Websites For Bookish People

I know you're out there. You get goosebumps when you pass a library in your car. You steal away to Barnes & Noble on weekends. You take lunch breaks at your desk to catch up on a novel online. I know you because I am one of you - a bookworm.

The good news for us is that the Internet is now providing tons of resources for bookish people to enjoy. The recent advent of Web 2.0 has given birth to several networking sites just for readers, some of which even allow conversations with the authors of your favorite books. If you are a bookworm, you simply must check out some of these sites:

Goodreads

This is one of my favorite networking sites out there. You can add friends, join groups and post on message boards regarding your favorite books and authors. Not only that, but you can create a virtual library of whatever you're reading. You can rate books, write reviews, and see your friends' reviews before making decisions on what to read. Many authors have their own Goodreads accounts so you can see what they're reading themselves.

Shelfari

This site is similar to Goodreads in that you can create libraries, network with others and join groups. It was recently acquired by Amazon.com.

The Red Room

This site hosts blogs from various authors such as Amy Tan, Maya Angelou and Salman Rushdie. You can actually ask them questions and dialogue with them here! It also has tons of videos, podcasts and event listings.

Public Libraries

This website allows you search for public libraries close to you. Not only that, but it links to their websites, which are infinitely valuable, especially for card-members. You can search the catalog and reserve books without even leaving your home. You can also access many of the library's online resources and databases.

All of these sites are absolutely free to use. Try them out - you'll be glad you did!