Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Evaluating Websites

Thanks for the interesting article on Evaluating Websites in the module 6. I have also referred students to the Research Tools guide on our NSL database Student Resource Centre. It covers areas like Encyclopedias, Books, Magazines Newspapers and sites on the World Wide Web. I can remembering studying about this in one of my papers as we were evaluating a variety of different resources.

Library thing- Provides assistance with a help key. Has a pleasant page layout, with visual attraction and factual information. It also has links to book sellers like Amazon and Google books. Provides links to others who may read similar titles and provides the facility to customise your search to your individual needs.

Shelfari- Shelfari introduces readers to our global community of book lovers. It is a gathering place for authors, aspiring authors, publishers, and readers. Covers a wide range of genre.It is user friendly, has a 'help' icon to provide assistance. Shelfari is connected to Amazon, therefore is current and accurant with titles providing some factual information and some subjective notes contributed by members and discussion groups on Shelfari.

Good reads - Has a facility similar to Library Thing where members can create their own bookshelf, view books of their chosen genre and submit their thoughts on a book via a book review. Members can access author information, interviews, actually pretty much anything to do with a books, writing and their authors. It's purpose is to connect book lovers with books via discusion and referrals by others who have contributed their book reviews. Some content is subjective, some factual data.

Anobii - Is 'committed to building great tools that let like-minded people connect with each other and strike meaningful conversations'. It is a private company. It allows members to build bookshelves to keep track of read items, search for books, blog about books in a book related environment. All good book related stuff. Information is factual and subjective accessable when the member logs in.

Bookarmy - Bookarmy is a social networking website for every sort of reader. Whether you’re a bookaholic or someone who picks up a book only once a year while relaxing on holiday, bookarmy is the place to discuss and review books, build reading lists, get the best book recommendations, and where you and your friends, family or classmates can read books together.
Book lovers can access titles, read books online, view videos, read about authors,Chat with other members about a book. This site is managed by five professionals who have a passion for books and a desire to provide an easy and reliable way for people to talk to other readers and decide what to read next.

These all seem to have the social networking facility that help connect readers with books. I refer libary users seeking the 'next read' to these sites