The Magazine

Foursquare badges aren’t just for cool kids anymore

49

on December 7th, 2010

Bookworm BadgeFoursquare has lots of badges for checking in to cool places, but they’ve been a little short on badges for the not-so-cool ones. Today that changes with the release of the Bookworm badge. The new badge rewards users who’ve checked in at book stores and libraries.

The unlock text simply reads:

You Nerd!

A bookworm badge was a very popular badge suggestion earlier this year. It kicked off a long thread on foursquare’s Get Satisfaction support site and even inspired one user to create a mockup of the badge. That one was geared solely toward checkins at libraries.

What do you think of the Bookworm badge?

  • http://www.allankintz.com ack154

    Oh god… this means my g/f has a reason to go to B&N!

    Nooooooo.

    Side note: Yay for a badge that isn’t locked into major cities and I can actually earn!

  • Psyratt

    Love it!!

  • http://www.leftforread.com rhea

    I love it, I was one of the people wishing for this one!

  • http://foursquare.com/paulaldsts Paula Bardell-Hedley

    This badge is right up my street. Thank you Foursquare! :-)

  • http://mikesilverman.com Mike

    Anyone know how to get it?
    I just checked into a local bookstore, and didn’t get the badge, so I am guessing it takes a certain number of checkins.

  • Hector

    How do you get this badge? Just one check in? Thanks in advance

  • http://twitter.com/SpamSpam Spam

    It’s too bad this badge doesn’t get unlocked at libraries. I think it’s even more important to reward people for that!

    • http://twitter.com/SpamSpam Spam

      Oh wait, just noticed the edit saying that library check-ins count too. VERY cool.

  • http://foursquare.com/paulaldsts Paula Bardell-Hedley

    Same here, Mike. I wonder how many visits/bookstores it takes to get the badge?

  • Jump!

    gonna visit some bookstores and libraries…

  • http://iaskedforacrambled.blogspot.com Cheryl

    I agree, I wish this was able to be unlocked at libraries as well. I’m there way more than at an actual bookstore.

  • Matt

    I just unlocked it at a library!

  • http://4sqnorway.wordpress.com/ Tecfan

    my guess would be 3 checkins.

    http://foursquare.com/venue/4531753

    she has 3 checkins at this book store (the last 60 days), and she has the badge

  • http://robert.aitchison.org Robert Aitchison

    Hmm, there are two library categories, one under “College & Education” and the other under “Home/Work/Other”. I wonder if both of those qualify for the badge.

    On a related note it seems that most of the Public Libraries in my area seem to have the College & Education category, I suppose I will need to fix that.

    • Chris Thompson

      I’ve seen unlocks at both, so yes, I’m pretty sure either one will work.

  • Chris (FoursquareHelp)

    Finally a reward for the countless nights I’ve spent studying at the library this semester!

  • http://shansteffen.com Shannon Steffen

    Absolutely love it! I’ve been mayor at my Barnes and Noble ever since Foursquare came out and it’s about time! I just happen to check into Barnes and Noble a few minutes ago (not knowing about the badge) and got a great surprise to see it! Way to go Foursquare! Us nerds love it!

  • http://mikesilverman.com Mike

    It doesn’t look like the badge is retroactive.

    I am mayor of our local Borders, and go there several times a week, but none of my past check ins seem to be counted when I checked in today, as I didn’t get the badge.

    • Chris Thompson

      Are you sure the venue is categorized as a bookstore (probably in the primary category)?

  • http://twitter.com/l1br4r14n Jonathan

    Perhaps you have to check-in at multiple locations? I’m also guessing that this IS retroactive as I just checked in at a library and was immediately awarded the badge.

  • Pingback: Readers rejoice! Foursquare introduces Bookworm badge | Afterword | National Post

  • Katie Felten

    yay for the bookworm badge

  • debi houck

    What a surprise to get this badge. I go by borders at least 2x per week and the library 1-2x weekly also. Was at the library yesterday and just checked in borders. Nice surprise!

  • twjonesjr

    I have at least 13 check-ins at three different Borders and my university’s two libraries and I did not unlock the badge this afternoon when I checked in at a Borders this afternoon. So that would be at least 5 unique venues that I can think of off the top of my head.

