Ability to order search results by rating, popularity etc

Given all the amazing things LT can do, it still puzzles me that it is not possible to organize search results in any way. I often use LT ratings and reviews to decide if I want to order a book or not. Sometimes I have time to look at all the possible candidates in the field I'm interested in and sometimes I just want the book with the highest average rating.

Say I want to order a biography of Walt Disney. I search for one on LT and get many results. I just want to buy the one that most LTers agree is the best one, yet to know which one that is I have to open each and every one of the search results in a different tab. If one could just sort the results by average rating this wouldn't be necessary. Other people might want to get the book with the highest popularity (the book read by the largest amount of people) - or, perhaps, the one read by the smallest amount of people. It would be a handy way to find the more 'obscure' books on the subject.

The same goes not only with so specific a search but more generic ones too. When looking for books on childrearing I assume many people would want the book with the highest ratings from other parents. Or if one wants an introduction to sociolinguistics, or is interested in 'alternative history' and wants to start with the most highly rated books in the genre. Right now it is only possible to see the books 'most often tagged alternative history' - but not the most highly rated ones with that tag. I think the ability to order search results could prove very useful to many people who, like me, just want the quickest way to find the book with the highest rating on a particular subject/in a particular genre.

Completely agree. SHoudl love to see it.

It would be great to be able to sort search results by average rating. Good idea.

Seconded (or is it thirded) over here!

Just to throw this in there, would love to see in the search results that if you have the work or not.

The ability to sort by rating would be great.

I like this idea. It would be very helpful if implemented.

any other takers? Tim? :)

Hooray for searching by rating!

Brilliant idea!!!!

I agree with this recommendation with all my heart, spirit and soul.

I would love love love to be able to do any of these things with search results.

Bump!

Is it appropriate to bump RSI's. Bugs, sure, it says something like, "this bug is still getting in my way, when are you going to get to it." Although with the new bug tracking system perhaps bug bumping won't be necessary any longer.

But RSI bumping seems to me like it's saying "I'd really love this feature. Why aren't you implementing it? Please drop everything and work on my feature request!".

I'd keep bumping every couple weeks, until there's a response (yea or nay) from staff. Perhaps someday they'll add tracking features to RSI like they have for bugs.

Tim has stated before that with RSIs he sometimes waits to see if they 'bubble back to the surface'. IE, if interest in them is sustained, and if it shows up again and again.

So yes, I think bumping RSIs to see if there are any new voices on the matter is perfectly legitimate. If no one else is interested, after all, then it won't gain any posts by new folk expressing new support!

Yup, bumping is completely appropriate, unless Tim says otherwise. Has he said otherwise? Not that I know of. Please link if so. As Aerrin99 stated, he's always encouraged bubbling.

And no, I didn't type all that just to bump it again, really! ;)

Just chiming in to agree that bumping RSIs is perfectly legit.

I agree with r.orrison; bumping periodically (once every couple weeks) for RSIs should be entirely appropriate. Chances are very good Tim didn't see the post the first, or second or tenth, time, after all.

Wouldn't it be better to add it to Zoe's poll thread. There are so many RSI's that if everyone kept bumping the threads for them there would be nothing but bumps in the RSI group.

20> That's known as bubbling. The ones people want most keep bubbling back to the top.

I'm not a big fan of that method, but it seems to be what Tim prefers.

Zoes poll thread is useful, but at some point it got far too unwieldy.

This is already on the poll thread anyway.

I think at this point the poll thread has already generated enough useful data to keep Tim occupied for a long time. Once the easiest and highest priority improvements from the list have been implemented, I'll start a new poll thread. The problem with adding new suggestions gradually over time is that the thread gets clogged with talking. It would also help if Tim would endorse the poll thread and tell people that they should vote, but even the few stragglers still following the thread apparently don't want that (?).

If bubbling were always different people adding to the thread or starting new threads for the same or similar features then I can see its value as a way of judging its popularity. But if its the same person bumping the thread every few weeks then it just indicates the determination of that person.

Bah!

*bubbles*

The problem is that staff sometimes pop in on a thread that's been around for months, or years, and resolve it in a few minutes. The goal isn't to attempt to convince them, with further arguments or additional support (since that doesn't seem to make much difference -- a thread can potter along for months with discussion and agreement from everyone involved, apparently ignored by staff); the goal is just to get their notice.

The current bug tracking is great, as it gives much better visibility to staff of things they have been ignoring not noticed, and it gets the community quick responses, even if they're negative.

Tim has implied that such tracking may be extended to RSI someday.

Could always require a fun bump instead of a standard bump. Make it humourous in some way. One support forum I help out on, you can only bump if you write up as a haiku.

I'd support a haiku requirement for bumping.

I think there needs to be 'levels' of this. If you are really serious about wanting a new feature, you have to write a sonnet in iambic pentameter; a standard level bump would require a haiku; if it's just a 'me too', then a limerick would suffice.

If bubbling were always different people adding to the thread or starting new threads for the same or similar features then I can see its value as a way of judging its popularity. But if its the same person bumping the thread every few weeks then it just indicates the determination of that person.

I didn't bump the thread every few weeks, I bumped it once and, unless my memory is deceiving me, this would be the first time I've ever recommended a new feature (because it's the only thing I really want) so I don't think it's such a big deal.

Haiku bumps sound great though.
(Must learn to write them)

a thread can potter along for months with discussion and agreement from everyone involved, apparently ignored by staff);

Yep, like this one.

the goal is just to get their notice.
Exactly.

Haiku bumps sound great
I'd support a requirement
(Must learn to write them)

With much hope, I wait
To sort searches by rating
From this, most would gain

Always strange to see
Posts of mine from years ago
I've forgot about

When searching Librar' Thing for books
It always takes so many looks
I want the best rating
or the oldest dating
So why can't Search sort the books?

I can just about manage a limerick.