The avid reader searches for his next book, but cannot make a decision because he does not know which books fit his interests. Another person wants to get into reading, but he is unaware of which books are worth his time and which are dull.

There is hope for these two individuals and for many more with similar book-related issues: Goodreads.com.

Launched in December 2006 by software engineer and entrepreneur Otis Chandler, Goodreads offers an opportunity for people to share what they have read, their rating and opinions, see what their friends have read and make a schedule of books to read in the future.

In addition, the site offers opportunities to join book clubs, contact authors and share personal writing. It currently has about 4.4 million members and a database of 120 million books. These books are updated and monitored by volunteer users of Goodreads called “Librarians” to ensure that all books are up to date with accurate information.

Another aspect of Goodreads is that the members can track their progress in whatever book they are working on and leave status updates. They can log what page they are on, which calculates the percentage of their completion. They are also able to check how much of the book they have read and see how far their friends are in the books they are reading.

According to junior Kendall Wheeler, one of the most useful aspects of the website is the ability to see what other people have read. Users are able to gain perspective and to advise their friends as to what books they recommend, basing reading decisions on these opinions.

“I like to see the books other people are reading,” Wheeler said. “I might like one of the books that they are reading. I can also see which books not to waste my time with. This has inspired me to read more.”

Senior Elton Wong of Chinese Christian Schools in San Leandro, CA, also appreciates the convenience and practicality of Goodreads, he says.

“It is like an online book storage,” Wong said. “I can go back and remember the name and authors of books I have read. The best way to describe this website would be to say it is like Facebook for books.”

Though this may sound like a website only appealing to bibliophiles, there are still advantages for less-avid readers to become a member of the website.

After ’09 alumna Megan Ortiz joined Goodreads, she discovered the benefits of using the famous quotes resource and connecting with her friends.

“I really like the quotes pages,” Ortiz said. “I like how it is set up where I can easily find good quotes from my favorite authors. It also gives me a common ground with my friends so I know what books we both like and dislike.”

Despite its merits, Goodreads has room for potential improvements. When Wheeler gives books ratings, she would like to use a more broad scale, she says.

“I wish that the rating system was out of 10 stars instead of 5,” Wheeler said. “I feel like that would make it easier to rate a lot of the books that I read.”

Even with these issues, the website provides unique tools to help people both organize their reading and become more interested. From joining book clubs to taking quizzes about different books, Goodreads offers tools for any reader.

To create an account on Goodreads, visit Goodreads.com and register.

For more information on popular Internet sites, read the Jan. 14 article, YouTube attracts viewers, offers comic relief.

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