Taming the Book Beast

richlevy · 04-26-2007, 09:41 PM

I have been considering using a scanner, specifically a Cuecat scanner I picked up for free a few years ago to catalog my library. I could never find any freeware or inexpensive software that would look up ISBN numbers.

While adding programs to my Linux laptop, I did a search for cuecat and found Alexandria book manager which will work with Cuecats.

Unfortunately, I could not find a Linux program to decrypt the scrambled output from the scanner. However, 10 minutes research with Google and a few minutes with an x-acto knife and magnifying glass and my Cuecat is now a standard scanner.

I'm still getting the hang of handling the scanner, but I have scanned 20 books into Alexandria in about 10 minutes. It's taking 4 or 5 passes to get the scanner to read the ISBN barcode.

It's still a lot of fun. It really doesn't take much to make me happy.

At the time I picked up 2 or 3 CueCats when they were being handed out. I think I gave the other two away, but it might be time to start looking for them.

The beauty of this is that since the software is on my laptop, I can take the laptop to the various book hoards around the house and start cataloging.

Cloud · 04-26-2007, 10:12 PM

dude. no fucking clue what you're talking about here, but it sounds like it's making you happy!

glatt · 04-27-2007, 09:12 AM

He's using a scanner and computer to make lists of his books.

Cloud · 04-27-2007, 09:16 AM

well, I figured out that much, but lists--I thought you were scanning the whole book.

You have bar codes on the books in your house?

Clodfobble · 04-27-2007, 10:49 AM

One of my first jobs as a young teen was to work for a friend of my mom's, entering all of her books into a database, including both biographical information and location in the house. I can't remember how many books it was in the end, but it was well into the thousands. She had a very large house.

Griff · 04-27-2007, 10:56 AM

I'm leaving mine uncategorized for the archeologists or CSI guys to take care of.

wolf · 04-27-2007, 07:34 PM

I had considered doing that ... Once upon a time I kept a hand-written cardfile with the names of all of my books, and if a short story collection, I had the titles of the stories and authors on the back. It was very cool, but I reached a point where I no longer kept up with it, and I suspect I've passed the point of no return as far as the sheer numbers of books that I have.

I also used to maintain a list of books I wanted to buy. This was kept in a steno pad. Now I have multiple amazon.com wishlists, and an impulse-buy control problem. If a week goes buy without at least two packages from amazon.com, my mailman asks me if I'm feeling okay.

Cloud · 04-27-2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

If a week goes buy without at least two packages from amazon.com, my mailman asks me if I'm feeling okay.

you and me both, baby!

SteveDallas · 04-27-2007, 08:37 PM

I am getting ready to purge at least two bookshelves worth. If anybody is interested in picking over the titles before I dump them, let me know.

wolf · 04-27-2007, 09:16 PM

[home]mmmmm books ....[/homer]

richlevy · 04-27-2007, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveDallas

I am getting ready to purge at least two bookshelves worth. If anybody is interested in picking over the titles before I dump them, let me know.

After the last haul from the library book sale (bought $20+ of books the first day and 1 overstuffed bag for $5 on the 'bag sale' the next day), my wife is pushing for me dumping some books.

Since I am planning a BBQ anyway, I may use it as an opportunity to give away books.

BTW Cloud, most new books have ISBN bar codes, usually on the back near the UPC code.

duck_duck · 04-28-2007, 07:45 PM

I sold/gave most of mine to a used bookstore before I moved. It would have been nice to have a list of all of them.

04-26-2007, 09:41 PM	#1
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	Taming the Book Beast I have been considering using a scanner, specifically a Cuecat scanner I picked up for free a few years ago to catalog my library. I could never find any freeware or inexpensive software that would look up ISBN numbers. While adding programs to my Linux laptop, I did a search for cuecat and found Alexandria book manager which will work with Cuecats. Unfortunately, I could not find a Linux program to decrypt the scrambled output from the scanner. However, 10 minutes research with Google and a few minutes with an x-acto knife and magnifying glass and my Cuecat is now a standard scanner. I'm still getting the hang of handling the scanner, but I have scanned 20 books into Alexandria in about 10 minutes. It's taking 4 or 5 passes to get the scanner to read the ISBN barcode. It's still a lot of fun. It really doesn't take much to make me happy. At the time I picked up 2 or 3 CueCats when they were being handed out. I think I gave the other two away, but it might be time to start looking for them. The beauty of this is that since the software is on my laptop, I can take the laptop to the various book hoards around the house and start cataloging. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

04-26-2007, 10:12 PM	#2
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	dude. no fucking clue what you're talking about here, but it sounds like it's making you happy! __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

04-27-2007, 09:16 AM	#4
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	well, I figured out that much, but lists--I thought you were scanning the whole book. You have bar codes on the books in your house? __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

04-27-2007, 10:56 AM	#6
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	I'm leaving mine uncategorized for the archeologists or CSI guys to take care of. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

04-27-2007, 07:34 PM	#7
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I had considered doing that ... Once upon a time I kept a hand-written cardfile with the names of all of my books, and if a short story collection, I had the titles of the stories and authors on the back. It was very cool, but I reached a point where I no longer kept up with it, and I suspect I've passed the point of no return as far as the sheer numbers of books that I have. I also used to maintain a list of books I wanted to buy. This was kept in a steno pad. Now I have multiple amazon.com wishlists, and an impulse-buy control problem. If a week goes buy without at least two packages from amazon.com, my mailman asks me if I'm feeling okay. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

04-27-2007, 09:12 AM	#3
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	He's using a scanner and computer to make lists of his books.

04-27-2007, 10:49 AM	#5
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	One of my first jobs as a young teen was to work for a friend of my mom's, entering all of her books into a database, including both biographical information and location in the house. I can't remember how many books it was in the end, but it was well into the thousands. She had a very large house.

04-27-2007, 08:37 PM	#9
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	I am getting ready to purge at least two bookshelves worth. If anybody is interested in picking over the titles before I dump them, let me know.

04-27-2007, 09:16 PM	#10
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	[home]mmmmm books ....[/homer] __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

04-28-2007, 07:45 PM	#12
duck_duck Soul Duck Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: over here Posts: 485	I sold/gave most of mine to a used bookstore before I moved. It would have been nice to have a list of all of them. __________________ Girls are like phones. We love to be held, talked too but if you press the wrong button you'll be disconnected!

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