OCLC and Goodreads, the world's largest site for readers and book recommendations, have teamed up to provide greater visibility for public libraries. We've been working together since 2007, as Goodreads has referred more than 5 million Web users to WorldCat.org. But we both thought we could do more.
Goodreads has pledged to help libraries receive greater visibility with their more than 20 million site members. How? Now libraries can create their own "Group" pages, and a library group page will be listed first in a reader's group listings. In the future, they'll also highlight libraries that are geographically close to a reader's IP range, encouraging them to find their next read at their local library.
Since Goodreads already provides the "libraries" link to WorldCat.org, you've been receiving traffic from Goodreads all along. This new enhancement lets you create more of a direct connection with this voracious reading community, who may or may not be currently using your library. You'll expand your patron base, without having to expend many resources.
Goodreads site members can affiliate with you—their local library—and find their next great read. Plus they're also likely to find other passionate readers in your area and be able to connect with them through social media. Made possible by your library.
Just a few simple steps help get your library going on Goodreads:
Recorded October 30, 2013 Goodreads' Patrick Brown discussed the evolution of the website and how libraries can take advantage of its incredible reach with more than 20 million very engaged readers and members. Topics included the 2013 Goodreads Choice Awards, Goodreads integration into Kindle, and more.
Recorded November 15th, 2012 This one-hour Webinar shows you the new functionality available on Goodreads for libraries. Goodreads and OCLC staff walk you through what’s possible with library group pages and take attendees' questions.
This new expansion of OCLC's partnership with Goodreads promises to bring additional visibility to libraries on the Web, and to encourage an already well-established community of readers to support their library. Read the announcement »
Goodreads is the largest site for readers and book recommendations in the world. Loved by avid and casual readers alike, Goodreads has more than 20 million members who have added more than 665 million books to their shelves. Goodreads users can find their next favorite book, see what their friends are reading, keep track of what want to read and have read, form book clubs and much more. Launched in January 2007, Goodreads is a privately owned company.
The cooperative has been working many years now towards a strategy to help libraries be visible where users already are, at the webscale level, through partnerships with key information providers such as Google, Yahoo!, Amazon, Microsoft, EasyBib and more. It seeks to put WorldCat data where users already are and where libraries want to be. It's innovation made possible through the APIs and integration environment available through the OCLC WorldShare Platform.