Have you ever made it halfway through a book only to realize you had already read it? Do you want to keep a list of books you’d like to read in the future? We've evaluated three different websites you can use to track what you have read or would like to read. These websites offer similar ways of cataloging your selection of books, but each one has its unique features as well. Consider or try each option and find out what works best for you.
Canton Public Library Catalog
The Canton Public Library catalog offers some cool features you won’t find on other websites.
Using the Canton Public Library catalog as a reading tracker has many pros, including:
- Ability to check the availability of materials at CPL and place holds directly on items you’re interested in.
- Track not just books, but movies, video games and more.
- With Borrowing History, you can automatically track items you check out.
- Group items by your favorite format, whether it's physical or digital.
- Your collections and “For Later” shelves remain private, allowing you to share what you'd like and keep the rest private.
- Your reviews contribute to the online catalog, inspiring other library patrons for their next read, watch, listen or play.
- Keep up to date on your favorite topics with shared searches. For example, if you’re interested in all things yoga-related, search for “yoga,” and in the top right corner, select "save search." These searches will appear in your Library Dashboard.
- Place the latest on-order materials and arrivals on hold.
The StoryGraph
The StoryGraph is relatively new to the book-tracking scene and aims to help you find books that fit your mood. It catalogs a book's mood, pace, and feeling so you can filter down your to-read list by what you’re most in the mood for at the time.
Pros of The StoryGraph as a reading tracker:
- A unique mood-based cataloging system that helps you find books to suit your mood.
- Allows you to track items not owned by the library.
- Statistics about your reading style, moods, and the tempo of books you enjoy.
- The sleek design works well on computers and mobile devices.
- Get suggestions on what to read next from your personal to-read list.
- Keep track of popular online book challenges like those offered by POPSUGAR and Book Riot.
Cons of The StoryGraph:
- It does not allow you to track non-book materials like video games, movies and more.
- It does not offer privacy settings.
- It does not connect to what your library offers, so you must take an extra step to check out materials.
Goodreads
Goodreads, one of the most popular reading trackers, excels in its social aspect. It’s similar to Facebook but for book lovers.
Pros of Goodreads as a reading tracker:
- The large userbase integrates with Facebook to find your friends quickly.
- Easily find new things to read based on what your friends are reading or are interested in reading.
- It allows you to start conversations with your friends about their reviews.
- It allows you to track items not owned by the library.
Cons of Goodreads:
- It does not allow you to track non-book materials like video games, movies and more.
- It does not offer privacy settings.
- It does not connect to what your library offers, so you must take an extra step to check out materials.
- The design is clunky and does not work well on mobile.
If you're a big anime and manga fan, check out our post on tracking anime and manga specifically.
Ultimately, how you keep track of your books is a personal decision, and you have to find what works best for you! Don't be afraid to experiment with different websites and systems as you go along on your reading journey.
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