Announcements

Hi all! I've just been made an admin for this group and wanted to get a sense of what people think works and what might need a bit of a change. Current admin powers aren't much more than being able to edit the group description and pin topics, but there is an ongoing discussion on expanding the role to include moderation powers. https://www.librarything.com/topic/329278#

Since the recent updates have limited the space for group descriptions, I thought it might be a good idea to slightly shorten the current description by cutting the examples and pin a topic with the complete tips for posting. Any thoughts?

ETA: Admins have recently been given the ability to change thread titles.

Thank you so much for volunteering! I think the biggest help would be pinning a topic with the current tips (with, of course, a friendly but clearly labeled topic line. Lots of people will skip something with a topic like "Welcome!" but might read one like "Posting guidelines to help us find your book". Shortening the group description is, I think, less relevant; people never read it anyway.

I’m new to Librarything. I’m a new author. My name is Jeanne Knapp. How does this group work? Do we give people a description of a book and they try to guess the title?

>3 Redhead345: This is a group for people who have forgotten a title and would like help finding the book.

As you are an author, please check out the TOS and tips for authors.

>1 amanda4242:

I agree that the book description should be shorter.

I'd suggest leaving Have you forgotten the name of a book you once read? This group is here to help you find it again.

Followed by Start your book search by clicking on the pinned topic "Posting Guidelines". (or whatever you decide to call the topic with posting tips)

I would include in that topic something like "Because LT does not notify you when someone posts to your thread, be sure to check back to see if you've received a response."

>5 lilithcat: "I would include in that topic something like 'Because LT does not notify you when someone posts to your thread, be sure to check back to see if you've received a response.'"

Yes! For the asker, but also for those who respond. There is no sadness quite like the sadness of being sure you had the correct answer to someone's query, but they never come back to confirm.

Good luck with your new powers, Amanda; very glad we have an admin!

Since some members join LT just to post in Name That Book and aren't that familiar with how Talk works, it might be worth including in the posting guidelines some tips on how they can find their post again (e.g. by selecting Started By You from the sidebar).

>6 megbmore: Indeed. 'Full many a flower is born to blush unseen.'

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I've moved the searching tips to a pinned topic and put a link in the group description directing people to start by reading the guidelines.

>1 amanda4242: Hi, Amanda. Since you're the admin, can you edit thread titles? If so, it would be nice to have threads marked 'Solved' when the book is found.

>9 Bargle5:

That ability was requested, but see Tim's response here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/329278#7405922

>10 lilithcat: Darn.

>9 Bargle5: Sadly, no. I have just been granted the power to hide or delete messages--I'm already becoming drunk with the power! *evil laugh*

WTH, "" start your book search by clicking on POST A NEW TOPIC""" THERE IS NO POST A NEW TOPIC TO CLICK ON. in fact there is not a friggin spot anywhere on these pages to put info on any book someone is trying to find by posting a description when they can't remember the title. i have 3, and i remember the plots VERY WELL, JUST NOT THE TITLE. your setup is VERY MISLEADING, clvanpatten@yahoo.com

>13 connievp:

I'll ignore your rude and vulgar language, and give you an answer:

If you go to the MAIN PAGE OF THIS GROUP: http://www.librarything.com/ngroups/724/Name-that-Book, you will see a very large box above the topic listing that says "POST A NEW TOPIC". Try using it.

I think placing found on the thread title would be a great idea.

>16 amanda4242:

I think you should just go ahead and add "Found" to the title. I do like adding the line to the group description.

Starting a separate thread would probably be pointless. Too many people don't bother to read the guidelines anyway, and even among those who do, I doubt many would bother to post in such a thread if they even saw it. They're more likely not to come back to the group at all once they have the information they want.

Another vote for adding "FOUND" to the thread titles, as well as adding that to the group description.

Yeah, just add "FOUND" to the thread titles. Preferably at the start, so it's visible even on long titles.

Question: what happens to titles that already are at maximum length? Some posters put their entire query in the title field and it cuts off after its character limit when they hit post.

I'd guess that admin powers don't include extending the post title character limit. In that case I'd vote for deleting the requisite number of characters at the end of the string. If that means losing information (i.e. if the query isn't repeated in the message body), you can always paste the original title in a message and post that at the bottom of the thread.

Please do it! If anyone objects it'll be easy enough for them to tell you so, I think.

(If you're willing to put in that time, of course, the number of new posts each day isn't insignificant.)

>21 Settings:

the number of new posts each day isn't insignificant

True, but not all of them get solved.

And I think that those of us who come into this group can always notify amanda4242 if we see one that's been answered for a while and needs the "found" marker.

Yes, please add 'Found' to titles. If you need to chop off a long title to fit it, go ahead.

Also think admins amending thread titles is a good idea, as long as monitoring the threads doesn't become too time-consuming.

Sorry, not really active in groups, but could there be folders by genre? That way, Thingers who specialize could go looking.

Barring that, maybe a formula for Subject line: Genre + ? + ?

>25 LynnW:

No, there aren't folders in groups here.

maybe a formula for Subject line: Genre + ? + ?

