Comments on: Shelfari Hopes to Bring Authors and Readers Together Over Wikis http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:26:08 -0800 hourly 1 By: Brad’s Reader » Blog Archive » Friday Link Love 4/25 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2753026 Brad’s Reader » Blog Archive » Friday Link Love 4/25 Sun, 17 May 2009 22:31:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2753026 [...] Shelfari hopes to bring authors and readers together over wikisA review of a website that helps bridge the gap between authors and readers - letting the two interact as they have never done before. [...] [...] Shelfari hopes to bring authors and readers together over wikisA review of a website that helps bridge the gap between authors and readers – letting the two interact as they have never done before. [...]

]]> By: Otis http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2213388 Otis Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:49:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2213388 Similarly - Goodreads, which I created, has had fully editable author and book pages since launch in 2006. Members love pitching in and helping create a great catalogue - we have over 8,000 members contributing nearly 2,000 edits a day. Our author initiative is going very well too - we have <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/on_goodreads?sort=popularity" rel="nofollow">over 2,000 authors on Goodreads</a> editing their own profiles, and interacting with fans. I agree if you are going to talk about book wiki's OpenLibrary should be mentioned. Similarly – Goodreads, which I created, has had fully editable author and book pages since launch in 2006. Members love pitching in and helping create a great catalogue – we have over 8,000 members contributing nearly 2,000 edits a day. Our author initiative is going very well too – we have over 2,000 authors on Goodreads editing their own profiles, and interacting with fans.

I agree if you are going to talk about book wiki’s OpenLibrary should be mentioned.

]]> By: Shelfari Hopes to Bring Authors and Readers Together Over Wikis http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2213037 Shelfari Hopes to Bring Authors and Readers Together Over Wikis Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:35:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2213037 [...] Tech Crunch Shelfari, the Amazon-backed community networked around books, has introduced editable author profiles in hopes that it can become a destination for not only biographical information but interactions between authors and their fans as well. [...] [...] Tech Crunch Shelfari, the Amazon-backed community networked around books, has introduced editable author profiles in hopes that it can become a destination for not only biographical information but interactions between authors and their fans as well. [...]

]]> By: Tim Sppalding http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2212928 Tim Sppalding Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:16:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2212928 As noted above, LibraryThing, which I created, added a fielded wiki for author and work-level information back in October 2007. It's been a huge success. For example, our series coverage is now more robust than that of book- and library- industry data providers. And we have author chats, as does Goodreads. I regret you didn't dig into the issue of licensing. Will Shelfari's wiki have a copyleft license? It's similarly unfortunate that you haven't covered the Internet Archive's OpenLibrary initiative, a fielded wiki of extraordinary ambition, and also copyleft. As noted above, LibraryThing, which I created, added a fielded wiki for author and work-level information back in October 2007. It’s been a huge success. For example, our series coverage is now more robust than that of book- and library- industry data providers. And we have author chats, as does Goodreads.

I regret you didn’t dig into the issue of licensing. Will Shelfari’s wiki have a copyleft license? It’s similarly unfortunate that you haven’t covered the Internet Archive’s OpenLibrary initiative, a fielded wiki of extraordinary ambition, and also copyleft.

]]> By: Andy http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2212832 Andy Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:00:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2212832 Just so you will be aware, in case you aren't already, Delicious-Monster isn't really a competitor in this space, since it is a desktop application designed to maintain your own personal collections as well as allowing an easy way to setup borrowers. Shelfari, Goodreads, and LibraryThing are all online application space. Just so you will be aware, in case you aren’t already, Delicious-Monster isn’t really a competitor in this space, since it is a desktop application designed to maintain your own personal collections as well as allowing an easy way to setup borrowers.

Shelfari, Goodreads, and LibraryThing are all online application space.

]]> By: Shelfari Hopes to Bring Authors and Readers Together Over Wikis | Code4DotNet http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2210522 Shelfari Hopes to Bring Authors and Readers Together Over Wikis | Code4DotNet Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:43:05 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2210522 [...] Read on TechCrunch [...] [...] Read on TechCrunch [...]

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2210290 Jeremy Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:00:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2210290 There's also booktagger.com, they've just released an OpenSocial application. There’s also booktagger.com, they’ve just released an OpenSocial application.

