Inventory

After books are entered and barcoded, is there a way to do inventory and get a list of what's missing?

In 'Your Books', one of the menus includes 'Take Inventory'. If you click on that and have your catalogue sorted by your shelf order, inventory is very easy. At least the part about seeing what's on the shelf. LT doesn't tell me where the other books ended up.

And yes, you can get the list of each status.

So how do you turn OFF the inventory function? Nothing jumps out at me.

Ignore prior question. I figured it out. If one keeps pushing buttons things happen. . . says the retired ad-hoc executive tester with fat fingers!

>3 ulmannc: What do you mean with turn off?

Unless if you click on it, it is as if it is not there. If you are still seeing it, just switch the drop down to tags or authors (or click on list) and it will disappear from view...

I wanted to get back to a view that didn't have the inventory check off box. I clicked on "List" and the inventory stuff went away! I did try switching to some other view and come back and the inventory function was still there. Clicking "list" did the trick.

Hi, I'm still learning about various features of LT as they may apply to our volunteer library. I tried to take inventory and it did not work. There is not much online information about troubleshooting this feature. I added/scanned a book into the library and then turned inventory on, whereupon I re-scanned the book and nothing happens? Do I need to use a Cue Cat? I'm using my iPhone to scan the ISBN. Any suggestions on what I can or should do? Thank you!

>7 boyerjh: There's a couple of flags here, for me, as you're describing your issue:

1. You mention using your iPhone to scan the book in the "Take Inventory" feature. How exactly are you doing this? Are you on LibraryThing.com on your phone and using a scanner app (if so, what app)? Are you able to use the same method of scanning for simply searching "Your books" or adding a book from the "Add books" page? What exactly do you mean by "nothing happens" - can you give me a list of steps you take (what device/s you're using, what page/s you navigate and buttons/links you use, and what you see after each step, including any error message/s throughout the process)?

2. How soon after adding the book to your catalog do you try searching for it in "Take Inventory"? It's possible that your book was not yet indexed by the time you tried searching for it—especially if LT was experiencing any server delays at the time of your search. You may want to try again to see if it's still not working for you.

Thanks for your help!

See below for my latest questions.

I saw your other response which directed me here. I will copy my replies from the other location here so everything is in one place. I will update the other location with a note that I copied my latest here. Sorry for any confusion.

Oh, now I see. Ok, scratch using LT App on barcodes, and in anycase, we don't use barcodes. Ok, so my options are limited to walking around with my iPad and "clicking" off books as I see them on shelves. The catalog is already being organized by collections so I can do sections at a time. Even though my iPad is not 100% compatible with librarything.com it can do "buttons" and for taking inventory without a scanner, it can work for me. If a book is not where it is supposed to be, then it's either in circulation (we don't have a patron system), misplaced or missing. If we ever get and use barcodes, then we can get/use a barcode scanner. Is the Cuecat wireless? If we put barcodes on the spine then we won't have to pull many books to take inventory. Am I on the right path to understanding our options for taking inventory?

If the library accepts my proposal for using LT to catalog the library, then we will get a computer because having one at the library will make sense. We'll find someone who is willing to donate an older computer that can run a browser. I'm sure someone from the Computer Club will know someone. 😀 Thanks again for all your help.

It sounds like you've got a good system developing for taking inventory, I'd say. Sorry, the CueCat is not wireless—you can find it in our Store here: https://www.librarything.com/more/store/cuecat. If you do get a computer, that will definitely help your taking inventory (you'll be able to use the CueCat to scan in your ISBNs or barcodes).

Happy to help!

Are you still able to run inventory?

>12 GateCityLibrary: Yes, “Take Inventory” is still on a drop-down menu on the “Your Books” page.