There is! See the pinned "Posting Guidelines" topic. The problem is that people don't bother to read it. Or, if they do, they don't bother to follow the guidelines.

>18 lilithcat: I'm sadly resigned to the fact so few people read. I suggested a thread mostly so people who come across a thread where the book has been found can report it without having to PM me.

>20 Petroglyph: When I go to change a title I'm given a popup with an empty field. I figure I can just type "Found" and copy and paste in the original title; anything that doesn't fit will just be automatically cut off.

Sorry if this has been mentioned but it would be nice if the original thread post could NOT be deleted if there has been a reply. The history of these posts could help someone else find their missing book.

Happy to see an admin on here. Good luck! 😊

>29 juels: I don't have the ability to prevent people from deleting posts. I could add to the posting guidelines asking people not to delete, but I think we all know how much good that would do.

It looks like everyone is in favor of adding "Found" to titles, but I'll wait a few more days before I start making changes to allow a bit more time for people to voice their opinions.

>30 amanda4242: I expected as much. Thought I'd mention it if we're making suggestions of how to improve this group. Maybe someday the enhancement will exist...

>15 amanda4242: capitol can be excitement, emphasis and a host of other things. ASSUMING it is yelling says more about those people who do not know me at all. And yes, they assumed.

>14 lilithcat: what vulgar- specifically,

These threads have only one message, which have been deleted:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/330696#n7456925

https://www.librarything.com/topic/330623#n7454492

Is it possible for admin to remove them from the board?

>36 amanda4242: will be happy to do so!

>37 fuzzi: Thanks!

I don't want anyone to feel obligated to leave directions for new members, but for those inclined to do so I think it would help to point to the title change thread as well as the posting tips.

>38 amanda4242: it might help. I see subjects like "HELP ME FIND THIS BOOK!!" and I cringe.

>38 amanda4242:

I've been doing that.

Perhaps, also, if people would decline to respond as well, that might helpp.

>39 fuzzi: Me too. When the group name is literally "Name that Book," why do people feel compelled to make that their title?!

>40 lilithcat: Thank you for your work!

I don't want to discourage people from posting responses if they really want to. I'm just trying to find a way to maximize the chances of people opening a thread and minimize the number of people starting a duplicate thread with a different title.

>39 fuzzi: >41 amanda4242: Yes, this truly is a mystery for the ages...every time I see it I feel perplexed!

Hey All. I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. I was recently made co-admin with amanda4242, to provide technical assistance (if any is needed) to the group. She seems to have everything well in hand, but I am here to help, if needed.

>13 connievp: You must sign up before you can see the "post" button. I also was looking for it but wondered if you had to join first and once I did, it appeared.

>44 wartgin: This isn't a join to post group, so you should have seen the post a new topic button without having to join.

I have not joined the group but I can see the Post button.

>6 megbmore: I have been all over this site trying to have the site notify me when someone answers my plea for the title of a lost book. Now It is confirmed (i think) that there is no way this site can or will notify me when someone replies to my posting.
Thx, Jim
ps; I'm pretty sure most any school kid could modify "name that book" to accomodate this.

>33 connievp: I've written in caps for years to accomodate relatives with poorer eye site. I actually find it comfortable to read but avoid it normally as people interpret it as yelling which rather drives me away!
I just realized when using the "reply" to a comment that the subject I am replying to is not included, nor is my comment under the subject matter i am addressing. sorry but you may have to read most all posts here to figure out what I was replying about.
Jim

>49 jimmr: honestly, I did read posting guide lines, (just real fast!) I just joined this morning and want to adhere to protocol but this site operates differently than those I am accustomed to.

>51 jimmr: Welcome! LT does operate a little differently than most sites, but we have a tour and several groups that can help new members get acclimated.

Tour
Welcome to LibraryThing! group
Frequently Asked Questions group

>52 amanda4242: thx, i'll be looking. Most of where I go is engineering related and dealing with parts to repair such but I do read books and live where i don't have any TV which based on current observations is something I can probably continue to do without!!

I remember that, ages ago, this group had a big red box with posting guidelines above the thread list. I wonder if it's possible to do that again (though I know that there's less space now above the threads)? It might reduce the number of threads titled 'Name this book', which indicates that newbies are jumping in with their requests without reading the posting guidelines.

>54 humouress: The big red box no longer fits in the group description, so it's now in the posting guidelines thread.

>55 amanda4242: Maybe a small red box?... 🤗

>56 humouress: Adding much else to the description would cause stuff to be hidden behind a "see more" button, and I think we know how likely it is people will choose to read on.

I think a lot of people who clearly aren't reading anything are posting from Talk rather than the group page and never even see the directions to the posting tips. Also, I recall there were still a lot of people who obviously didn't read the tips when we had a big red box to draw their attention.

>57 amanda4242: Ah. *sigh* So I guess whooping sirens and flashing lights wouldn't do the trick either.

>57 amanda4242: I see people not paying attention to instructions all over the place, internet and real life. It's not new, but to me it appears to be getting worse.

>59 fuzzi:

I think the proliferation of ads and similar non-informational notices are partly to blame for that. People end up filtering out a few false positives.