It also includes a social networking components so that users can connect with readers with similar tastes or for book discussion (Goodreads, 2011a).

User Input

 * 1) Users choose their preferred genres
 * 2) They rate books they've read in the past
 * 3) They mark books that they would like to read

Goodreads Tools:
Bookshelves - Goodreads generates "bookshelves" based on your input. Auto-generated shelves are "Read", "currently-reading" and "to-read". Users can also make custom shelves. This helps avid readers keep track of what they've read.



Recommendations
Recommendations are made based on your ratings within genres and based on the books on your bookshelves. Just like Netflix, the more you recommend, the more personal the recommendations.

Widgets
Goodreads provides a number of widgets that users can embed into other web apps, blogs, and accounts.

Here is an example of a widget that profiles my account activity:

Bookswap
Users can choose to swap books that they own with other users and get books that they may want to read from others. The books don't come back - they continue on to the next person who may like to read it.

Goodreads and Libraries
Goodreads allows for libraries to create virtual bookshelves of their collections in order to create an interactive way for users to browse the collection. Libraries can also participate in the book swap with items they may be withdrawing from their collection. Goodreads also has a librarian group that helps with quality assurance and suggestions for the future directions of the site (Goodreads Inc, 2011b).

**References**
Goodreads Inc. (2011a). Homepage. Retrieved from @http://www.goodreads.com/

Goodreads Inc. (2011b). About us. Retrieved from @http://www.goodreads.com/about/us