Public Library Asssociation / 3 million tags
Three million tags. After getting the smack-down for daring to suggest (even in fun) that LibraryThing, with two million books, was now the 182th-largest library in the United States, I hesitate to proclaim that LibraryThing has more tags than any library in the world!
PLA. I managed to sneak down to Boston to catch the end of the Public Library Association's 2006 conference. (A tip of the hat to my "connection," who saw that I didn't pay the full rate for what amounted to 1 1/2 hours of attendance and a Diet Pepsi.) Although I stupidly left my beautiful bookmark business cards at home, I managed to mention LibraryThing to a bunch of people. Nine in ten had never heard of it, but one in ten's eyes lit up and they got effusive—a great sign, I think. I gave a well-received product demo to a library OPAC supplier. And I picked up information on getting some real-live LibraryThing library cards, which would be fun, if totally useless, I think. Were any other Thingamabrarians there?
Super-librarian Nancy Pearl talked at the PLA, but on Wednesday, so she dodged an abject plea for a NPR story on LibraryThing. Fortunately, I have the life-like Librarian Action Figure ("With Amazing Push-Button Shushing Action!"*), modeled directly after Ms. Pearl.
Nancy, if you're reading this, does the word voodoo have any meaning for you?
*My wife got me her action figure under the false impression that it actually made shushing noises, or at least moved its "Shushing Action" under battery power, but it just sits there and you have to do both the shushing and the motion. Hey, what gives?
PLA. I managed to sneak down to Boston to catch the end of the Public Library Association's 2006 conference. (A tip of the hat to my "connection," who saw that I didn't pay the full rate for what amounted to 1 1/2 hours of attendance and a Diet Pepsi.) Although I stupidly left my beautiful bookmark business cards at home, I managed to mention LibraryThing to a bunch of people. Nine in ten had never heard of it, but one in ten's eyes lit up and they got effusive—a great sign, I think. I gave a well-received product demo to a library OPAC supplier. And I picked up information on getting some real-live LibraryThing library cards, which would be fun, if totally useless, I think. Were any other Thingamabrarians there?Super-librarian Nancy Pearl talked at the PLA, but on Wednesday, so she dodged an abject plea for a NPR story on LibraryThing. Fortunately, I have the life-like Librarian Action Figure ("With Amazing Push-Button Shushing Action!"*), modeled directly after Ms. Pearl.
Nancy, if you're reading this, does the word voodoo have any meaning for you?
*My wife got me her action figure under the false impression that it actually made shushing noises, or at least moved its "Shushing Action" under battery power, but it just sits there and you have to do both the shushing and the motion. Hey, what gives?
posted by Tim at 5:16 AM
4 Comments:
I told Nancy Pearl about LibraryThing too, when a group of us had dinner with her during her recent visit to Tucson. She was non-committal. Perhaps if enough of us mention it when we meet her.... (I am NOT suggesting an e-mail campaign -- I want her next book as soon as possible!)
I was one of the 11,000+ public librarians at PLA. Great conference with lots of good new ideas and reinforcement for those ideas that have been languishing since the last conference I attended. Taking stock, away from the job, is always helpful for me.
Found no one who knew about LibraryThing, but I spread the good word.
I tell all of my library colleagues about LibraryThing every chance I get, but for some reason the usual reaction is lukewarm, at best. Actually, when I first heard about LT, I was skeptical, too. I just didn't understand what it's all about. It wasn't until I started actually using the site that my interest ramped-up. One of the things that keeps me excited is seeing all the changes and improvements that Tim is constantly implementing. I, for one, will continue to proselytize.
Thank d_rholambda, that's good feedback.
I've also noticed that. One of the most persistent blog patterns about LibraryThing goes along the lines of "People have been raving about LibraryThing, but I didn't get it. But today I visited and I'm hooked."
Suggestions on how LibraryThing could "position" itself better would be appreciated.
I'd like to add quick overview tour, like Last.fm has.
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