Tuesday Thingers: LibraryThing Authors

Wendi at Wendi’s Book Corner hosts this weekly meme which explores features of LibraryThing.  This week she says:  … I happened to stumble upon this great page within the site that has some great information on it about LT Authors, becoming a LT Author, and how readers can use the section to learn about their favorite authors, the books they read and what inspires them.

Did you know that there are 1497 authors participating in LT Authors? If you haven’t checked it out, head over for a moment and see if you can find out something new about an author! If you don’t have time to go snooping, have you ever looked at the LT Author page before? Did you know that it is for authors and readers alike? Have you ever looked up a favorite or new author on LT to see what they read and if they have left any comments or reviews themselves? Have you ever told an author about LT Authors and encouraged them to check the site out?

My answer:  I think the LT Author program is interesting; well, it was more interesting when LT required authors to list at least 50 books (presumedly from their libraries) when joining.  It was a neat glimpse into the private space of an author, to see what was on their bookshelves.  LibraryThing recently dropped that requirement, perhaps to appeal to more authors.

One thing I’ve learned is that LT will leave a message on my profile page when an Author Chat is scheduled with one of the authors listed in my library.  I’ve been alerted to, and participated in, chats with Joyce Hinnefeld and Christopher Weeks through this program.  This is what led me to change the way I enter books into my LT library.  I used to list them only after they’ve been read, but then I’d miss the opportunity for a Chat alert.  Now I catalog books as they come into the house.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t promote the LibraryThing Author Challenge I’m hosting.  Take a look at the LibraryThing Authors that are already in your library, and see if you’d like to join us.  Not sure whose books you have?  Go to your profile page, and look in the right sidebar, under “Member Connections” … there’s a section for LibraryThing Authors (look here on my Profile page, it’s the second green box).

Who’s on your LT Author list?