# 11 Library Thing

My Library Thing Catalog

I have always thought that Library Thing is a neat resource for some bookworms and very organized people. But it's not for me.

Three reasons why:

#1 My job is cataloging! Cataloging on my own time sounds insane, I'd rather be on my bicycle. I don't organize my books. *If* I arranged my books they would fall on the shelf based on frequency of use. The books used often within easy reach and the ones I need to remove from my collection would be on a unreachable shelf. This type of arrangement for a small collection does not need a catalog.

#2 I'm not a packrat, book collector, or even (gasp) a book lover. I love the information, not the means of storing the knowledge. Creating a catalog on a social networking site might place a bit of peer pressure on me not to weed my small collection. I hate clutter in my home, and I believe that unused books have a negative impact on the quality of life.


#3 I find "popularity" reviews, suggestion features (and the unsuggestion feature) on websites useless. I have never chosen to read a book based on a comment left on the internet by an anonymous person. If you look on Library Thing you will see reviews that consist of two or three word value judgments. There is just too much junk to sort, I only have time to stick to quality review sources.