Software Programs for Cataloging a Collection to High Levels of Detail.
Talk Librarians who LibraryThing
Join LibraryThing to post.
This topic is currently marked as "dormant"—the last message is more than 90 days old. You can revive it by posting a reply.
1ocfinebooks
Can anyone recommend either a free OR not too prohibitively expensive software program for a Windows 7 or 8 or even 10 laptop that will catalog in detail my 5,000 plus title collection ? Since most are pre 1968 any ISBN driven ID system is inappropriate.
For years I`ve used BookList 5 which used to be available from Michael Cole of The Clique in York, UK which lets me freely input in separate `boxes` Author, Title, Publisher place/date/printer, Physical Description covers, format, condition, contents... with ample space to add a `Keynotes` section specifying what makes the book stand out whether in production quality, bibliographic or literary significance... with a separate series of boxes including one for ISBNs used by book sellers uploading lists to Amazon & other sale sites.
Up to now, BookList 5 did all that I needed, but it will only fully function up to Windows 7 & 8, & apparently can`t be amended to cope competently with Windows 10.
After a significant investment of time, so far I`ve catalogued over 3,300 of my titles, so I`d also be interested as to the extent IF at all any recommended program would allow me to transfer the current catalog into the new program`s system as re-keying all the data from scratch would be an almost unacceptable option.
I`m aware that LibraryThing offers a cataloging facility to members, but I tried it years ago & it was not right for my requirements, as I need a separate, stand alone program such as would be employed by either a librarian or a book seller who must both face the need to transfer data from obsolete to updated catalog programs.
Hoping someone can help - best wishes from a sunny SW of France....John of ocfb.
For years I`ve used BookList 5 which used to be available from Michael Cole of The Clique in York, UK which lets me freely input in separate `boxes` Author, Title, Publisher place/date/printer, Physical Description covers, format, condition, contents... with ample space to add a `Keynotes` section specifying what makes the book stand out whether in production quality, bibliographic or literary significance... with a separate series of boxes including one for ISBNs used by book sellers uploading lists to Amazon & other sale sites.
Up to now, BookList 5 did all that I needed, but it will only fully function up to Windows 7 & 8, & apparently can`t be amended to cope competently with Windows 10.
After a significant investment of time, so far I`ve catalogued over 3,300 of my titles, so I`d also be interested as to the extent IF at all any recommended program would allow me to transfer the current catalog into the new program`s system as re-keying all the data from scratch would be an almost unacceptable option.
I`m aware that LibraryThing offers a cataloging facility to members, but I tried it years ago & it was not right for my requirements, as I need a separate, stand alone program such as would be employed by either a librarian or a book seller who must both face the need to transfer data from obsolete to updated catalog programs.
Hoping someone can help - best wishes from a sunny SW of France....John of ocfb.
2bernsad
Have you explored around here lately? I think it's pretty good. What do you see is missing or can't be adapted to your purpose?
3jjwilson61
>1 ocfinebooks: as I need a separate, stand alone program such as would be employed by either a librarian or a book seller who must both face the need to transfer data from obsolete to updated catalog programs
While LT isn't separate, you do need an internet connection if that's what you mean, they have recently improved the data import and export facilities, allowing many options including MARC import. If you really need to access the data away from the internet you could download the catalog into a format that you can read with any spreadsheet program for use off-line.
While LT isn't separate, you do need an internet connection if that's what you mean, they have recently improved the data import and export facilities, allowing many options including MARC import. If you really need to access the data away from the internet you could download the catalog into a format that you can read with any spreadsheet program for use off-line.
4ulmannc
One does not have to use everything that is in an entry. Just use what works for you. That's what I do.
Now the standard comment. You may have already done this but try manually entering, say 10 or 20, books and then run reports and searches and see if it does what you want. Next, assuming your system has an export function, export another 20, import them and see how much you may have to add. Don't use csv if you can avoid it as it does choke on punctuation. tab delimited is much more forgiving of embedded punctuation.
Make sure you read the instructions first - I know that is a dumb comment but having been the designated executive tester at the company where I used to work, I was the one who was told to test with no instructions - - but then that is for another day.
Now the standard comment. You may have already done this but try manually entering, say 10 or 20, books and then run reports and searches and see if it does what you want. Next, assuming your system has an export function, export another 20, import them and see how much you may have to add. Don't use csv if you can avoid it as it does choke on punctuation. tab delimited is much more forgiving of embedded punctuation.
Make sure you read the instructions first - I know that is a dumb comment but having been the designated executive tester at the company where I used to work, I was the one who was told to test with no instructions - - but then that is for another day.
5ocfinebooks
Thanks for the advice so far - I prefer a program that will be incorporated onto my laptop & therefore usable when the internet is down as happens far too often for comfort in my part of France. John at ocfinebooks.
6ocfinebooks
I`ve recently found a review of Bookseller, Library & Collectors Book Inventory Programs at http://www.whiteunicornbooks.com/home/bookinventoryprograms.html - I`ll give a first trial to the free bookseller program available from ABE as Homebase & offered in two versions = 2.3 and 3.0 as they seem to offer all the aspects vital to me. I`ll aim to report back as & when, regarding the extent its provisional promises were fulfilled. Thanks again - John @ ocfinebooks.
