So overwhelmed

[Lauren]

My impressions of the Leafmarks and LibraryThing:

Leafmarks has nested conversations like Shelfari but the nesting has several layers rather than only one and I find the discussions even harder to follow than on GR.

Leafmarks' catalog is seriously lacking both in terms of content and covers. Whether you like GR or not, there is no doubt that they have the best book database.

LibraryThing does not have nested comments, but their catalog is very good. The biggest drawback is the lack of participation in discussion groups. They are not nearly as robust as Shelfari and GR.

When deciding on an alternative, you have to decide what is the most important feature for you and the extent to which you are willing to accept the differences and adapt. There is no site that is going to be exactly like Shelfari but in some ways these sites are better, especially in terms of site up-keep, new features, and help when needed.

[Laurie]

Lauren wrote: "My impressions of the Leafmarks and LibraryThing:

Leafmarks has nested conversations like Shelfari but the nesting has several layers rather than only one and I find the discussions even harder to..."

I find Leafmarks and Library Thing difficult! Both sites seem limited/lacking on search results.Books available on Shelfari and Goodreads always come up in search results.I like Library Thing least of all. Thankfully I had used GR sparingly in the past,so the basics are there for me.I am staying with Goodreads,I will use Leafmarks when I have time. I've also gone back to paper journal for my back up.So Goodreads and a notebook is for me. I agree the conversations on Leafmarks are more difficult to read than Good reads. I was able to change the settings for my Goodreads shelf,so my shelf "more" like Shelfari,but nothing will replace the ease of shelfari.

[Anita]

Leafmarks doesn't look like Shelfari, but it has many of the same features (unlike GR) and they're easy to use. LM is functional and the UI feels familiar. You can also post status updates. One thing that many of us loved is how easy it was to import. I didn't lose any books (some people with a lot more books lost a few), and books imported with the same dates and information I had on Shelfari. The folks at LM are very responsive to this huge influx of Shelfari orphans. LT has been great as well. It actually does feel more library-like, so it's a little more difficult to get used to. It's expansive and has great personal and privacy settings (LM too). I would suggest you try the sites and read the FAQs.
Along with Anna H's rant, you can find good info from several people about LM and LT. Just read through the posts. There is another post as well, but I haven't found it yet. Maybe someone else here can answer your questions more specifically or link you to the post. Sorry I couldn't be more help. http://www.shelfari.com/groups/10000/...

[Anna]

Hahahahah (almost evil laugh..because you asked the right person;)) This is what I posted on shelfari. Sorry if I said something more than once. Its a compilation. (I have since explored LibraryThing some...I really missed my shelfari stats...LT is more complicated and un-intuitive, though it has some interesting features). I do like to check in here at GR with the shelfari group...probably rather because of what someone at Leafmarks referenced as the concept of "shelfarian anonymous group"....;)
___________________
Several posts I made on shelfari follow:

I WILL BE ON LEAFMARKS TO TRACK BOOKS BECAUSE I USE PRIVATE NOTES A LOT TO TRACK INFO AND GOODREADS DOES NOT IMPORT THIS AS WELL AS LEAFMARKS
_________
Considering the grave, shocking, and upsetting news that shelfari is to be no more after March 16, 2016 I thought I would share the following. I think I will call Leafmarks home for now. My shelfari data imports there super well, even my private notes.

It appears Goodreads IE Amazon has not cared enough about our data to provide as quality a way to transfer as some would like. So many features, site data, and edits look like they may be lost as Goodreads has not brought itself up to par with shelfari's uniquenesses. If you feel that way, I encourage you to look at Leafmarks, which has done a way better job.
________________________
Information and questions about the migration, new site issues, etc.:
Shelfarians at Leafmarks
https://www.leafmarks.com/lm/#/discus...
Shelfarians at Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Shelfarians at LibraryThing
https://www.librarything.com/groups/s...

