Catalogue your Books on-line.

I've started another thread on this subject. Originally started by Calltaker at http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=157210

The reason why, is to start a specific thread. Like Calltaker, I've joined www.librarything.com to catalogue my books. I've only catalogued a random selection of 11 books, so far whilst waiting for my scanner I ordered to arrive from LibraryThing.

Only USD$20 from them. :cool It should arrive in the next few days.

Link to my library is http://www.librarything.com/catalog/bigbazza if anyone is interested.

LibraryThing has over 26,000,000 books catalogued. 140,000+ added in the last 4 days.

Just type in the ISBN, or Title, or Author, and in most cases your book will be found, or a choice for you to select from. Great idea for Insurance purposes.

First 200 books catalogued are free of charge Then $10 per year, or $25 for lifetime fee.

Bazza

 

Hello Bazza

This looks like a great place to use. I have previously been using an windows based database and it is a real pain to manually enter all the data. Before jumping into it with both feet, as I have a substantial book collection, I was just wondering - As this is US based (Amazon) do you have any idea what the Australian published content like?

Thanks

 

Not sure what you are getting at, paramonks. As for layout, check out the link to my library, as per my previous post, for the output. If you are talking about where the info is sourced from, you have a choice of many links. You don't have to choose amazon. For my Australian books there are links to Australian sites (for lookup) to use if you don't expect to find a book via a USA ISBN link. You can use / select from Australian state library links. Hope that is what you mean. If not, come back and I will get examples.

Remember it is free for up to 200 books, so give it a try and report back.
Bazza

NB: You can export as a csv file, or a tab delimited file. I am still finding out tips and tricks on this site. Baz

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Hello Bazza,

Apologies if I was too cryptic with my question. Yes I did mean about the ability to look at Australian published books - as in Reader's Digest, Random House, Scholastic and the like. As I had not used the site at all I thought it would be easier to ask someone familiar with it about Australian content. Thank you very much for your help, I will give it a try.

Paramonks

 

No worries, paramonks. Let us know what you think of the site. You might also consider buying their scanner (only USD$20, including postage). I will report back when mine arrives and I try it out. Bazza

 

pretty good idea. if only it could help me remember all the books i've lent to people..

 

I think it does, but I haven't found that spot as yet. Bazza

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Scanner has arrived. (Radio Shack # 68-1966). According to the manual (1 page) you just plug it into a USB port and it will be recognised as another keyboard. Not for me, Explorer does not show it at all, although red light comes on OK. Device Manager sees it, though. :confused

When I go to "Add book" and enter ISBN or barcode manually, the book is found and reported back to me. When I try and scan the barcode nothing happens. Going to try and contact LibraryThing to find out why. Tried it on 6 books, no results. Damn. :cry Bazza

 

Doesn't work for me on XP SP3 laptop, or DELL desktop with Vista SP1. Have sent a FAQ question to LibraryThing. Hope they can tell me how to get it working. :cry Bazza

 

I tried 2 other links for programs that say you can use a scanner to categorise your Movies, CD's. CueCat didn't work with them either, for me. :cry

Check out AllMyMovies at www.bolidesoft.com (Shareware) and OrangeCd Suite (Shareware) at www.firetongue.com for the above 2 programs.

I also found an older link about CueCat at www.cedmagic.com/cuecat/cuecat.html that makes interesting reading.

I will wait for LibraryThing moderators and members to come back to me about my latest list of questions.

Bazza

 

no stephen king?

 

Heya Bazza... jsut found this thread... have been surfing mostly the lounge lately for some reason.

I have the older PS2 version of the CueCat that plugs between the PS2 and keyboard. While it is not recognized in any list i have (device manager etc) it does work for Library thing.... one note that may or may not help, when you are entering books, be sure to click in the entry box with the mouse before you scan... at least, that is what I had to do, then scan away to your heart's content.

I am waiting till I get some cashola and then will be getting the $25 lifetime sub. My mom works in an elementary school and is going to look into it for cataloging the books in each classroom per the school district's latest time wasting rule.... she figures that she can rip each classroom out in a couple hours tops.

anyone looking for me, can either click bazza's link and prolly see me listed in his friends list, or just click here: www.librarything.com/leatherdaddy772

~C

 

Hi Calltaker. I do click my mouse in the box provided so that the cursor is in the correct place before I start, but it still doesn't work.

