Readerware cataloging

[celticdragonfly]

A discussion of book cataloging software has come around on the Bujold list once again. And once again I'm seriously considering it.

Dear flist, do any of you have experience with Readerware that you'd like to discuss?

If I get it, I will not be using the barcode scanners, even though they'll give me a cheapy one free. Those you have to carry all the books over to the computer. There are wireless versions of the scanner, but I don't have that kind of $ to toss around. So it would involve me sitting at the keyboard and selenite or other victims assistants standing in the library and reading ISBNs out to me.

Comments

[wolfrick.livejournal.com]

For a project of this magnitude, it seems like it might be worth it to invest in a longish cable for the device, and to move your computer temporarily into the library.
I'm all for automation.
~Rick

[marymont.livejournal.com]

It's a lot easier to bring the books to the barcode scanner than it is to read off ISBNs. We started to catalog with Readerware and got bogged down because we didn't have even a cheapie barcode scanner. It was purely keying in numbers. Gruesome. Nice to have the stuff cataloged but getting it done is a beast.

[sambear.livejournal.com]

Take them stack by stack. Get a cart if you have to. It's really obnoxious to have to call out ISBNs. They're very, very long numbers and the possibility for user error is high.

Readerware is great. technomom is our Readerware goddess.

[technomom]

Readerware rocks. I looked at a bunch of other programs, ranging from free to expensive, over the years. Nothing came close to RW's functionality for what we wanted. The client/server feature and PDA interface were key to my decision. The cross-platform compatibility was definitely a plus, too.

Get a long cable for the barcode scanner and use it. Bringing books over one stack at a time really does work pretty well. You'll get plenty of typing while dealing with the books that don't have ISBNs, if your library has as many old books as ours does :-)

You need to check each batch anyway, just to be sure that what the system pulled up as a match to the ISBN really does refer to the book you have. I find about a 5% error rate, overall.

[nlbarber]

I will admit that though I was pimping for Readerware on the list, I'm still not through cataloging my books. It goes in fits and starts, mostly because I want to add condition notes and such to each entry, and once I've pulled half a shelf of books to get at the bar codes it makes sense to go ahead and do the notes at the same time.

When it came to the books in the living room (still not done) and the bedroom (not started), I have the advantage of the work laptop I carry home every night. Laptop and scanner move to the books, not vice versa.

I do have the CueCat, and it works fine. I agree that you really do want the scanner--typing in ISBNs is a pain.

Bookbag

[bkseiver.livejournal.com]

Actually, I have a card catalogue program on my desk top and handheld, called Bookbag. Even though I get most of my library for 50 cents/book at my favorite thrift store, I hate bringing home duplicates! So, at least with everything entered in my PDA, I can tell what I have. Yes, it took some time to enter, and no, I don't have my entire library done. Seems we moved in the middle of that project, and I haven't gotten back to it. But I did have the good sense to start with my favorite and/or prolific authors.

And yes, I also carry a list of the DVD's we own. Same reason.

Will be glad to show you bookbag when we are together tomorrow. Like the sound of that!

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

Oooh, a response from the Readerware Goddess! This is the cool thing about LJ - I don't ahve to go look at all the other programs, because I can ask you! Yay. Thanks.

Re: Bookbag

[technomom]

That's one reason I chose Readerware, with its companion audio and video programs. I have all three databases on my PDA. The synchronization process isn't all it could be, but I love having all that data in my pocket.