Shelfari is a free-to-join social network site where people share and discuss their love of books. Launched in October 2006, Shelfari’s mission is to “enhance the experience of reading by connecting readers in meaningful conversations about the published word” (http://www.shelfari.com/Shelfari/AboutUs.aspx). The site has a user friendly design that makes it easy to find books to place on a shelf, make comments, and discuss these books with friends

The Basics

Users create virtual bookshelves where they can showcase books they have either read or want to read along with ratings, comments, and suggestions. Additionally, users can connect with their friends to view their bookshelf while sharing their own, recommend books to read, and even form virtual book clubs. Shelfair also suggests books to read based on the user’s selection.

On the site, there is a Communties tab that takes users to Shelfari community where users can see a random sample of new members, active members, and popular groups to join. Shelfari also encourages users to meet new people on the site with a page dedicated to finding other members who have similar interests in books. It is also a place to see and meet new, aspiring, or known authors.

Other fun aspects of the site include a Shelfari widget that can be added onto blogs and the Shelfari blog.

Shelfari is a simple website to access and use.

To start, you must create an account. Creating an account requires the user to enter their first and last name, which will only be available to “friends” on the site, a valid email address, which remains private, and to create a password.

https://www.shelfari.com/register

Once registered, users have the option to use their email address book to search for friends, as part of the community and networking aspect of the site. Next, users can add to their profile and adjust privacy settings. Completing a profile is not necessary. The next step is to begin building a “bookshelf.” To do so, there is a search box at the top of the page where users can type in a book and select the title that they are reading. From there, the user selects whether he or she has read the book, is reading the book or plans on reading the book; write reviews; add tags; and share the book with friends or groups. This can be done with any book, basically.

Figure 1

Users can also create and join groups about many different topics. The groups can be made private so that only invited members can view and participate, or they can be open to the whole site. In these groups, users can discuss books, like an online book club.

Shelfari may be too difficult or inappropriate to use for very young students. It is better suited to upper elementary grades through high school, when students understand how to write and read reviews, and have gain internet-use skills.

The website may be blocked by some school or district firewalls, so teachers and students would have to access from home or somewhere else, making classroom use more difficult.

Given a lack of access, at school, be sure to make alternative written or typed assignments available for students without at home internet access. Perhaps allow them to type responses or reviews of books, and you can post them for the student.

Be sure that you have informed parents and administrators of your reasons for using Shelfari with your classroom and the important privacy and safety precautions you are using for the students. Make them aware that there is some possibility for students to access inappropriate texts or contact strangers.

If teachers are using Shelfari for personal use as well as classroom use, be aware that your bookshelf will show all books you add, not just the ones you want to share with your students. Keep this in mind as well, if you use the “bookshelf” widget on a website or blog.