Book Catalog Software
I have thousands of books and want to catalog them. Ideally what I want is a hand scanner which I can use to roll over their ISBN bar code, and software will automatically identify the book’s title and author.
I’ve looked a bit on Google, but can’t see too many products – at least not locally.
Has anyone got something similiar they would recommend? Cost is an issue, but functionality is more important.
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Tags: books, DPF
January 21st, 2009 at 9:19 am
I think there is an iPhone app that takes a photo of the barcode on a book and tells you the cheapest price in any local bookstores and on the web. Meant for use in book stores, but there may be something similar that just catalogs them for you.
January 21st, 2009 at 9:29 am
sounds like you need – a student.
January 21st, 2009 at 9:40 am
You could look at Libra: http://www.getlibra.com/ though the (free) software doesn’t seem to have been updated in a while. It supports using a webcam to grab the barcodes.
January 21st, 2009 at 9:47 am
If you’re a Mac user, Delicious Library is a fantastic application. Aside from the visual bookcase approach to presenting your library of books, CD’s, DVD’s etc, the application features: compatability with USB barcode scanners; ability to search via Amazon; and manual inputting of ISBN/barcode numbers. Highly recommended.
January 21st, 2009 at 10:05 am
Try http://www.librarything.com it’s free to catalogue up to 200 books and a lifetime subscription is US$25.
January 21st, 2009 at 10:44 am
libarything still requires considerable keying (author name and title keywords) to get the right book added to your database. DPF’s apparent hope is to wave a device at the ISBN barcode and have it all happen with no keystrokes.
January 21st, 2009 at 10:46 am
Mac OS X app: http://www.delicious-monster.com/
January 21st, 2009 at 10:57 am
libra looks good from the doco. It sounds like it is a bit unstable and fussy about web cams, but it also looks like if you can get it working, once they’re all scanned you can export to some other format, and then use whatever program you like.
January 21st, 2009 at 10:59 am
I think it automagically gets everything from the library of congress if it gets an ISBN. Apparently it does support mass imports of ISBNs. http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Adding_and_importing_books
January 21st, 2009 at 11:16 am
Tricky. Bugger all products locally because most public and large private libraries outsource their original cataloging these days or just buy bibliographic records straight from overseas publishers/book wholesalers/ Library of Congress.
However maintenance and weeding of catalogues still has to done in-house and many bigger public libraries have unique NZ published items that they have to do original cataloguing for so they must be using something that’s speedy. Ask them perhaps.
January 21st, 2009 at 11:23 am
It’s simple.
Just donate all your books to the local library – after a month they will all be catalogued in their system. Then you can search their database online and take out what ever book you need whenever you need it. Plus, think of all the space you’ll save in your house!
January 21st, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I have been using Book Collector now for a number of years. Is available on Mac OS X (which I use) or PC (which I used to use before I saw the light). See http://www.collectorz.com. They have several products. My library size is over 400 books in Book Collector and over 200 CD’s in Music Collector.
Features allow you to
1. use a scanner (although I have not got around to this).
2. enter or scan ISBN number and software searches libraries and book stores around the world for detail e.g. Library of Congress, Amazon, European libraries etc
3. keeping track of books you lend to friends
4. minimal data entry (older NZ books are an issue as here is no record of them in many libraries – sometimes Library of Australia has them)
5. loads and displays cover art plus notes on book plus music on CD
Lots of other features
Program is written and supported from The Netherlands and support is excellent. They answer your queries which is a good start. No issues with language because they are in The Netherlands.
Software is continually updated. My last update for Book Collector was downloaded this week and Music Collector has a major update avaulable although I have to pay $25 to get it (first time this has occurred) and I have not done so yet. No doubt a new purchase will get this new version.
I think both cost US$49.95 bu check the site – 90 day free trial is available.
January 21st, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Good idea spector, but these folksd think public libraries are evil and need to be handed over to Video Ezy to run.
