Tagging: LibraryThing and Amazon
I just posted a very long examination of tagging on Amazon and LibraryThing, and what it means over on LibraryThing's "ideas" blog, Thingology. I'm hoping it gets noticed. Although quite imperfect, I think it's the first time the failings of "commercial" tagging have been brought to light, and their implications thought through.
posted by Tim at 3:22 PM
14 Comments:
You guys should broker a licensing deal with Amazon for them to use your tags. :)
I think the deal has been made: all the tags for three cups of coffee. :)
Writing isn't like taking a shit in the woods; you can't count on the flies showing up on their own. If you want to get noticed you've got to get out there.
Um, thanks for the advice.
I presume you're objecting to "I'm hoping it gets noticed." Actually, I did send it to a few opinion-makers I know. But, in general, things spread on the internet because they're interesting, not because someone "gets out there" and promotes it. That's how I feel anyway.
An interesting post, Tim, loads of food for thought. I'm a huge fan of tagging on Library - it really helps me find things within my library, and helps with my research project too, because I can so easily turn to books with relevant information. But I'm not sure how I'd feel about tagging on Amazon - I can't see how it would help me and I don't have any particular motivation to help Amazon (perhaps if they paid me?).
The idea of LibraryThing selling its tag data to Amazon makes me slightly uneasy, but I'm not really sure why. The idea of selling it for three cups of coffee is just madness!
Well, be assured we'd also demand creamer.
I know what you mean about "uneasy." LibaryThing data will be showing up on commercial sites soon, but we have a strict policy (in the TOS) of not giving away any personalized infomation without explicit permission, but just depersonalized and mostly statistical. So, nobody gets user names and obviously not whatever real names we have.
Ah well, creamer as well, that's ok then.
Having thought a little more I think I know why the idea of selling LT tag data makes me uneasy. It has to do with standards. I stick lots of info my my tags - most of which are meaningless to anyone else but me. For instance, almost all the computer books in my library will be tagged 'Rod's' because they make up the piffling collection of books amassed by my husband rather than me. Also, I have a lot of books tagged 'India' for instance. They may not really be about India - indeed may only have a passing reference - but because it's that reference I'm interested in, the tag goes on. I can't see commercial sites really welcoming those sorts of tags but they are very valuable to me. But at the same time, I'd hate to think I was undermining LT's data integrity - and therefore its commercial value to LT, by using non-standard or very personal tags.
When a reader goes to a commerical bookstore they browse quickly and buy quicker.
When a reader goes to a public library they browse and read right in the building. Then the Librarian says---"We are closing in 15 minutes, please check out your materials"
Of course Amazon has less tags. It is a commercial online bookstore.
LibraryThing is a virtual public library that gives the reader more reasons to use many tags.
I am not sure that a massive bundle of tags from LibraryThing's data banks would equate to a logical algorithim for measuring social book tagging trends after merging with Amazons data banks.
This is just my own axiom of course
I'm in a Technical Services/Metadata class right now, and my professor used your comparison in class to show the use of metadata (in the form of tags, of course). Great fun to see LibraryThing show up in class! :D
whats your take with amazon and shelari?
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/25/amazon-invests-in-shelfari/
I know this is a little out there, but...
Somehow offer to trade LT tags for unconditional use of Amazon's cover images.
Unlikely, I know.
That's not a bad idea.
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