Thing 16: LibraryThing
LibraryThing is an excellent tool to promote reading to students. I especially like the 50 Book Challenge because it connects readers to readers as they collectively share their fifty book yearly goal. Colleagues and students could utilize this site. Students could be directed to use it for personal uses or generate book lists from what they read in the classroom. Seeing how many other people are reading fifty books as well can be quite motivating.
Also, the group What are you reading now? would be a great source for students who want to read material outside of the classroom. I especially like the book lists because they include both contemporary and classic titles. Students could see that the books they are currently reading are read by thousands (John Steinbech name lists 39,841 copies read).
