Exploring Online Book-Reviewers’ Motives for Writings, Selection and Use Experience of Websites
Date Issued
2012
Date
2012
Author(s)
Lee, Shu-Ping
Abstract
The aim of this study is to explore online book reviewers’ motives for writings, selection and use experience of websites. Based on these analyses, libraries and the organizations concerned could better develop system’s usability and activity for online reading community.
This study conducted semi-structured interview to collect data. A total of 25 online book-reviewers were collected by purposive sampling and snowball sampling techniques. Subjects of this study have been chosen from aNobii, iReading, Wretch, Pixnet and other online bookshelves or blogs for posting book reviews. The results of this research can be summarized as follows:
“Motives for writing online book review”─ The initial motivation of writing online book review is to keep reading records. Besides, community members’ interactions and activities are two vital factors to continuous writing.
“Selection and use experience of websites”─ Book reviewers start to participate in online reading community because of friends’ recommendations. Systems’ usability is the key point when selecting websites, system performance such as books management, data backup and interface design, etc. The integrity of reading records and social networks of community members will affect their website loyalty.
“Experience of members’ interaction”─ Online book-reviewers can get two kinds of feedback from community members’ interactions. One is system’s up-to-date statistics, including numbers of visitors, and etc. Another is material incentives, which can get from participating in reading activities. Effects of members’ interaction are broadening book reveiewers’ reading tastes, strengthen their social networks, and stimulating their writing behaviors.
“Suggestions for library website”─ Most interviewee lack the willingness to participate in a library online reading community. Some doubts have been mentioned as follows: lack of critical mass of users, not enough types of book in online bookshelf, lack of anonymity, questions about time and location flexibility due to different types of libraries, questions about system maintenance, and concerns about privacy and safety.
This research proposes five suggestions to better develop online reading community. First, organize online or offline events to arouse members’ willingness to participate. Second, provide data backup function to enhance willingness to use. Third, provide personalization service to keep more users, since personalized interface will create a sense-of-place . Fourth, provide flexible gathering places to support sub groups interaction. Fifth, provide integrated subject information to gather users of different reading tastes.
Subjects
Online Reading Community
Online Book Reviews
Motives of Writing
Platform Selection
Loyalty
User Experience
Type
thesis
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