Greenburgh Public Library Blog

Read Harder: Technology is Your Friend

In the world of books technology can be your friend. It can also be a huge distraction, and sometimes make it hard to focus on reading.

There are two main approaches to this problem: Avoid or Embrace.

Avoid: I have ALL the library apps on my phone and I love always having a book at my fingertips, but I often get distracted by all the other things my phone can do. Email, games, and social media all pull me away from my book. In avoidance mode, I leave my phone in another room so I’m not tempted to pick it up when my attention wanders. I also use a dedicated e-reader, the Kindle Paperwhite, to read ebooks from Overdrive. There are no other apps, and nothing to distract me from my book except other books. 

Embrace: Go Digital! 
If you have better self control than I do, by all means Embrace and read on your iPad, tablet, or phone. You can download ebooks to your device, and don’t forget there are digital audiobooks, too! 
My phone screen is tiny so it’s my last resort for reading, but I really love to use it for audiobooks. I use Libby by Overdrive, CloudLibrary, or Hoopla to find a book, and I can listen at home, at lunch, or through the Bluetooth in my car. No more fumbling with clunky cases or trying to figure out which disc comes next while driving; I just open the app and tap the play arrow to pick up right where I left off. This could prove to be important, as more publishers are opting not to manufacture CDs, and are producing only digital audiobooks. If you love audiobooks, it’s well worth learning how to go digital. The library offers a wide array of digital resources along with clear instructions for getting started. And as always, librarians are available to help you get started.

Embrace: Social Media
Technology makes it easier than ever to connect with other readers, and social media is a great way to widen your literary perspective. You can choose from many platforms according to the level of social interaction you prefer.

I find Instagram to be the most passive social media; the photos are the focus.  Elaborate photography like James Trevino’s book art is always satisfying, but searching by hashtag is often more interesting than following specific pages. On Instagram, you never quite know where a hashtag might lead: a search for #librariesofinstagram produces beautiful libraries, inspiring author quotes, artistic library photos, fun library memes and much more.

Try searching for an author or mentions of an author. You can search everything from #patriciapolacco to  #stephenking to see photos that reference your favorite writers.

​LibraryThing was originally billed as a way to professionally catalog your home library. This site also hosts member reviews, and allows you to connect with other members. Basic membership is free and allows you to catalog 200 books, but there are also subscriptions available to upgrade your storage. A fun feature of LibraryThing is Name That Book, which allows members to post questions about identifying a book when you can’t remember the title.

I’ve always wanted to keep a notebook, or some physical list of all the books I’ve read, But a notebook gets lost, or ragged, or it’s sitting on my nightstand, or I left it in my other bag. This is a situation where my excessive attachment to my phone comes in handy. I installed the Goodreads app, and now I always have access to my book lists.

Find a Goodreads tutorial on TechBoomers.com!

Search for a book by title or author, or use your phone’s camera to scan the barcode or the cover art. Since Goodreads is owned and powered by Amazon, the search tools are quite effective.

For each title, you’ll see a rating (based on 5 stars) and a preview of a few reviews. If you’re curious, click through to read more. Most reviewers are sensitive about spoilers and give plenty of warning so your reading experience won’t be ruined. When you finish a book, you’ll have the opportunity to add your own rating and review. 

There are lots of other features available on Goodreads, too. There are book giveaways, virtual book groups, and book groups that meet in real life. Libraries, bookstores, teachers, and authors have accounts with lists of recommended titles. You can follow a favorite author, a co-worker, or make new virtual reading buddies. It’s easy to find a list or group to match almost any interest.

Facebook is good for online book groups and author pages, with a balance of text and photos. Follow your favorite author, join a virtual book group, and chat with people who like the same books as you. I stumbled across my first Facebook book group not long ago, and I’ve been repeatedly surprised by the pleasant interactions I’ve had with other readers. I find it an excellent way to make connections with people who have completely different lifestyles and experiences; sometimes the only thing we have in common is a favorite author.

Bookish Facebook posts tend to feature books on laps in beautiful reading settings and/or books half-obscured by adorable cats and dogs, so they can have a calming effect on your Facebook feed. Then there’s Louise Penny before a book signing event...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re looking for the ultimate bookish social media, Litsy is the winner. It’s all books, all the time. Litsy uses “Stacks” instead of shelves: To Read, Reading, or Read. Instead of a five star rating system, there are only four choices: Pick, Pan, So-So, or Bail.