Keeping Track

Keeping track of reading has been a challenge nearly as long as books have existed. Some regular library users maintain note books to track what they've read. Years ago many people put "personal brand marks" in books they'd read, but that practice seems to be dying out.

Because of privacy concerns, most integrated automated library systems do not keep track of what people have borrowed -- the link between loaned items and borrowers vanishes when the item is returned.

One 2.0 solution is a "social bookmark" site like LibraryThing, shelfari, or one of the others mentioned in this TechCrunch post. One feature of these sites is the possibility of making connection with other people who have an interest in the same titles.

Kilgore Memorial Library has started a LibraryThing account that will feature local history titles. The first five titles have been added by the date of this post.