________________
Other discussion about the migration here on this site:
http://www.shelfari.com/groups/10713/...
http://www.shelfari.com/groups/10000/...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And my ****BIG*** post that is from a year ago
...sharing in case it will help anyone about GR vs LM....
(Found in this link...about a dozen unexpanded comments down)
http://www.shelfari.com/groups/10000/...

Shelfari dates read (and ratings) all show up at Leafmarks. [ALL my dates entered for read are under "user book data". Editable under the innocuous looking edit pencil to the side of 'My Review'.]

Other discussion about the migration:
http://www.shelfari.com/groups/10713/...

And my big post/rant;) ....sharing in case it will help anyone....:
__________________________________
...I think I will call Leafmarks home for now, though. My shelfari data imports there super well, even my private notes.
Shelfarians at Leafmarks
https://www.leafmarks.com/lm/#/discus...
Shelfarians at Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[Old posting rants from one year ago following...]
When I did import/export my books recently from here to goodreads, about 500 of my books did not make it. All that did make it are marked as 'read' there, with the day they were added...So there is no guarantee on that even. Not a lick of other info imported as far as I could tell. No date read...what an arduous task to enter that for about 1500 books. One of the biggest primary reasons goodreads could never take the place of shelfari right now for me is they only have one date read per book. I have as many as I want here...though I don't think I have gone over 10 or 12 so far. I am pretty sure that was something I looked for in a book site when I researched sites before choosing shelfari. I am here for the long haul.
Leafmarks probably doesn't import from amazon since it isn't associated with it, does it...
I really just haven't been able to get into GR's setup. Too much is missing and it feels cluttered.
I did join LT and I also imported to Leafmarks (LM) and am very impressed with how my data transferred to LM....and data is the heart of why I use shelfari. They say LT is 'pay what you want' when you go to the payment spot...not sure what I'll do. I will keep exploring LT when I get a chance.
(See my analysis of LM in the expanded replies here: http://www.shelfari.com/groups/10000/...- )
I was still exploring LT and how it worked, so I haven't imported to LT yet....after such a good experience on LM....I don't know...I may be busy for a while before I get around to it. I will try to let you know. I am wondering if (other than the 26 books I created here on shelfari that are probably part of my missing count on LM) the other three are editions I have more than one of/duplicates that aren't combined here...just speculating...
I was amazed at my Leafmarks import!! It had my precious personal notes :D
It is still a new site and is a bit more bare bones than shelfari, but I love the import 1,000,000% more than my goodreads import!!!
..................
I agree there are soooo many features available here that you can't find on goodreads (GR)!!! You can't even mark a book as private over there so others can't see it....and as I've said somewhere here before, I love my stats page! When I started looking at cataloging sites, shelfari did everything I intuitively wanted in a book site and it still does. (There are just a very few features I would still ask for here...as an editor/contributor to the site's betterment, a description field, etc. on series pages just like book pages have would be #1....)
I confess I am a visual learner/person. I like that shelfari is so much more visually pleasing, spread out, and streamlined. I really like the use of icons all over for users and groups here...and book covers. These are all a nice, usually readable/appreciable size...unlike GR where they are nonexistent feeling/tiny. It seems like it is harder to find/navigate things there. Here at shelfari I feel a lot of navigation is much more user friendly and intuitive. GR feels so narrow (literally almost half the width on my screen), cluttered, and over-busy...rather confusing. There is less color and *delineation of sections* on GR. Here on shelfari there is also differentiating sized sections that are boxed (home page) or just different formats like the personal shelf compared to the group icons and the friends activity below those. They have clear headers. Also, shelfari uses different sized and colored fonts, even dot-underlined, bolded, and buttoned words/fonts to make things more obvious and user friendly.