]]> By: Richard http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2209857 Richard Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:48:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2209857 For the sake of some *actual* reporting, you could have mentioned that LibraryThing is not only a competitor "in this space" but has implemented first just about anything Shelfari has ever added to their service. This specific "new" Shelfari feature is blown to pieces by the LibraryThing authors feature, which includes but is not limited to such things an editable bio page (wiki if you will), author libraries and even authors chat, where LT members can chat directly with various authors. And even though this may look like it, I'm not affiliated with LT at all. I simply can't stand seeing a half-baked, spammy product like Shelfari getting press for the innovations of others. (in case "spammy" sounds too harsh, here's why: http://www.librarything.com/thingology/2007/11/shelfari-spam-basically-social.php ) For the sake of some *actual* reporting, you could have mentioned that LibraryThing is not only a competitor “in this space” but has implemented first just about anything Shelfari has ever added to their service.

This specific “new” Shelfari feature is blown to pieces by the LibraryThing authors feature, which includes but is not limited to such things an editable bio page (wiki if you will), author libraries and even authors chat, where LT members can chat directly with various authors.

And even though this may look like it, I’m not affiliated with LT at all. I simply can’t stand seeing a half-baked, spammy product like Shelfari getting press for the innovations of others.

(in case “spammy” sounds too harsh, here’s why: http://www.libr...ally-social.php )

]]> By: Rajesh http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2209737 Rajesh Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:30:04 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2209737 Also checkout http://www.bookjetty.com. A Singapore based website, integrates with more than 300 libraries worldwide. The founder is also featured in here http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/nov2007/gb20071116_128012.htm?chan=globalbiz_asia+index+page_top+stories Also checkout http://www.bookjetty.com. A Singapore based website, integrates with more than 300 libraries worldwide. The founder is also featured in here http://www.busi...age_top+stories

]]> By: Tracy http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2209350 Tracy Tue, 22 Apr 2008 05:37:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2209350 Another web site doing this is JacketFlap, with a focus on the children's and young adult segment of the book business. JacketFlap's IMDB-like books credits database has editable pages for more than 200,000 published authors and illustrators along with their published books and links to navigate to the pages of the other people and publishers related to them. More than 2,000 authors and illustrators have registered and updated their profile pages. It's the largest social networking site for published authors and illustrators. See this article on the site in Publishers Weekly: http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6531941.html?nid=2788 http:///www.jacketflap.com Another web site doing this is JacketFlap, with a focus on the children’s and young adult segment of the book business. JacketFlap’s IMDB-like books credits database has editable pages for more than 200,000 published authors and illustrators along with their published books and links to navigate to the pages of the other people and publishers related to them. More than 2,000 authors and illustrators have registered and updated their profile pages. It’s the largest social networking site for published authors and illustrators. See this article on the site in Publishers Weekly:
http://www.publ...1.html?nid=2788

http:///www.jacketflap.com

]]> By: Arun http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2209340 Arun Tue, 22 Apr 2008 05:32:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2209340 Shelfari is a jack-ass unethical spammer. Shelfari is a jack-ass unethical spammer.

]]> By: Luther http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2209320 Luther Tue, 22 Apr 2008 05:18:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2209320 I'm bookish so I signed up for Shelfari. One of those sites that you join, don't know what to do with, and visit one more time three years later because you entered it into your KeePass password manager and forgot what it was. Then you delete it from KeePass. I’m bookish so I signed up for Shelfari. One of those sites that you join, don’t know what to do with, and visit one more time three years later because you entered it into your KeePass password manager and forgot what it was. Then you delete it from KeePass.

]]> By: anonym http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2209280 anonym Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:48:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2209280 LOL. A wiki for authors? Did Shelfari look at LibraryThing then decided that it would be a good feature to implement, or did Shelfari look at LibraryThing then decided that it would be a good feature to implement? Shelfari is *very* behind the curve here. Its main competitor has had wikis for a long time now, and not just for author pages. As far as IMDB for books go, LibraryThing is the next best thing to OPAC and actual libraries for data integrity, and likely the best thing on the internet for user-contributed bibliographic data. Shelfari's approach is fundamentally wrong for 3 reasons: one you have already mentioned - why should authors care enough to do the 'back and forth' on a relatively obscure booksite? And if they do, why should commercial hagiographies be an attractive source of information? Second, already existing author-centric sites like Redroom already cater to -- and are far more geared towards -- authors' needs at present. Third, user-driven content is usually richer than content edited by a single author. Wisdom of crowds and all that. How is Shelfari going to 'entrench' authors in its wiki system without spamming authors in a massive PR drive? And if there is no PR drive, how is it any different from being a regular wiki, with user-driven content? I think this encapsulates what Shelfari is about more than anything else: its PR-based approach to everything. It is a fundamentally flawed substitute for having genuine ideas about books themselves. LOL. A wiki for authors? Did Shelfari look at LibraryThing then decided that it would be a good feature to implement, or did Shelfari look at LibraryThing then decided that it would be a good feature to implement?

