Social networks for book lovers!

This is really great news for bibliophiles like me AND for teachers who struggle to find ways to help reading secure a place in our students' digital-soaked lives.

Earlier this week, Vince Darcangelo of the Boulder Daily Camera reported on new social networking sites that revolve around what you're reading, what's on your bookshelf, the books you're obsessed with, the books you detest, the one you're writing...all things literary!

The idea is that the sites take the act of reading, which is usually a solo endeavor based on personal taste, and transform it into something to be shared and discussed online. For those who don't have the time/money/interest/whatever to be part of an in-person book discussion group, these sites let readers react to literature with an online community of friends that they connect with based on literary interests. There are thematic discussion communities within the networks or participants can choose to operate on their own and maintain their virtual library, write reviews, and meet new people.

I can see a lot of ways that the digital nature of these literacy-themed sites can link the modern interests of our students with the timeless act of reading and responding to literature. Members are constantly interacting with books, whether it's cataloging their own, reviewing their latest read, or commenting on the collections of others. These sites encourage participants to think about what they have read and form relationships with others based on books. The focus of sites like this is a little different from Facebook Book Groups and I think it would be a great exercise to conduct portions of Lit classes online using these resources. Kids can see what others their age are reading, form discussion groups to help interpret more challenging assignments, and maybe--just maybe--get turned on to more books and diversify their reading interests.

Check them out for yourself:

GoodReads
Shelfari (now operated by amazon.com)
LibraryThing

If you have any ideas for how to incorporate a bibliophile networking site in your literacy efforts, please post them below by clicking "Your Turn."

Read the full Daily Camera article here.