Sorry for my rant/rabbit trail...I am new at GR and still don't care for it so I am still analyzing/comparing the two...I don't intend to keep up with much at GR...I don't think I'll even use it as a backup to shelfari because nearly 500 of my books didn't make the transfer. I don't care to invest too much in a site that doesn't even have all the features I want/use like I already have here on shelfari. I keep asking about features over there and it is complicated to be able to do something like see all who have a book added....SO simple here on shelfari!
There is NO WAY in my mind that GR could take the place of Shelfari!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
..............................
OK...I just tried Leafmarks!!! I could (comparatively) cry for joy! Wow! (Bear with me as I take notes as I explore Leafmarks [LM] :D)
I saw my tags! Though the punctuation in the tags all turned into dashes and consolidated (like [2015] and {2015} all turned into -2015- and ?, ^, and ' all merged into one place). There must be a limit on the number of tags/"shelves"... or at least in how many will be listed out... some of the last ones in my list are not there in the list...but those tags exist on my books...Spoke too soon, I found them when clicking the edit pencil. Favorites and wishlist selections are there with tags/"shelves" as well. It calls books "favorites" on my profile if they have 5 stars. (My one pet peeve about shelfari tags is that once you make them they are forever in your tag list, even if there are no books with that tag any longer. None of those transferred.) There is a delete and edit there in the edit setting for those tags/"shelves".
Ahhhh, I see my reviews transferred as well...now I really may cry!!! :) None of that on GR...I spent half an hour earlier today copy and pasting reviews from my favorite books to GR earlier today. What a waste.
I see all but one of my 'reading'! (NOT ONE BOOK transferred to GR made this category.) I think the one that is missing is the one set to reading and to read. I see that only 16 books are missing on my "read" category compared to almost 500 missing for my 'read' on GR!
Only 29 books are missing total. I do have 26 books that I created in my shelfari edits when I looked just now. At least I know those are probably most of what is missing, perhaps leaving 3 to find. That's not a monumental number! Way different than 500 read (900 total) missing on GR!!!
It did seem to add 'to-read' to everything I had on my shelf that I did not have as read or reading...I like how here it just exists on the shelf and does not have to have one of the three designations (read, reading, or to read).
Haha, the books are even in the order I entered them into shelfari, like familiar friends! Ooh, it even has date entered as when I put it on shelfari and not all the day I imported like GR. I am now pretty impressed with how much thought and effort they (LM) have put into transferring shelfari data!
(Sigh of relief!!!) I found that all my dates entered for read are under "user book data". Editable under the innocuous looking edit pencil to the side of 'My Review' with some interesting features there.
(((_SHOCK_))) My private notes, which I have on most of my shelfari books are there!!! These are little bit of the heart of how I track some things on shelfari. OH, HOORAY!!!
(The other stuff on that tab like purchase price/date or condition are not there, which, compared to what LM does do and GR doesn't do, I could definitely live without...)
OK the site is small...and interaction seems minimal so far...librarian and feedback groups are under 200 members....
I like the compare shelves feature...very similar to GR only more detailed...and one of the only things I can think of that I really liked about GR.
Overall, such a better data experience than GR!!!!!!!!
OK, I hope my 'diary' of sorts as I explored LM helps someone out there. I am sold on LM as far as tracking what I want to track...for a back up site to shelfari. I would sorely miss my shelfari statistics page though...