January 21st, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Or just download a catalogue of every book ever published from the British Library and delete the ones you don’t have.
January 21st, 2009 at 12:55 pm
MyNameIsJack: link please.
I think “these folks” is a bit of a generalisation. I’ve seen plenty who think we spend more than we need to on libraries, and that we run them inefficiently. I have even seen those who think libraries would be better run as charitable organisations, and should get out of the business of competing with Video Ezy. I don’t recall anybody suggesting that we privatise libraries, or that we get Video Ezy to run them. I certainly don’t recall anybody thinking they were “evil”.
Perhaps you accidentally left your brain in “the Standard” mode before you came and commented here? That kind of comment goes down really well over there – assertions with absolutely no evidence, and that don’t even pass the sniff test, but that are great for straw man debates and demonising your opposition.
January 21st, 2009 at 1:09 pm
BookScoutPro might be worth a look. It is designed to scan barcodes and return prices (and other details) on sale sites via mobile or PDA. It keeps a record of book details which can be downloaded. Don’t know anything about prices, sorry.
January 21st, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Don’t know if any of these will help….
http://isbntools.com/
January 21st, 2009 at 1:21 pm
What would be cool is a similar thing but for wine. Scan all my wine barcodes, and have it tell me what they’re worth, when they’re due for drinking, and whether I should bring them out when the in-laws come visiting. I’ve been meaning to do that by hand with an Excel spreadsheet. But an application would be very cool.
January 21st, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Like Poliwatch I was using one of the ‘Collector’ programs – I think I had the DVD one. This has the ability to scan barcodes in. I have seen the barcode scanners available from Dick Smith. They cost, like, $99, and I would guess can work with about any program?
See http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4976830602511db22740c0a87f3b068e/Product/View/XH1709
January 21st, 2009 at 3:34 pm
*pulls up couch*
So… how long have you been suffering Obessive Compulsive Disorder?
January 21st, 2009 at 3:43 pm
I have used collectorz as well with some success, but think if you have a lot of books the scanner would be neat.
One factor though, the ISBN numbers for a lot of books here do not always seem to correspond with those in the repositories accessed by the programme, that may be because some are printed in Australia
January 21st, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Honestly, you can’t go past Delicious Library. That thing is just awesome.
January 21st, 2009 at 8:45 pm
I also use ‘Book Collector’ from collectorz.com and can recommend it. Supports a scanner but I don’t have one so type in ISBNs manually.
January 21st, 2009 at 9:54 pm
It would seem to me such a scanner would be common by now. But if David can’t find one technology must still be a lil slow.
Never mind, there’s a black man in the White House. Nothings impossible!
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:16 am
David,
If you are not aware if it, you might like to have a look at Freepint. The blurb goes:
“Joining FreePint is free at and connects information practitioners around the world with resources, events and answers to their tricky research and information questions at the FreePint Bar, our free online forum: . ” Go to http://www.freepint.com
personally I don’t get a lot from it but then I’m definitely not a geek. From my browsing, your sort of question would get responses from a global geeky information-user professional audience and you would probably get ongoing value from the regular newsletters and articles.
Anyhoo, have a look fwiw and let us know how you get on.
cheers
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:45 am
Forget cataloguing! Think of the great reads you stumble on or otherwise come back into mind as you hunt for a title.
The time you spend installing the software, classifying and entering the titles, could be better spent reading or re-reading half a dozen of your books. Just a rough division into fiction, then non-fiction sections such as computing, history, politics, biography etc ought to be sufficient….
Or if this is too much get a librarian girlfriend.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Yes you have thousands of books. Now we know how learned you are etc etc.
Delicious Library is your best bet for this if you have a mac. It even uses the built-in or external iSight camera to read the barcode (you just hold the barcode in front of the camera and DL does the rest). The ISBN lookup is done through Amazon and it downloads cover-art (if available) and builds up a virtual library for you.