Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Creating a Personal Library Catalog


Let's talk book cataloging. 

At times, over the years, I have entertained thoughts of creating a listing of my books. I don't have that many - not in the thousands, anyway - but there is some part of me that wants to sit down with each one of my books and record Title, Author, Publication Place and Date, Subject, Number of Pages, etc. I can see that it would entail a lot of work - but it is still a task that appeals to me. And it seems as if it would be a great project for winter.

I know there are online sites - LibraryThing, Goodreads, Shelfari - that let one keep a running inventory of one's books but somehow having to enter each book by computer seems dull. And would entail just that much more 'screen time' of which I get enough, thank you very much. 

I am old school enough that I would prefer to fill out index cards (which I use all the time anyway and have a great store of) by hand and create my own library card catalog just like in the old days.

Of course, that would mean at least two cards per book - by Author and by Title - and then of course there are Subject cards if I want to go that far. Since my library is pretty varied - for instance I don't have an entire collection of books on military history or mammals to catalog - I most likely don't really need a Subject file. Or maybe just a partial one for books on writing or books of essays.

Once I got the card catalog completed, I could use that information to easily set up an online catalog as well. If so inclined.

I know that old library card catalog drawers can be found for sale sometimes. Those would be a lovely addition to my home. Maybe I should get those first and use them as an incentive to fill the drawers.

And now, what about you? Do you have your library cataloged?  Online? On cards? Or do you simply use your bookshelves as your catalog as I have for so many years?

14 comments:

  1. My inner librarian thrills to the idea of having a catalog of my books, but I don't think I want to take on the project of making that catalog. I don't think I have thousands of books either, but I do have a lot and it's daunting to think of recording them all on cards, or elsewhere. I do get a lovely gloating sensation when I look at my shelves, though...

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    1. Kathy, I thrill to the idea as well. And, like you say, it would be a lot of work and at the rate I buy books, a never-ending project. I will give it some more thought. Maybe I could just catalog five books a day? It seems like a good way to do some thinning of the ranks.

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  2. I just use my bookshelves...although I do have a list of the children's books that I own that reside in 3 boxes in storage. But it would be nice at times to have a more formal catalog of my books...maybe in my next life, when I have more time. :)

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    1. Well, Lark, the Bookshelves as Catalog has worked for me for a long time. I really have enough projects going, but the thought of actually handling each one of my books certainly has its appeal.

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  3. Belle, I would love to have a card catalogue! What a good idea.

    Computers are ugly. Now in every library a big space is given to computers. It's not that I don't love my own computer, but it was so much fun to look up everything in card catalogues. And I believe my library had more books then.

    I don't quite see the point of Library Thing. I did, many years ago, start to type in some of my books, and then I realized I didn't need my library to be public.

    Tell us how this project progresses.

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    1. Kat, I agree about the computers. More and more library space is being taken up with them. But where are the books?

      I was thinking I could do this cataloging a bit at a time - say five books a day? At the rate I buy books though, it seems as if there would never be an end to the project.

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  4. I have a lovely old oak double drawer library catalog file in which I keep my index card summaries of the books I've read and the date I read them, filed by author. I cross index that with a list of book title and author by the date read. I've done this since the 1960s, not always religiously until the last 15 or 20 years.

    At one time, I attempted to catalog my library, but after much culling and more acquisitions, I gave that up. It was interesting, though. I loved handling my books and looking closely at the date published, the publisher, etc.

    I keep a computer list by author of the books on my Kindle. And I keep a computer list of the books I buy for my three little grandnieces with a note as to who I gave each book to. My attempt to keep from giving the same book to the same girl twice.

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    1. Hi Joan. Wow, you are way ahead! I envy your organization - and your wooden drawer file! You have inspired me to get going on the project.

      I think the real appeal is getting to spend time handling each book - especially the older ones that I have bought used and the ones that came from my family home. Maybe I will just begin with those.

      Thanks for your comments.

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  5. I have a card index from the 80s of my books way back then: I was an odd teenager! Now I use LibraryThing, mostly to prevent myself buying two copies of something - this is especially needed now I might buy and e-copy and a tree-copy of a book without noticing. I still think the cards were a delight - less easy to consult on the go, however!

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    1. Vicki, how lovely that you have those index cards from your teenage years! Most of the books I buy nowadays are used so if I have a duplicate or two I am not out too much money!

      Thanks for your comments.

      I decided I was only going to catalog the older treasures found in used books stores or at sales and ones that came from my family home. I actually made up my first book card this morning: 'Butterflies Worth Knowing' by Clarence Weed, published in 1917 with 32 color plates. It was printed as part of the Little Nature Series. There is quite a lot of information and the images are beautiful.

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  6. You are a temptress. This kind of thing appeals to me a lot. I first started using Goodreads to catalog the books that I own. But recently I decided to use it only for rating fiction that I have read or am reading or plan to read. There are times when I want to catalog the books I own, but after I get knee deep in the project I start to feel like a bit of a chump for wasting time. There is this tipping point where a fun project turns into something else.

    Having worked in a library in the 1980s when the card catalog was still in use (even though we also had a microfilm catalog), and my love of the typewriter, makes me want to type up index cards as well. I think I may just live vicariously through you.

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    1. Oh, Thomas, we love our books and our index cards. If I still had my typewriter I would love it too!

      I am limiting my inventory to the older books that I have. So far I have cataloged two! It is slow going because I get lost in the deep well that is the book - one on butterflies (1917) and a cookbook that must have been a wedding present to my mom. Great stuff. I might never have taken time to really look at the books except for this wild idea of the card catalog.

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  7. I have tried to use the online cataloging systems, but like you I get bored after awhile. Something about the card catalog appeals to me and I adore index cards. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has thought of this. I thought I was mad!

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    1. Well, Destiny, we bookish types are a bit mad but in a good way. At least we are all mad together!

      I got off to a great start with this project and then got distracted. As a matter of fact, I just the other day came across the cards that I had completed and immediately got re-inspired to finish the project. Your comment came at just the right time!

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