As a teenager, I didn’t read for fun as much as I did when I was a kid. It wasn’t on my list of things to do. When I started working at the library back in 2009, however, I began reading again. Like, a lot. I’d write down the title I’d just read and also write down the books I wanted to read next. Writing it all down became tedious because I’d run out of space on the page, and I would want to rewrite the list so my handwriting would look nicer. Needless to say, I’d get annoyed. So, I decided to take a look online and see if there was an alternative to my “old school” approach.

That’s when I found Goodreads. Goodreads is a free site that allows you to keep track of your reading list, review the books you have read, and find recommendations that fit to your taste. You can also find like-minded readers who share your love of dragons to point you to a series you’ve never heard of before, follow authors who also use Goodreads to promote their books, and talk to their fans. It’s an amazing community of people who love books and reading just like you. If you use the Goodreads bookshelves, you can keep track of your books in multiple ways.

When you’ve finished a book, or found one you want to read, you can put it on a virtual bookshelf. This is what helps you keep track of your ever-growing pile of read books and books you want to read but can’t just yet. You can also create bookshelves to sort the books you didn’t finish, one-sit reads, or by genre. If you feel that creating a free account in Goodreads sounds right for you, please join the Thorntown Public Library’s group page as well. See what some of the staff are currently reading and recommend, join the annual reading challenge (don’t worry, it will be available at the library, too), and post on our discussion boards. To get started, go to www.goodreads.com. Call the library if you have any questions. Happy reading!

Britta D, Avid Reader