I've been referred to a technician higher up the LibraryThing chain of command for possible solutions. I don't thing it is the CueCat that is at fault. Probably me, or a DLL or driver that has been corrupted by either XP SP3, Vista SP1, or HP PSC1410 printer /scanner overwriting some file in my 2 PC's.

Waiting on advice from LibraryThing before I proceed further. If anyone knows the generic (MS) driver/DLL that XP Pro uses for scanners, I'd appreciate that info.

Bazza

 

Link to my discussions with LibraryThing about my CueCat problem.
http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=36683

If anyone can answer what generic file, DLL, or whatever that Scanners use I'd really appreciate that as CueCat does not "require" any software to work.

XP SP3 laptop, with 2 gigs of RAM, plenty pf hard drive space.
DELL Desktop with Vista SP1, 768 megs of RAM, enough hard drive space.

Bazza

 

Bump.

If anyone can answer what generic file, DLL, or whatever that Scanners use I'd really appreciate that, as CueCat does not "require" any software to work.

Bazza

 

Bump again. I've got a USD$20 plastic USB cat until I can get it to work. :cry Bazza

 

They've offered to send another one, with more protective packing this time. :cool

I'd still like to know if anyone can answer what generic file, DLL, or whatever that Scanners use (XP Pro SP3).
I'd really appreciate that, as CueCat does not "require" any software to work.

Someone must know. :confused
I know most printer / scanners / all-in-one's, etc., use their own brand name CD's for installation, but there must be a generic file, DLL, somewhere.

Bazza

 

An extract (see thumbnail) of some of the interesting statistics from www.librarything.com

It might encourage some more MG'ers to join the site.

Bazza

 

Hello Bazza,

I had a look at the site, and have commenced to put my library on it. Hectic scheduling over last 2 weeks has kept me from getting back to investigate things like marking books as read, or even the option of already read. (and on top of all that have now got the flu )

I notice you've got the RRP prices on some of your books!

Very interesting seeing the collections of other people, not sure yet how you join groups though? (need more time)

Found some of our Aussie printed material quite easily, but not all of it. Have got some lesser known ones yet to try. Work in progress, (like a lot of things :-D)

Regards - Paramonks

 

I'd suggest you spring for the CueCat scanner (USD$20, incl. postage) if you have lots of books to catalogue, or just like to experiment as I do.

I've had a bit of trouble so far with mine. http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=36683 details my tribulations. But they are sending me a new one, double bubble wrapped. I will get it working.

The CueCat scanner has an interesting history.
Google for CueCat for lots of links.
It can be de-clawed for use on other programs, as well as a straight barcode scanner. I want to use it for DVD's, CD's, Groceries, etc.

I enter RRP$ against possible Insurance claims.

You can select various Aussie links like different State libraries, for Aussie books, if the default link does not find it for you.

PS: I was born in Ivanhoe, Vic., before moving north and far-norther. :-D

Bazza

 

Hi Bazza

The jury is still out for me on the scanner, although I am curious about the grocery angle of this.

I would like to use the db also for possible insurance reasons, however as majority of my books are not in print so how best to value them? In 2nd stores majority may be valued at less than AUD10.00, even though my memory is foggy on some prices I know I would have paid more for them! Any suggestions?

I have used other links when the defaults cannot locate the ISBN #, still not much joy on some of the reader's digest printed material, plowing ahead tho.

IVANHOE - drove through the thriving metropolis of Ivanhoe, last weekend on the way back from the "G". As for me I live over the Great Dividing Range, and nearby to the geographical centre of Victoria.
Farewell for now Sir BigBazza, Good Onya Geek, Formerly of Ivanhoe - spiffy title?:-D hope you think so LOL - Ann

 

Don't suppose it's Scanner.dll? :confused

 

Nah, that'd be to easy. :-D CueCat is treated as a keyboard so probably just uses the MS keyboard driver. New CueCat should be arriving soon so I'll give it a go again. Bazza

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Still awaiting a replacement CueCat being sent to me. Should be here anytime soon. Bazza

 

CueCat has arrived by snail mail. :major Now to get it working. :-D Bazza

 

Got my CueCat "de-clawed" yesterday, as per web info. Cut one joint to turn it into a scanner that reports barcodes as entered, and no conversion software needed. :cool Must try it real soon. Bazza