The Sword and Laser discussion
How do you keep track of your books
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I just use Goodreads. So far I've been able to keep track of all my books, I have an iphone app so I can pull it up to see what I have when I'm at a bookstore and find a good deal. Works pretty well. I used to use Delicious Library for the Mac, but Goodreads seems a lot more robust.
http://simplenoteapp.comBut one time I accidentally highlighted the whole thing, and then replaced it with a character. Ugh...
I was using Delicious Library on the Mac for a while. It was good, but then I realized I was micro-managing to an unhealthy amount. Now I'm just settling into using Goodreads.
I agree that goodreads works but if you are out and about and see an interesting book I think. It's useful to scan the isbn and mark it as to read.
for keeping track of what books I want to get I snap pics of the cover with my phone then look them up when I get home like once a week. Those that look good I add to my amazon wishlist which I use as my universal "to buy" list, though I rarely buy paper books from Amazon, it's just a convenient way to keep my list.
I use Goodreads but i just switched over from Books on Facebook. The ability to export my reading list is what won me over with Goodreads.
@ Matt, thank you for the application recommendation for My Book Droid. Was an iPhone owner until the iPhone 4 so now we changed to Droid X and was sad GR didn't have an android app. Thanks for a new way to track my books without going to the web browser each time.
I used to write down what books I read with pen and paper...but I kept losing the paper, so it's back to square one. Fell in loooove with Goodreads because it can also help me note books I want to read!
I don't keep track per se, but I know instantly when I read a jacket whether I've read it or not. That's half the fun to me, going exploring in stores for new material.
i use good reads as a future reading wish list. But for books that i have read I started a new thing this year. To track how many books I have read and the time frame i took to read them, I write them down in a book journal. Just a little paragraph that includes, title, author, dates read, a star rating, and a quick blurb about the book.
Wait, people keep track of their books? Until I found Goodreads, I didn't track ones I've read except I knew I could go to my Audible library and see those. Still don't really keep track of them too vigilantly. If I see a book I want, I usually write a note in my (dumb) phone and then add it to my amazon wishlist when I'm near a computer.
Goodreads. I always wanted to keep track of at least a list of titles that I'd read, but couldn't keep with it. Now when I acquire a book/ebook it goes into my goodreads TBR-have list. When I glean titles I want to read but can't acquire yet, they go into my TBR-get list. Then eventually they move to my "read" list. It's simple but it's just the level of organisation that I need. Love that I can access the lists from anywhere I go.
Yes, Goodreads is a great way to do this, but I am not always at home, and the mobile site on my phone isn't the most useful.I like the ability to scan the ISBN, and check a box to say "read" or "to read."
I pointed out the 3 android apps because they all have this capability (one with plans to sync here).
I don't buy many books (support your local library), so when I do browse bookstores I am usually looking for something to read in the future, and since I started using any sort of organizer or smartphone I developed "CRAFT" syndrome.
I have even found myself in the position of having bought a book I just read after checking it out of the library.
And since you don't want your library to store data too long (searches for books, and books you check out) due to the USA PATRIOT act, I am also trying to recall what I have read in the past.
Until I joined here I really only had a mental list and I alphabetize my books by author so I kind of always know by author what I have and that is about all I do. I like to browse alot when it comes to books so to me just being able to spend time looking at titles and authors and seeing what is there is a good time. I don't list to much what I am going to read just what I have read. If I am looking to read something I usually have a stack 5 or 6 deep that I can start on. I buy stuff when it looks interesting or is some one I read regularly. The email notices from amazon and the book clubs I am a member of really help that process and nothing beats a good afternoon of book store browsing.
I keep up with my home library, the books that I own and can lend out to others, on LibraryThing. I keep up with what I read and want to read here on Goodreads.
I've been using Goodreads for about a year and it has been great. It's just so easy to discover a new book and then immediately add it to my "to read" list.
I do need to start using the "to read" feature more here at Goodreads -- seeing as my current "to read" list is spread across notebooks, 3x5 cards, scraps of paper, etc ...
I used to use LibraryThing but made to switch to GoodReads awhile back. I am still bad about updating and find that I am a book or two behind. Takes some discipline and time but much easier then anything else I have found. I just wish I had this kind of resource 20 years ago.
Thanks to Matt for this subject.One of the reasons I joined goodreads was to keep track of what books I've already read and which I should be looking for when I'm at the book store.
