LibraryThing / PBS integration

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LibraryThing / PBS integration

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1timspalding
syyskuu 5, 2006, 4:33 pm

Check out http://www.librarything.com/blog/2006/09/arrr-swap-books.php .

Who thinks that PBS should integrate, like BookMooch and WhatsOnMyBookshelf? Why should they have all the fun?

If you agree, raise the issue with them. Or think of a way I can tie into them without their help.

2DeusExLibris
marraskuu 7, 2006, 2:22 am

This makes perfect sense to me. After all, it really complements PBS quite well.

3k00kaburra
marraskuu 8, 2006, 2:34 am

PBS seems dead-set against it, though. I know several people sent them messages about them - I was one of them - but they absolutely refuse to entertain the idea.

4DeusExLibris
marraskuu 8, 2006, 3:35 am

It sure makes a lot more sense than using that crappy rip-off they created.

5timspalding
Muokkaaja: marraskuu 8, 2006, 3:18 pm

Yes, I've given up on them. They wanted exclusivity, or they wouldn't play ball. The danger of them making that thing was something we thought about, but I decided that they'd be fools to try. It's very hard to do two things well, and swapping is its own thing. That's why we decided to integrate, not build. What they made is, at best, a gateway drugs to LibraryThing.

Notably, we decided to go open BEFORE Bookmooch arrived. I just *felt* that someone would make an open version and get some traction—that closed systems arent' good for anyone. I was sorely tempted to do it myself, but decided that LibraryThing would lose focus. And then John Buckman did it, and now I see the whole category heating up, with others climbing too. (Kudos to John and the rest.)

I conceived of the current plan as a way to force the situation—to force openness. It's worked on amost everyone. I have two more about to integrate, which will leave PBS virtually alone.

6DeusExLibris
marraskuu 8, 2006, 3:19 pm

I hope PBS decides to get wise and integrate soon. They are, in my opinion, the best swap site besides bookmooch currently on the net.

7timspalding
marraskuu 8, 2006, 3:27 pm

I won't pick favorites on service—I haven't used them all. I'll only pick favorites as far as kicking people in the pants. Bookmooch injected some real energy into the field, and I see it doing good to all concerned.

What works or is good about PBS? I don't want to be negative. Educate me?

8k00kaburra
marraskuu 11, 2006, 10:52 pm

PBS has a good layout; I find the site easier to navigate than BookMooch. I generally have an easier time finding a specific title on PBS, although BookMooch is also improving in that direction.

The biggest advantage PBS has had in the past is that they're so large; it's easier for me to get a book requested there and it's often better for finding obscure books.

But the advantages of that site have definitely shrunk as Bookmooch has come into its own...

9shawna
marraskuu 13, 2006, 5:05 am

I like them both for different things... I've emailed PBS, too, and they've ignored it. I even posted in the forum--- which at least they didn't ban me for, but they ignored me... and everyone was pretty much afraid to comment on their forum, but I did get some private messages.

This last couple weeks, though, PBS is slow... almost no requests coming through. But then, I'm on four sites... and ALL of them seem slow right now.

10timspalding
marraskuu 13, 2006, 8:48 am

I'm surprised they're slow; traffic seems steady or down (see Alexa). That's an interesting chart for a number of reasons. The fact that the two main sites are tied, with neither pulling away, suggests to me that they have different customers, or that competition per se isn't much of an issue—it's all about new customers. Anyway, it looks like Bookins has recovered somewhat too.

Note that Alexa graphs are somewhere between an educated guess and a lie, but they're fun to look at.

11k00kaburra
marraskuu 13, 2006, 10:30 am

Oh, I thought of something else I like at PBS. They keep track of the order of who requested a book so that when it pops up in the system they 'hold' it for 48 hours to give you a chance to grab it before offering it to the next person in line or everyone using the site. BookMooch is pretty much a free-for-all, which can be handy at times but frustrating if you're constantly missing the chance to get your books. I don't know how other sites handle that since those are the only two I use.

The Alexa graphs are neat!

12timspalding
marraskuu 13, 2006, 10:56 am

That *is* a good feature.

13marcinyc
marraskuu 14, 2006, 6:37 am

Tim -

I think you're right about the 'different customers'... In my experience, the books that go on BookMooch are the ones that languish on PBS and vice versa. Of course, as the BookMooch membership grows, that might change, but for now, it seems to me that each site attracts a different type of reader.

I replied to Shawna's thread on PBS - I don't really care what they do, it's no skin off my back. :) However, there's things I like about each site - as well as a few dislikes. The most annoying thing about PBS is that colour scheme. It drives me bonkers!! But on a posititve not it's not orange and purple!

14raisincain
marraskuu 24, 2006, 12:57 pm

I think the main thing keeping PBS from integrating is that they have their own version of LibraryThing that they want users to use: Book Journal. But it's not even close to LibraryThing, so no one uses it. I think if PBS integrated with Library Thing the memberships would explode because it's really the best of the ones I've used.