Shelfari is *very* behind the curve here. Its main competitor has had wikis for a long time now, and not just for author pages. As far as IMDB for books go, LibraryThing is the next best thing to OPAC and actual libraries for data integrity, and likely the best thing on the internet for user-contributed bibliographic data.

Shelfari’s approach is fundamentally wrong for 3 reasons: one you have already mentioned – why should authors care enough to do the ‘back and forth’ on a relatively obscure booksite? And if they do, why should commercial hagiographies be an attractive source of information? Second, already existing author-centric sites like Redroom already cater to — and are far more geared towards — authors’ needs at present. Third, user-driven content is usually richer than content edited by a single author. Wisdom of crowds and all that. How is Shelfari going to ‘entrench’ authors in its wiki system without spamming authors in a massive PR drive? And if there is no PR drive, how is it any different from being a regular wiki, with user-driven content?

I think this encapsulates what Shelfari is about more than anything else: its PR-based approach to everything. It is a fundamentally flawed substitute for having genuine ideas about books themselves.

]]> By: David http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2209264 David Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:31:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2209264 Check out anobii.com, also a social bookshelf, they've got slightly more traffic than Shelfari and catching up with Librarything (according to Alexa). Check out anobii.com, also a social bookshelf, they’ve got slightly more traffic than Shelfari and catching up with Librarything (according to Alexa).

]]> By: Igor The Troll http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2209191 Igor The Troll Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:33:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2209191 Not a bad idea, but what is wrong with WordPress? If an author wants input from his or her readers, why not do it on a blog? Not a bad idea, but what is wrong with WordPress?

If an author wants input from his or her readers, why not do it on a blog?

]]> By: Jon http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2209189 Jon Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:30:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2209189 Hmmm... NO! I want "fans" to visit my website to generate additional revenues, not yet another "middle man" making money off my efforts. Jon http://woodmarvels.com - Create Unique Memories Hmmm… NO! I want “fans” to visit my website to generate additional revenues, not yet another “middle man” making money off my efforts.

Jon
http://woodmarvels.com – Create Unique Memories

]]> By: Chris http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2209118 Chris Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:37:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2209118 Oh, I just got it, this is shelfari, not safari. I never have time to read the actual article. BTW, if you guys at TC want a real office, you can share ours in LA. :) We'll just get a bigger one. Oh, I just got it, this is shelfari, not safari. I never have time to read the actual article. BTW, if you guys at TC want a real office, you can share ours in LA. :) We’ll just get a bigger one.

]]> By: RobJ25 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2209101 RobJ25 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:23:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2209101 Hm. The range of features that LibraryThing has been rolling out of the last few months makes this feel pretty slim. I've tried Shelfari, GoodReads, LibraryThing, Delicious Library, and a few others. LT feels like the only service to marry a commitment to accurate bibliographic information to an understanding of the implications of social data. Their most recent features -- the 'Common Knowledge' "fielded wiki", LibraryThing Local (bookstores, libraries, author events) -- are really stretching the boundaries in this direction. Wikis for author profiles feels a bit tepid by comparison. The only major reservation I have with LT is their infuriating inability to see that they are simply bleeding market share while the delay rolling out a wishlist function. But I'll take that in preference to the spam factory that is Shelfari. Hm. The range of features that LibraryThing has been rolling out of the last few months makes this feel pretty slim. I’ve tried Shelfari, GoodReads, LibraryThing, Delicious Library, and a few others. LT feels like the only service to marry a commitment to accurate bibliographic information to an understanding of the implications of social data. Their most recent features — the ‘Common Knowledge’ “fielded wiki”, LibraryThing Local (bookstores, libraries, author events) — are really stretching the boundaries in this direction. Wikis for author profiles feels a bit tepid by comparison.

