New: Much better Goodreads Import

We've pushed out a major redo to our Import system, starting with the Goodreads import.

Short Version

Major changes include

• Better, clearer and more detailed import options. It should now be trivial to keep your LibraryThing and Goodreads in sync in the way you like it.
• A progress bar and progress updates as you browse around the site
• A "Your Imports" page with details on your imports
• Optional labels to identify your imports
• An "Import detail" page for each import, with a granular view of how your data was handled
• Your Books now has a filtered view of the books from each import
• The (new) Edit History page can also be viewed by import

The import page can be found here https://www.librarything.com/newimport/goodreads

Longer Version

The Goodreads Import is now carefully laid out in four steps. All imports under the system are now tracked and available to view, and you can add an additional "Label" for your own organization.



When you upload, you get a quick run-down on what LibraryThing found:



After this, "Questions" allows you to customize just how your import will be handled, and what to do with books already in your LibraryThing catalog or previously imported from Goodreads.

Most users will go with the default options but—hey—this is LibraryThing! You can customize things extensively.

Among the options you can:

• Import your "Exclusive Bookshelves" and "Bookshelves" as either Collections or Tags
• Custom settings for handling books that are already in your catalog
• Add Collections or Tags to all books in the import

Here's what it looks like when your import is in progress, but you can go elsewhere and it will keep you updated on the progress of the import. You can also stop an import.



Here's the "Your Imports" page, with links

• New functionality for managing imports
• A list of all of your imports from the new import system
• Optional labels to identify your imports

Improved data on how your books were imported

• An "import detail" page for each import, for a granular view of how your data was handled
• A filtered view of the books from each import, in your catalog
• See your import on the edit history page
• After the import is complete, you can see how each row was handled

The new Goodreads Import system is designed to work with files directly exported from Goodreads; we kindly ask that you do not modify the file before uploading, to avoid unexpected results. Likewise, we ask that you do not try to use this for other types of imports by editing your file to match the Goodreads format. Fear not—we will have support for other import file types soon!

We have plans to update the rest of the imports as soon as we can.

>1 knerd.knitter: "...do not try to use this for other types of imports by editing your file to match the Goodreads format"

Too late, I've upload an one-entry import prior to this post for tanslation purpose.

Thank you! I am going to give this a try in the very near future. Although I've tweaked my current LT library after an import, I'm rethinking it. I want to be LT and GR parallel, so importing regularly would be a good idea. I'll come back and let you know how it worked for me.

what happens with a library which was partially imported in the past?

>4 .mau.: If a Goodreads import is in progress in the old system, I believe it will complete. But any new Goodreads import should be uploaded on the new page.

>5 knerd.knitter: My last import was five years ago or so...

>6 .mau.:

Old imports are not re-processed, but we do store the goodreads IDs, so that if you re-import, it will know which books are the same.

Is there any way to export to something that could be imported on Goodreads? I'd like the two accounts to be in sync, but my LibraryThing catalog is more up to date than my goodreads shelf.

>8 msevans: That depends on GR, what file types it can handle (and whether it can just update without duplicating existing files) . LT on it's part has 4 export options https://www.librarything.com/export.php

Not sure if this is the place to report that I seem to be stuck at 4 books in a fresh import I started today. It's been going about 10 minutes. Is that normal? Am I just being impatient? Do I need to report it somewhere else to be looked into?

>10 DebiCates: Imports often go awry, especially on weekends when the staff isn't around. But more information would be helpful. Is it a Goodreads import, or an import from some other format?

Also, in all problem/bug reports, it's helpful to report what sort of machine you are using (e.g. Windows PC, Mac, Chromebook, including the model), the operating system you are using (e.g. Windows 11, Mac OS 26), and the browser and version (e.g. Chrome 100.0.1, Firefox 145.0.2). That's not likely your problem here, but better for the staff to know.

>11 waltzmn: And it is better to report it as a fresh bug in the Bug Collectors group rather than tagging it onto a thread about something else :-)

>12 bnielsen: Yes, but if it's a Goodreads import, then the Goodreads import is perhaps not much improved. :-)

Given how often imports get stuck, there should probably be a new thread, "Imports stuck -- again," or the like, to partition it off from all the other bugs.

Thanks everyone! I suspected this was not quite the right place (but it sort of was in that y'all have been here and been helpful). I stopped the import, still stuck at 4 books after over an hour, so seems just an aggravation to keep checking it. I'll try fresh again when GR staff is available and if I get stuck again, go over to the Bug Collectors and report it.

>13 waltzmn: Do you know if people usually have better luck with the same import file (yes, from GR) and simply trying again later? Or will it likely require some sort of intervention by staff?

>15 DebiCates: For other imports, the staff often had to "kick" the queue to get it started again. If you can wait until Monday, I'd wait until then, and ask them reboot it. Otherwise, you might get multiple copies of the few books that perhaps worked. :-)

I can't guarantee that this is true for the updated Goodreads importer, because it's still new, but I strongly suspect it is.

>16 waltzmn: Thanks for the reply and pointers. Much appreciated. I'll wait until Monday, try again, and see how it goes without bugging anyone. If it sticks again, then I'll reach out. If it goes and duplicates 4 books, I can handle deleting them.

Heck, I can delete those 4 right now.

Just as predicted, it's now working! I reported the issue on The Bug Collectors yesterday and got a reply early this morning that it is fixed and try again. It's bopping along and almost done.

Thank you all for the help here!