Online Book Communities

Online book communities are advantageous communities for book lovers of all ages! Readers can share what they are reading by building virtual book shelves. They are able to rate, recommend, and keep track of books they've read. Readers can also keep track of what their friends are reading.

Goodreads

Goodreads is an Amazon company. It features a nice eye pleasing interface. It is well organized and easy to use. It has a five star rating system and also allows you to leave a written review. I really like the book shelf option of categorizing your books by read, currently reading, and will read.

Skitch Screenshot of Goodreads profile


LibraryThing

LibraryThing not only catalogs books but movies and music as well. It is very well organized but not very colorful (eye-catching). Recommendations are given based on what books you have on your shelves. Readers are able to write and read book reviews as well.

Skitch Screenshot of LibraryThing


Shelfari

This is my favorite online book community. It is similar to Goodreads. It is also owned by Amazon. It has the virtual bookshelves as it's main feature. The color book covers are displayed as well with popups that allow you to view the rating, review, and tags. The books can be organized in different shelves such as already read, currently reading, planning to read, wish list, currently owned, and favorites. Shelfari also features group creator which allows you to talk, play, or discuss your books.

Skitch Screenshot of Shelfari

Booklikes

Booklikes has an interface similar to Tumblr's. When you create an account on this online book community, you are actually creating a book blog. You can choose from a variety of free templates and you may purchase some as well. The bookshelves can be categorized as read, planning to read, currently reading, and wish list. You may also create a category of your own. I really like the Dashboard feed posted by Booklikes and updates from users or users you wish to follow.

Skitch Screenshot of Booklikes

Biblionasium

As a classroom teacher, I think this is great. Teachers can create a class group and see what their students are currently reading. Teachers can create a bookshelf of recommended or required readings. Students will create their own virtual bookshelves on what there are currently reading, read, plan to read, and wishlist. They may also view their classmates' bookshelves to see what there are currently reading and their book reviews. Hopefully students will get inspired to read what their friends are reading.

Skitch Screenshot of Biblionasium

Podcasts

Podcasting can be beneficial and fun in the library as well as in the classroom. Podcasting can be used to enrich lessons in various content areas, and promote the library. It is also a great tool for students that are to shy to get in front of a video recorder but still want their voice to be heard. Some podcasting tools I explored were Soundcloud, Audioboo, Podomatic, and Garageband. They are great tools and easy to use. Unfortunately, Garageband is not free but, totally worth the price of $4.99 through the Apple store. Having a podcasting channel for the school library would be awesome to review books, create book trailers, and to promote activities in the library. I used Audioboo in the classroom this week. I had my students, in partners, write a short script on weather and climate to review the concept. As soon as their script was completed, they recorded their dialogue. Check out the their recording below!

Videos and QR Codes in the Library

YouTube Videos:

YouTube videos are viewed practically by everyone. If you need a laugh..boom...funny videos. If you need to know how to fix a leaky faucet...boom...a tutorial. Well why not use it to promote your school library? Promoting the library brings awareness on the materials, resources, and programs it has to offer. Patrons feel "invited" and will want to come in and utilize the library to it's full potential. Also, creating on-line tutorials on how to use the on-line catalog or databases is essential and convenient. Videos are also a great idea to showcase all the great things that are going on in the library. I viewed several YouTube Channels for libraries and I will share two videos from each. I will first share the video that I think is most helpful for students and then I will share the one I think students would like the best.

Norman High School Library
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNHSLibrary/videos

Most helpful:


Students will like the best:


The Unquiet Library
https://www.youtube.com/user/theunquietlibrary/videos

Most helpful:

Students will like the best: (Has more views...maybe because it features a student)



Pikesville High School Library
https://www.youtube.com/user/pikesvillehslibrary/videos

Most helpful:


Students will like the best:


BBMS Media

https://www.youtube.com/user/bbmsmedia/videos

Most helpful:

Students will like the best:
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Animoto Book Trailer with QR Code


Quintero, Isabel. (2014). Gabi, a girl in pieces. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press.

 Named to Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2014

Named to School Library Journal Best Books of 2014

Gabi Hernandez chronicles her last year in high school in her diary: college applications, Cindy's pregnancy, Sebastian's coming out, the cute boys, her father's meth habit, and the food she craves. And best of all, the poetry that helps forge her identity.

Synoposis retrieved October 1, 2015  from:

http://www.amazon.com/Gabi-Girl-Pieces-Isabel-Quintero/dp/1935955950

Scan the QR code below to view the book trailer;

QR codes are excellent to enrich a student's learning. They can be used for many purposes in the library. One example that I would use it for would be to access a YouTube video on how to utilize the on-line catalog from home. Yes, they can access through the homepage but wouldn't it just be easier to scan and boom...there it is. I created my first QR code this week for my classroom bulletin board. The students worked on a unit on rattlesnakes. I created a QR code for a YouTube video on rattlers. The QR code was posted on the bulletin board along with the students' work. Students, teachers, and even parents have an opportunity to view the students' work and scan the QR code to watch a short video. Next time I'm thinking of having the students create their own book trailers or reviews and then have them create a QR code.