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The
Frugal Reader
August 12, 2007
Browsing & Searching
Many of you provided feedback that browse and search response times on the Books page are
sporadic and at times result in painfully long delays in displaying available books. We responded to this performance problem with several
"below the deck" changes that provided some relief. However, we'll need to make more substantial changes due to continued growth in membership
and increased utilization of FrugalReader.com.
Meanwhile, we thought it would be helpful to provide you with a few simple techniques to
find available books that we found to have consistently good performance.
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Books listed since my last login link on the My Home page displays all books listed since you last logged
into FR that are still available for request.
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Listed Since Today box on the Books page displays all books listed on the current day. Leave the
Available Copies box checked and only books available for request will be displayed.
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Save Search button on the Books page can be used to receive a daily email of all available books that meet your
criteria. For example, you can receive an email every morning of all books listed the previous day.
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Use Amazon.com to
locate the book you want and then search for it on FR via ISBN. Since Amazon is the source for FR's bibliographic data, all
books found on Amazon that have an ISBN can be listed and wish listed on FR.
Be a
smart searcher and you'll quickly find the books you want with little effort.
Member Spotlight
Our 13th member to enjoy the spotlight is Roynita Britton [roybrit]. Last month Roynita celebrated her 2 year anniversary as an FR member. She recently created a professional quality 2008 FR Calendar that showcases the
talents of several members of the FR Family. Check out Roynita's listed
books to find your next great read. Thanks for sharing Roynita!
Why do you
read?
That
is like asking me why I eat. Reading gives me a chance to participate in experiences I would not otherwise share. When I’m reading a book, I
become an integral part of the lives I am reading about. It is a very inexpensive way to travel.
When
and where do you most enjoy reading?
I have a room in my house we call “The Girls
Room.” It is a room with built-in bookshelves, a sofa and a very comfortable chair. We call it The Girl’s Room because it is furnished
rather daintily and most boys and/or men would not be comfortable in it. It has a nice stereo system and I listen to instrumental jazz when I read.
But as of late I read in bed just before I fall asleep and I love that as well.
What is your
favorite recently read book?
Family Tree by Barbara
Delinsky. This was a book that shows as well as you think you know anyone, you still don’t know everything about them. It also explores
how feelings of racism can exist in people who believe they are completely fair minded and without prejudice.
What book is at the top of your To Be Read list?
Heartstopper by Joy Fielding. I have read every other book by Joy and I absolutely love her style of writing. She is not an author I see much
about in the FR forums.
What is one of your listed books that's a sleeper?
Illuminata: A Return To Prayer by Marianne Williamson. This is a book that speaks to my
heart, literally. It relates to the beauty and the power of prayer. There are some amazing prayers in the book, prayers to start your day, end your
day and everything in between. I have one listed but I am also keeping one for myself always. It is a handbook for the spiritual journey I believe we
are all on.
What is one of your favorite things to do besides reading?
I love to spend time with my husband, doing nothing in particular, and just spending time together. I
recently went to spend time with a friend of mine out of town, who is having a difficult time and it is amazing how much I missed my sweetie after
being together for 28 years.
What is one of the most exciting things you've ever done?
This might not sound exciting for many people, but planning my
grandmother’s 100th birthday party was very exciting for me. I wanted it to be special for her and there were well over 250 guests
and she had a wonderful time. She is now 103 and still going strong.
What is something interesting about you that few (if any) people know?
I have a tendency to be very shy and introverted. I generally don’t open up to
“strangers” very well, but since being a member of FR that has changed. I can’t explain it but since participating in the
forums, I have made some wonderful friends. I am more open and available with people in my everyday life as well. Thank you FR members for
that!
What is one of the most insightful lessons you've learned in your life?
I have learned that all of the experiences we have had or will have are all the same. There is no life
experience that any or of us can have that someone else hasn’t been through. The challenge is how you react to it and what you learn from it.
If we are willing to share our experiences and be open about them it is unimaginable how much help we can be to each other. People just need to keep
talking and communicating with each other. We can make a difference without even knowing it.
What is one aspect of FR that you're particularly fond of and why?
Oh yeah, this is the easiest question. The FR forums.
What an outstanding concept. My God, we are like a real family. We have in depth discussions about issues, we discuss how much we care for each other
on one day and then the next day we may fall out with one another, than a resident peacemaker will tell us all off and we make up with each other,
only to start the whole cycle over again. When I have worries and concerns I can always come to the FR forums for understanding and prayers. People
who are members of FR that do not participate in the forums have no idea what they are missing.
Featured Feature
Whether you're looking for the books wanted by the most members, the most frequently traded books, or the members who are burning
up USPS sorting machines, you'll quickly find what you need on the Top Wishes and Top Books/Traders pages.
The
Top Wishes page was recently expanded to
display the top 100 most wished for books. The Top Books/Traders page displays the 25 most requested books and the 100 members with the best Shipping Record. Best of all these
pages display super fast now that we update them once a day in the wee hours of the night.
Spread the good news about FR to your family, friends and online buddies and earn a FREE credit when they sign up! Use the Tell A Friend page to send them an email with a link that automatically populates your nickname in
the referrer field, ensuring your free credit will be awarded. What would you like to see in the next edition of The Frugal
Reader? |
