BookShelf Statistics

An explication by Wyando
(Version 1.5 - 01-02-2009)

Why?

Easy: Because I'm a statistic-junky. :)
Maybe you already know BookCrossing: Statistics where you can find a more detailed statistic of the BookCrossing-World and a pretty detailed statistic for some countries (I'm sorry if you country is not included, see for the why's on that site). Well, a BookCrossing-Bookshelf is full of data, which screams to be statistified...

How?

Not that easy: A program catches the "All Books" pages, which shows all books in a list.
These pages are collected on the German Support Site and then examinated to create these detailed statistic. Well, with the help of some quick and dirty scripts I've programmed... ;)

The importing thing is, that the statistic is build staticly. Once the "All Books" pages are collected once, the creating of the statistic and especially looking at those statistic by others DOES NOT HAVE ANY IMPACT on the BookCrossing.com servers, as examinating and the created files are located at the German Support Site. The disadvantage is, that those BookShelf-Statistics never are really up-to-date. Therefore a "last update" has been mentioned. Also, they can't exist for every BookShelf...

What?

All data which can be found in those "All Books" booklist. And I'm pretty sure, I've them all included...

Of course, some interesting data will still be missing, e.g. when registered books have been released. Because, as soon as a journal entry has been made, you have to look into the journals of a book to get this information. To do this for almost each book, WOULD BE AN IMPACT on the BookCrossing.com servers.

There is even a spin-off: all data of the bookshelf will exist as a plain data file to import in spreadsheets or databases (at least when they have an import function and can define the seperate fields character ;)

So, if you like to have the data of your BookShelf (or just the data of the books still in possession) look at this download page for further instuctions ;)

And my BookShelf?

Not easy at all: it's my biggest dilemma! :(

First: because the programs (scripts) I've programmed, are not really multi-user friendly, because this all started for a personal use only. I had to do a complete reprogramming to be sure that everythings works fine, if thousends of users starts using this script.

Second: because, if thousends of users starts using this procedure themselves, it WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT on the BookCrossing.com servers. Just imagine all those users, who would register one book and then start this procedure to update their statistic... *shiver*

Third: because, if thousends of users starts using this procedure themselves, it ALSO WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT on the German Support Site server. And that's my money then I have to look at ;)

And now?

Well, my page I will keep up to date - I finally made this procedure for this. ;)

Of course, some other pages will surely be added (and even maybe updated from time to time[1]). Based on what? For sure: having wings at least - your love to bookcrossing should be clearly visible [2] ;) But then, who knows... maybe having more than 1.000 registered books on your BookShelf, being known personally by me, having time, being picked randomly by me, you always can try to flatter me with presents *veg*, as a prize I offer in a challenge or something like that, BookCrossing.com running smoothly (as far I can see), etc.

Since 2009 will all, who have signed the Seltsamen Bücherfreund and wrote a journal (with your screenname), get such a statistic, which will be updated at least 4x a year, if there is at least one book registered since last update. This has to be seen as a little "thank you" for getting all those journals all the time... ;)

But remember: whatever you try to get your BookShelf-Statistic,
there is at no time a guaranty that it will be created or updated.
You always will be dependent on my goodwil.
Good luck, anyway

P.S. PM-requests to this statistic SHOULD HAVE "BookShelf Statistic" (2 words!) in the subject. Because they will be filtered automagicly into a specific folder (no, neither the junk folder, nor the trash folder!;)) If they can not be filtered, they will be deleted. ASLO, if you write more than one request per month, your request will be deleted too. No, that's not rude, that's just preventing a kind of spamming...

And even I mention one request per month does not mean, that those all will fulfilled. But it could help to pick randomly... ;)

Please remember, bookcrossing is just a hobby. Well, a quite intensiv one, and it will, as long as I have fun. :)

[1] P.S. As the question for updates rises...
Well, yes, updates of existing shelfstatistics will be done. Not regulary at fixed times, but mostly depending on the number of new registered books since last update. Also, the fact that the more books a BookShelf contains, the longer it takes to capture the data and calculate the statistics, I think, the numbers gonna depend on the number of total books on the shelf (see "the lucky BookCrossers"-page, at the end). This way, smaller BookShelfs, which goes quite fast, could be updated more often as the real big BookShelfs. :)

[2] Of course there will be Statistics for BookShelfs without wings. Because they had wings before. Or for some other reason. Like e.g. an OBCZ-BookShelf. Or a BookShelf from a publisher, who donates books to BookCrossing. Or ...

no responsibility is taken for the correctness of this information
legal process excluded!