I've got an Andriod phone and based on the suggestion to use MyBookDroid I found YAGRAC (Yet Another GoodReads Android Client).
It syncs beautifully with goodreads and it's easy to get (mobile) access to by bookshelves. It could use a bit of rework to become more user friendly. As an example it's not obvious how to add new books by scanning the ISBN, but otherwise it's brilliant.
Up until I found YAGRAC I used google docs to keep track on books I was looking to buy, but it's a hassle to get access to on the move.
Once again, Thanks Matt.
I use Billy. For the longest time my wife and I had books all over the house, so this summer we decided to shelve and alphabetize them all. So seven full size and two half size Billy bookcases from Ikea later, something like 1400 books (assuming 25 on each shelf) are now lining one wall of our basement.
I always wondered how well we did at avoiding doubles and in all that there were only four doubles. So just keeping them in our heads seems to work.
I was using a personal wiki on a my home computer. After a harddrive crash, I found out I was not backing up the mySQL data correctly and the data was gone. Now I'm keeping track here on Goodreads. Thanks to Matt for pointing out the MyBookDroid app.
I use Library Thing. And then use the Library of Congress call numbers to keep them in line, especially with the Non Fiction. With the fiction I kind of just align them on Genre and interest. I have also found that I need to read one book at a time. I would never finish a book when I read more than one at a time.
Andrea wrote: "I keep up with my home library, the books that I own and can lend out to others, on LibraryThing. I keep up with what I read and want to read here on Goodreads."I do the same thing:
Library Thing is my store house of books.
Good Reads is my current activity.
Micah wrote: "i use good reads as a future reading wish list. But for books that i have read I started a new thing this year. To track how many books I have read and the time frame i took to read them, I write ..."I also write them down on my blog: Tending Turnips, that way I don't have 500 notebooks.
I use mediaman on my computer and laptop. It's great, an all-in-one cataloguer: books, movies, music, games, etc. Just wish it had an android app that would sync with it.
I had a large collection of books but had to reduce it to move into a smaller place. It consisted of both read and unread books from many years of book fanaticism. I now use Goodreads as a virtual personal library. I don't need to have a physical copy of a book to remember having read it or as a prompt to someday read it. It's working great for me. I've been making use of my local public library. I love the library because not only do they lend you the book free of charge, as many times as you like, but they also take it back! It's the ultimate in off-site storage.
I use Collectorz Book program. I have used this for years now. I have a barcode scanner for it. You can now sync this list online so if your harddrive crashes it is saved. But now with GoodReads (which I so love) I'm trying to figure out how to import my list over to Good Reads. Thanks Matt for the idea of trying those android apps. I'm going to go check them out.
I started out using Shelfari.com (and I still do), but when this group moved to Goodreads, I exported my Shelfari library and imported it into Goodreads. It worked quite well for the most part. My real-life friends tend to use Shelfari, but I tend to spend more time over here at Goodreads now. Both are excellent sites.
James wrote: " For books I want to read that are available on the Kindle I download a sample and ..."What a good idea. Might try that. Thanks :)
I use my nook. A Kindle would probably work too.If I see a book title that looks interesting I'll look it up on my Nook to get user and editor reviews. If I like what I see I add it to my eBook "wish list". Then all I need do is to pick through the list the next time I want to purchase an eBook.
For paper books...I just finished putting in the 8th or 9th twelve foot book case in the game room last night :)
Joyce wrote: "I use Collectorz Book program. I have used this for years now. I have a barcode scanner for it. You can now sync this list online so if your harddrive crashes it is saved. But now with GoodReads (w..."When looking at the Android apps look for the scan or bulk scan modes. They helped me a lot when adding my collection to this site.
Truth to tell it doesn't really matter what program I use to catalog my stuff, I always get bored with it quickly and never finish putting everything in. I'll only ever re-read about 2% of the books, if that. And for most of those i eventually get them on audio, so if i revisit the book it's usually on audio. Also any really favorites i have I've been buying on kindle. About ready to get rid of all my paper books.
Between my audible list and kindle on PC most of my 'important' books are listed.
Now I have an android phone, and found 3 apps
Book Catolouge
BookWorm
MyBookDroid (authors notes indicate working on sync with goodreads)
All use barcode scsnnner and can look up books by ISBN, and have the bookshelf idea.
Has anyone used these or any other app?