7gjcooper
Works on Windows 10. You need to copy comdlg20.ocx and msmask32.ocx from an older system into c:\windows\syswow64.
8MrKillick
You could have a look at Datacrow (http://datacrow.net). It's a free collection management software written in Java, so working on any system with a JRE.
It comes with with several pre-defined modules including a book module. These modules can be changed completely to your liking: adding fields, renaming fields, deleting unused fields or making them invisible. Tinkering with the database is not completely straight forward at the beginning but once you get the knack of it it's quite powerful. And 5000 titles should be no problem at all, it's based on a robust SQL DBMS (HSQLDB).
Do you depend on importing your old data? This can be a little fiddly but is possible.
Drop me a line if you consider using it.
It comes with with several pre-defined modules including a book module. These modules can be changed completely to your liking: adding fields, renaming fields, deleting unused fields or making them invisible. Tinkering with the database is not completely straight forward at the beginning but once you get the knack of it it's quite powerful. And 5000 titles should be no problem at all, it's based on a robust SQL DBMS (HSQLDB).
Do you depend on importing your old data? This can be a little fiddly but is possible.
Drop me a line if you consider using it.
10nate48281
Collectorz Book Collector https://www.collectorz.com/book
I've tried it a few times and it's not for me as a monthly subscription service to keep my book collection in a cloud is nuts to me (hence LibraryThing), but it may work for you as they also have just a stand alone desktop client for $50. I think the trial is good for 100 books, so you can see how it works for you.
Years ago I had their movie collection software, and their support on their forums was really good, but they moved to internal databases that had very little data in them, and that's when they lost me. That was a decade ago though, and was for their movie software, so since they're still around I'm guessing they figured things out.
I've tried it a few times and it's not for me as a monthly subscription service to keep my book collection in a cloud is nuts to me (hence LibraryThing), but it may work for you as they also have just a stand alone desktop client for $50. I think the trial is good for 100 books, so you can see how it works for you.
Years ago I had their movie collection software, and their support on their forums was really good, but they moved to internal databases that had very little data in them, and that's when they lost me. That was a decade ago though, and was for their movie software, so since they're still around I'm guessing they figured things out.
11Phlegethon99
The problem with Collectorz (which I also use for my DVD/BluRay and CD collections) is that their database is ridiculously small and depends on their users manually adding to it through their CLZ cloud services - which of course requires some critical mass to get anywhere. About 90% of my CDs are not previously listed or the available data is either false or incomplete. Manually correcting entries actually takes more time than manually entering them into a database altogether, therefore I vouch for Citavi if you have more than just a few hundred books to catalogue. And Citavi is professional software for librarians unlike Collectorz, which is for mere hobbyists.
12Teacup_
I don't suggest anyone uses Collectorz. I've been using them for years but I got fed up with the ongoing updates and each updates (sometimes with only minuscule changes) demands a purchase of the software. I felt being taken advantage of.
If you're still looking for a program, I would recommend both BookCat- a one time purchase software. It works great on Windows, allows you to download metadata from good resources. Easy to use interface and also has a circulation/automation feature. It looks like a library OPAC but for a smaller scale repository. I used it to catalog a small library collection for years. The only downside to it is that it's not on a server, so if you're using it only on one computer then you're fine but if you want to make changes online then it's a hassle.
We eventually migrated to LibraryWorld. It's a subscription based software that costs not more than $400 or $500 a year. Unlike BookCat it runs entirely online and has a phone app too. It has more features than BookCat. Aside from editing MARC records, printing reports and circulating, they also help you migrate your records and print barcodes. I've also been with them for years and their customer service is decent. The only thing I didn't like is that the catalog interface shows limited amounts of books at a time. I just didn't like the outline of the database but it worked really well with us for years.
If you're still looking for a program, I would recommend both BookCat- a one time purchase software. It works great on Windows, allows you to download metadata from good resources. Easy to use interface and also has a circulation/automation feature. It looks like a library OPAC but for a smaller scale repository. I used it to catalog a small library collection for years. The only downside to it is that it's not on a server, so if you're using it only on one computer then you're fine but if you want to make changes online then it's a hassle.
We eventually migrated to LibraryWorld. It's a subscription based software that costs not more than $400 or $500 a year. Unlike BookCat it runs entirely online and has a phone app too. It has more features than BookCat. Aside from editing MARC records, printing reports and circulating, they also help you migrate your records and print barcodes. I've also been with them for years and their customer service is decent. The only thing I didn't like is that the catalog interface shows limited amounts of books at a time. I just didn't like the outline of the database but it worked really well with us for years.
13nate48281
Oh wow, I just assumed Collectorz had gotten better. When they moved their sources to internal for their movie database years ago they were relying completely on users to populate it... so users were essentially paying to work for them, and that's when I deleted my account. I assumed they had figured it out over the years, but apparently not, yikes.
14Teacup_
>13 nate48281: Well to be fair, I haven't been using them for a couple of years now because of that issue. I'm not sure if they drastically changed things. It's a shame though cuz the software is decent. I just got fed up of the payments.
