Members will now notice a list of recommendations on the “Search Details” page of some books titled, “Members who rented this title also enjoyed:”  This is not your typical list of recommendations.  These titles are based not only on their popularity with other members, but their relationship with other titles those members have rented.

It works like this:  First it looks at which members rented a specific title (in this case, the Search Details page of the title you are currently on).  Second, it looks at all the other titles those members rented in the same genre.  Third, it looks at what those member rated those titles.  Finally, it weeds out any title you’ve rented, rated, reviewed, or currently have on your list.  The final result is a list of titles that were rented and highly rated (typically 4 to 5 starts) by other members who have also rented the title you are currently viewing the Search Details page of.

Now some members might ask, “Why don’t all the titles have these recommendations on them?”  The simple answer is, not every title has been rented by other members who have read and rated highly other titles in the same genre (like new releases).  Your “My Recommendations” section on our site simply recommends titles that were highly rated by other members in genres from which you have rented titles from.  The recommendations on the Search Details page look at who has rented a specific title in a specific genre, then, the other titles those members have read and rated highly in the same genre.

We recently added a new notification feature that will email members on the first of each month about new releases by their favorite authors. When a member adds an author to their Favorite Authors list, the system will trigger an email notice to that member whenever that author releases a new title that’s available to rent.

No more wondering when your favorite authors release a new title. We’ll send you an email and let you know.

We recently launched our new “Ship Next” feature. Basically, members now have the ability to choose one title (2 for 9 and 12 at-a-time paperback members) ever 30 days that they want to ship in their next order. Normally, our system selects the first available titles on your list. If the title at number one on your list is currently not in stock, but other titles below it are, we take the available title(s) in order to get your next order out as quickly as possible.

By using the new “Ship Next” feature on your list, there may be a day or two delay if the title you have selected is not readily available at the time of your next order. The trade off is, you will get this title in your next order. To learn more about this new feature, please visit your “My List” page.

We have expanded our Browse and Advanced Search pages to include every category available, no matter how big or small.  We also made the category on the search details page of any book clickable so you have easy access to all the titles in that category.

We have recently made major enhancements to our data, including a dramatic increase in the number of discs in an audiobook, and pages in a book. We have also added thousands of narrators to our audiobook data.

In addition to the dramatic increase in data, we have also added popup details to the thumbnail jacket cover of all titles. Simply pass your mouse arrow (courser) over any jacket cover and a small window will popup with all the details of the book or audiobook. We will also be adding the popup details to the title text links on members “My List” page soon.

For those of you who fall in love with a book or audiobook you’ve rented, this is for you.  We have always given members the ability to keep a title they have rented by simply paying a discounted price for it.  We have now made this ability to keep a title more prominent and streamlined.  Members will now notice a “Keep” button below the list of titles they currently have checked out.  Next to each title is a checkbox, simply check the title or titles you would like to keep and click the “Keep” button.  You will then be allowed to review your selections and purchase them.  That’s it, quick and simply.  The title or titles are cleared from your account and are yours to keep.