The only major reservation I have with LT is their infuriating inability to see that they are simply bleeding market share while the delay rolling out a wishlist function. But I’ll take that in preference to the spam factory that is Shelfari.

]]> By: Chris http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2209099 Chris Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:22:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2209099 That's interesting. I was a subscriber to Safari last year. BTW, you guys at tech crunch have the worst home office I've seen. http://www.officesnapshots.com/category/techcrunch/ Wow that's cheap. Oh well. That’s interesting. I was a subscriber to Safari last year.

BTW, you guys at tech crunch have the worst home office I’ve seen.
http://www.offi...ory/techcrunch/

Wow that’s cheap. Oh well.

]]> By: TechCrunch Japanese アーカイブ » Shelfariが、Wikiで作家と読者を繋ぐ試み http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2209034 TechCrunch Japanese アーカイブ » Shelfariが、Wikiで作家と読者を繋ぐ試み Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:48:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2209034 [...] [原文へ] [...] [...] [原文へ] [...]

]]> By: Quasi http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2209021 Quasi Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:45:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2209021 Shelfari sounds like something I'd like to sit on, but I'm a cat. Hey, techheads, Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and this year, forget the flowers, can the candy, and buy your cat-loving Mom something she’ll REALLY appreciate… her own copy of my hilarious book, The World Is Your Litter Box! It’s classy, it’s unique… and at a mere $9.95 in the U.S. ($10.95 in Canada), it’s WAY less expensive than flowers or candy! If you pre-order the book now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or from one of the other on-line booksellers, they’ll ship it on its release date (May 6th) and it should arrive just in time to make this Mother’s Day a true delight! Shelfari sounds like something I’d like to sit on, but I’m a cat. Hey, techheads, Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and this year, forget the flowers, can the candy, and buy your cat-loving Mom something she’ll REALLY appreciate… her own copy of my hilarious book, The World Is Your Litter Box! It’s classy, it’s unique… and at a mere $9.95 in the U.S. ($10.95 in Canada), it’s WAY less expensive than flowers or candy! If you pre-order the book now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or from one of the other on-line booksellers, they’ll ship it on its release date (May 6th) and it should arrive just in time to make this Mother’s Day a true delight!

]]> By: dave http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2209019 dave Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:45:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2209019 i was just at a big library conference and listened to a wonderful and compelling presentation by a sr research scientist at oclc - the makers of worldcat - and i'm convinced that this site is just going to create yet another layer of bullshit and problems as users of the future go about trying to nail down the source item described within such contexts... it's a great site, great idea too, don't get me wrong - and people would way prefer a review and open dialogue to a generic catalog record, but not anchoring to a standard that already exists for the book industry is manufacturing problems, period. good luck to amazon and shelfari when the semantic web takes hold of these data conundrums, as i imagine they'll be dragged into the first real wave unwillingly... i was just at a big library conference and listened to a wonderful and compelling presentation by a sr research scientist at oclc – the makers of worldcat – and i’m convinced that this site is just going to create yet another layer of bullshit and problems as users of the future go about trying to nail down the source item described within such contexts…

it’s a great site, great idea too, don’t get me wrong – and people would way prefer a review and open dialogue to a generic catalog record, but not anchoring to a standard that already exists for the book industry is manufacturing problems, period. good luck to amazon and shelfari when the semantic web takes hold of these data conundrums, as i imagine they’ll be dragged into the first real wave unwillingly…

]]> By: ballmer http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2208994 ballmer Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:34:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2208994 I don't like this! To close to Safari .... I don’t like this! To close to Safari ….

]]> By: Hendra http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2208952 Hendra Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:15:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2208952 I've been on GoodRead for quite some time, i wonder how is this one compared to it. I’ve been on GoodRead for quite some time, i wonder how is this one compared to it.

]]> By: eBranchOffice.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-2208950 eBranchOffice.com Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:14:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/21/shelfari-hopes-to-bring-authors-and-readers-together-over-wikis/#comment-2208950 If it is backed by Amazon, will there be integration with the Amazon site and customer database? Tying Shelfari to Amazon is a must. It would be difficult to get enough users without access to the Amazon reader pool. If it is backed by Amazon, will there be integration with the Amazon site and customer database? Tying Shelfari to Amazon is a must. It would be difficult to get enough users without access to the Amazon reader pool.

]]>