Search Summary
Purpose:
I am a high school librarian. One of the most rewarding and fun parts of the job is finding contemporary, quality books to get students reading for both recreation and information. In today's world, so many different types of media compete for the attention of teens. When a good book engrosses a teen, I feel like I have done my job well. In order for this to happen, I have to stay current. I decided to compile a list of books that are inspiring conversations and inciting people to read.
World Cat:
I began my search at World Cat. I decided to search lists that have been compiled by other World Cat users. I searched for lists with the keywords young adult. There were 41 lists. I compiled a list of fifteen books based on the Alex Awards, which are books for adults with young adult (YA) appeal. I also found books from the Rodda Awards, which awards quality young adult books that emphasize spiritual values. I found five books I had not yet read from the Michael L. Printz Award lists. The International Reading Association (IRA) awards the first or second book of authors, and it has a section for YA. I used these lists to comprise a strong starting point of reference.
I enjoyed this experience in World Cat. Previously, I have only used World Cat for cataloging purposes. This is a much more enjoyable time, and the source offers a surprising breadth and depth.
Google Books:
I used Google Books to search the titles I chose at World Cat. I read through the book overviews, which includes editorial reviews from the Library Journal. There were also cloud tags on some books. Some of the titles also included reviews from Goodreads.com. There are also previews of some of the books. I read reviews and refined my list to ten books. I dropped several titles, and I added one. I read the reviews and put the books in My Library To Read.
This site is a treasure trove. I also believe it is an undiscovered site for many Internet users. It's a fun resource, but it is also valuable for any researcher. The search function will take readers inside of texts. Google makes the world feel connected in an unprecedented manner.
Good Reads:
I just established my account at Good Reads while doing this assignment. Automatically, I was alerted to which contacts in my email were involved in Good Reads. I went through the test to measure my reading habits. I am just nerdy enough that I think it is fun to rate books and review my tastes. After establishing an account, I went to explore. I searched popular lists. Then I went to search the chosen titles. I liked the feature that shows the average rating alongside the title. None of the titles I chose had a rating less than three out of five stars.
I like this site better than Library Thing. It is easier to use, with more defined groups and lists. I felt as if this site knew me.
Library Thing:
Throughout this course, I have added all the books I have read in the past two years to my account. However, I have felt as if I didn't know what to do next. I don't feel like tagging, so what is there? I am glad I had this assignment, because I was able to find some interesting tools at this site.
I searched for my chosen books, and I found tag clouds, book ratings, popularity ratings, conversations, reviews, and recommendations. I like the conversations; these are practical, fun ways I may participate in the future. There have been many times when I am reading a book when I just want to talk to someone. It is also a way to gain a glimpse at what others are saying about this work.
Conclusion:
The tools that are available today can allow any reader to be connected to the literary world and participate in the public square. I have enjoyed finding and refining. This search has also allowed me to find practical ways to access information in both my persona and professional life.
This site is a treasure trove. I also believe it is an undiscovered site for many Internet users. It's a fun resource, but it is also valuable for any researcher. The search function will take readers inside of texts. Google makes the world feel connected in an unprecedented manner.
Good Reads:
I just established my account at Good Reads while doing this assignment. Automatically, I was alerted to which contacts in my email were involved in Good Reads. I went through the test to measure my reading habits. I am just nerdy enough that I think it is fun to rate books and review my tastes. After establishing an account, I went to explore. I searched popular lists. Then I went to search the chosen titles. I liked the feature that shows the average rating alongside the title. None of the titles I chose had a rating less than three out of five stars.
I like this site better than Library Thing. It is easier to use, with more defined groups and lists. I felt as if this site knew me.
Library Thing:
Throughout this course, I have added all the books I have read in the past two years to my account. However, I have felt as if I didn't know what to do next. I don't feel like tagging, so what is there? I am glad I had this assignment, because I was able to find some interesting tools at this site.
I searched for my chosen books, and I found tag clouds, book ratings, popularity ratings, conversations, reviews, and recommendations. I like the conversations; these are practical, fun ways I may participate in the future. There have been many times when I am reading a book when I just want to talk to someone. It is also a way to gain a glimpse at what others are saying about this work.
Conclusion:
The tools that are available today can allow any reader to be connected to the literary world and participate in the public square. I have enjoyed finding and refining. This search has also allowed me to find practical ways to access information in both my persona and professional life.
