Shameless Endorsement
So, while the rest of the world queues up for the new iPhone, I am marveling at another little product for Mac users…and it’s free!
I am horrible at keeping up with the latest software.
That is what my husband is for.
Tuned in and wired up, that’s what he is.
Every now and again something will catch his eye that I might like.
But this sat in my email for so long, he forgot he had suggested it.
Books.
For highly compulsive book owners, like me.
Sure, Ravelry has a place to catalog knitting books, but what about all the other delicious works on my shelf?
This freeware allows Mac users to create a library of books. For me, the lists reflect categories like: cookbooks, craft books, knitting books, self-sufficiency books, L.M. Montgomery books, Kate Douglas Wiggin books, etc.
Sure, other software does that, but here’s the cool part…
See the field for ISBN numbers?
You can click the little camera icon and up comes iSight, a bar code scanner. Yep, the idea is that you can hold the book up to the camera on your MacBook and it will read the ISBN bar code. Click the ‘Quick Fill’ button and all the details about the book will fill in…even a copy of the cover!
How absolutely-time-savingly-cool is that?!?
Now, realistically, I had some difficulty getting the iSight to work each time, especially on glossy books covers…which most of my knitting books seem to have. But, alternatively, you can type in the ISBN, click ‘Quick Fill,’ and presto, it will do the same.
Caveat Ahead:
The program will only fill in the book details if they are on record at Amazon or ISBNdb.com, but the good news is that there are other sources for the Quick Fill feature that are downloadable. Antique books are still catalogued the good ol’-fashioned way, though, typing each line. Sigh.
I must say, though, this made quick work of sorting through many stacks of books!
It’s mesmerizing.
And habit-forming.
It elicits squeals of delight when the correct information magically appears.
Ack! Must…stop…family…needs…dinner.
Ah sure, just one more entry…
oh oh oh!!! I am going to make my husband put this on my computer tonight!! Such FUN!! I love books.
24 Jul 2008 at 6:54 am
Oh my goodness!!! Many thanks to you and your husband for this wonderful bit of information. I have stacks and stacks of books, none of which are cataloged, unlike my husband’s collection of old and older sporting books that he’s kept by hand.
24 Jul 2008 at 7:46 am
I did my knitting books on Library Thing, this is wonderful. i don’t have isight but can manage to tap in the isbn, I’m sure. Thanks for the tip.
24 Jul 2008 at 8:11 am
Oh. My. Gosh. That is just too cool! Thanks for sharing!
24 Jul 2008 at 1:40 pm
woo hoo!!! oh yeah. . . . that’s what I’m talkin’ about. . . .
Now. If only I can get my MacBook to find it’s camera again! (it keeps telling me it can’t locate it. . . .)
How’s [C]Rocket?
24 Jul 2008 at 1:46 pm
ooops! “it’s camera” should read “its camera” - of course. . . . sheesh!
24 Jul 2008 at 1:48 pm
Oh that’s so cool, now I wish I had a Mac! A while ago I started listing my books on bookcrossing.com but you have to type in each barcode or buy a scanner.
Actually, if you’re a big book fan you might want to check out the site, you can trade books with people or leave them in public places for people to find and then track where they travel. It’s better than letting them collect dust or ending up in the garbage.
24 Jul 2008 at 2:25 pm
Oh Ann, thanks for the info on this new program! I just installed it and loaded 3 books within 5 minutes. I LOVE IT!
27 Jul 2008 at 9:01 pm
[pouts] Aw man, I wish I had a Mac for that program alone! I have my books in Library Thing but would prefer a catalog I could keep on my computer and back up. Off to search, probably in vain…
28 Jul 2008 at 12:14 am
I think that’s very nifty. I joined Library Thing and bought a now defunct Scan Cat to scan all the bar codes and create my library. I thank you for the link to all the Macware. Who knew?
29 Jul 2008 at 7:31 am
this is so cool it almost calls for me to become a mac user!
06 Aug 2008 at 12:05 am