++++++++++++

Leafmarks has some pretty cool features for tracking personal info (AND THEY TRACK REREADS WHICH GOODREADS DOES NOT! :)
...I believe also read somewhere that they have any shelfari purchase price data saved and plan to add that field and will put up that data for us then.
My Review {click tiny green pencil on far right to pull up window with all this}
Review ○ Public ○Friends Only ○Private {mark part of review as spoilers or mature content}
{review box with basic formatting tools...bold... italicize...strike-through...underline...bullet/number lists...block quote...hyperlinks...undo/redo...right/center/left align...add image...source code}
Started on yyyy/mm/dd __:___ AM/PM [today] [now] [clear]
Finished on yyyy/mm/dd __:___ AM/PM [today] [now] [clear]
Re-read dates add re-read dates {this lets you fill out the above again}
Read count
Would recommend this to
Recommended to me by
Owned copies
add owned copy {popup with * info}
*I own a copy of this book
*Condition
*Purchased on
*Purchased location
*Signed
Private notes {box}
○Add to my update feed {check or uncheck}
Status Updates
{Stuff that shows in your activity feed...or 'No status updates for this book'}

[Anna]

Post about multiple dates read:

FYI, the export only has one column for dates read, the other is date added so if anyone has more dates read, be aware!

One way is you would have to scroll through your stats page by year, ten at a time, and expand those dates if over three...and copy/paste if desired...recommend to use chrome and paste as plain text...or you could screen shot them...
With the extended deadline you have time to do that.

http://www.shelfari.com/ (username) /stats/date/2016
http://www.shelfari.com/ (username) /stats/date/0

[Anna]

As the others said, each have their own unique features and it depends on what your goal for use is:)

[LibraryCin]

I haven't read the other comparisons yet, but here is a portion of what I sent to a friend a few months back, comparing all four sites (she wasn't on any of them):

LibraryThing:
I like the people and the groups here, as well. The threads, though, don't "nest", but if you reply to a post, you can reference it using it's number so it links back to the original if you want to follow a bit better.

I like that you can "link" to the book within the threads in a group (you can't do that on shelfari). You can also post an image in a thread, if you'd like (can't do that on shelfari, either).
If you wanted to try out LT, I could fill you in on some of the "tricks" to do those things.

LT has been around a long time and is HUGE, though. I've been on the site for about 2-1/2 years now, I think, and there is still sooo much I don't know there that is probably possible. (It was easier to follow the changes on shelfari because I joined so long ago and many features were added later; I'm sure there are many on LT who are the same there.)

Leafmarks:

Leafmarks is still very new. Groups are not well-populated at this point, but people do seem to "friend" each other and comment there.

I like that there is a "feed" so you can see what friends are reading, rating, reviewing, etc (shelfari has this as well; I've not been able to find such a thing on LT, unfortunately).

I like that it's independent and the creator(s) of the site are pretty receptive to ideas (though it seemed that was more the case... or maybe just more noticeable at first, when there was also a liaison between leafmarks and its members. I don't believe there is such a person, anymore).

[LibraryCin]

I'll just add that LT is my preferred site of the two. Leafmarks could be better, even with the multiple layers of nesting, if they would fix the "unread" flags and add in a few other things to make it easier to follow (expande/collapse replies, jump to first unread, etc).

[Dosha (Bluestocking7)]

I don't care for Leafmarks. I suppose if I took the time to learn it I would like it, but one social media outlet for books is enough for me to keep up with. I try to update Leafmarks every now and then just to stay in the loop, but to be honest I don't know what nesting means and that is the biggest draw.

[Linda]

Is there anywhere to go n GR to see how to make a check mark, line through, include a link etc., the things needed for book challenges. Thanks!

[Jonetta]

If you look to the top right of the comment box, you'll see "(some html is okay)" and if you select it, the instructions will appear. Many of the codes are similar to those we used on Shelfari.

[Linda]

Jonetta wrote: "If you look to the top right of the comment box, you'll see "(some html is okay)" and if you select it, the instructions will appear. Many of the codes are similar to those we used on Shelfari."

Thanks Jonetta, I should have been more observative. You've helped me so much here!

[Jonetta]

You're welcome and I think you're a fast learner. It only becomes obvious when someone points it out:)

[Dosha (Bluestocking7)]

GR should pay Jonetta for all the awesome help she kindly gives us.

[Linda]

Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "GR should pay Jonetta for all the awesome help she kindly gives us."

Definitely!

[Jonetta]

Gotta look out for my buddies! Just paying it forward.

[Book Concierge]

To include a check mark or heart type the following - NO SPACES

& # 1 0 0 0 4 and you get ✔


& # 1 0 0 8 4 and you get ❤

[Linda]

Book Concierge wrote: "To include a check mark or heart type the following - NO SPACES

& # 1 0 0 0 4 and you get ✔


& # 1 0 0 8 4 and you get ❤"

Great, thanks!

[Lauren]

You can also just copy and paste the without the html codes and they will appear.

[Jonetta]

Actually, that's what I now do.