    Maybe also a time requirement like 9 to 5, Dog’s best friend, etc?

  • dee

    I checked into a library today and sadly didn’t get the badge either. I’ve checked into Borders and Barnes in the past, also libraries as well so idk if it is retroactive.

  • http://selfdeprecating.wordpress.com Saro

    As a former mayor (trying to steal it back! ;) ) at my university library, I have over 20 check ins including today, but I didn’t unlock the badge.

    Is it based on the last 60 days, I wonder?

  • PK

    I became mayor of the Fred Parks Law Library today with my 45th check-in and nada.

  • http://foursquare.com/bauserdotcom Michael Bauser

    Wow, that user-designed mockup was fucking hideous. It looks like a giant boulder is about to fall off a cliff and sink a sailboat.

    Also, a bunch of you guys are trying way too hard. It’s not a limited edition badge, The world won’t end if you don’t earn it today.

  • http://twitter.com/karilikesafari Kari

    I got the Bookworm badge today – believe it takes 3 check-ins to places categorized as libraries and/or bookstores. SOOOO happy this badge is now available to help justify my mayorship of my local library. :)

  • Jennifer Simon Halai

    Applaud the cred that the badge gives for checkins at libraries and bookstores, but why call them “not-so-cool” when your own users (whom I assume you think are cool) asked for a badge like this?

    • Chris (FoursquareHelp)

      It’s just a joke… nothing to take seriously.

  • http://foursquare.com/paulaldsts Paula Bardell-Hedley

    Got this badge with two Bookstores and one Library! :-)

  • Nick

    5 valid checkins at libraries and bookstores. Still nothing.

    • Nick

      Got it on the 6th checkin. It was a bookstore.

  • slimydog

    Got this from one check-in at a Barnes and Noble. Note that this was a legit Barnes and Noble that was associated with a special check-in offer.

  • http://www.twitter.com/nfkadam Adam S

    I work at a bookstore so I should be able to earn this one. I also frequent the library and other bookstores in town. I have over 40 check-ins at bookstores and libraries in the last 60 days so I should earn it today when I check-in at work.

    I love this badge already.

  • nikkideevah

    I got it with two check ins..

  • DannyS

    Five check-ins at Barnes & Nobles, Borders, and three university libraries since this badge was released and I still don’t have it. I can no longer tell if Foursquare is “playfully vague” about how to earn these badges, “woefully twisted”, or if their system is actually broken.

  • Spike-A-Rooney

    I just got this. I checked into Barnes & Nobles and Borders one day, my Library the next day, and a local book store today.

  • http://www.fleshtones.org Tapteguin

    I got it on December 8th in Paris, France!

    The day before the announcement, I had checked in a bookstore (I am the major as well, but had not visited it for about 2-3 weeks).
    http://foursquare.com/venue/9441258

    I am a regular visitor / major of a library (3 check-ins per week).
    http://foursquare.com/venue/2042889

    The day after the announcement, I checked in first in the abovementioned library and then in the bookstore. I got the badge at the bookstore.

    I hope it helps!

  • http://www.lai.my Lance

    I discovered that the Nerd badge is unlocked at “Home/Work/Other -> Library”

    University based library cannot unlock this badge.

    Foursquare must allow both types of library to unlock the badge, to be fair.

  • Scott

    I’ve checked in at 2 libraries and 2 bookstores and still nothing. I don’t understand the Foursquare logic on the awarding of badges. I am in St. Louis, MO

    • DannyS

      I know what you mean. I am up to three public libraries and four bookstores in the last week and still no badge.

  • dee

    Think I’ll give up on this badge. No win.

  • Allison

    i wish university libraries counted towards this badge :(

  • Lorri

    Are you going to clarify how to get this badge?

  • Josh

    Yeah University Libraries don’t count. I’ve checked into mine at least a dozen times since this badge came out. Nothing.

  • Kim

    can anyone tell me how tell me if this badge is active. I have been to the b&n at least 5 times and the library twice and still no badge.
    thanks

    • http://www.csfineartscenter.org Becca

      I just earned this badge by checking into 3 bookstores: one indy store in Boulder and 2 in Colorado Springs, including a used bookstore and Borders. Yepp. Still active!

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