Dear Tech Guru: Help Stop Me from Buying Books Twice

Dear Tech Guru,

I would like to catalog my home library in the easiest and most basic way possible. People have recommended using GoodReads and LibraryThing - are these my only options?

Signed: Help Stop Me from Buying Books Twice

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Hi Help Stop Me from Buying Books Twice,

GoodReads and LibraryThing are two of the more popular book tracking websites. Both are free to sign up and use. There are many others out there, both free and with paid subscriptions, but I’m not going to discuss them today.  Both GoodReads and LibraryThing have apps that allow you to scan the ISBN barcodes on books by allowing access to your phone’s camera. Once you have scanned the barcode, you can chose how to catalog the book - is it something you’ve read, want to read or you already own. You can create your own digital shelves to keep track of books you may have read for book clubs, were recommended by friends, or even books you have purchased and do plan on reading at some point but more good books keep coming out!

You also have options like Excel or Google Sheets. Excel and Google Sheets allow you to create a list of book titles, authors and other information you may be interested in collecting - like number of pages, dates you read the book or where you can locate the book in your collection.  You can keep this spreadsheet digital or print the spreadsheet out to fill in by hand.

Need to brush up on your spreadsheet skills? Check out our virtual and in person computer classes.
Can’t make a class, no worries!  We have recorded sessions of Excel 1 and Google Sheets on the MCLS YouTube page.

The library also has a wide variety of Excel books like:

• Excel 2019 in Easy Steps
• Teach Yourself Visually Excel 2016
• Excel 2016 for Dummies
• Easy Office 2016

There are also fancy reading journals, or use just a notebook and a pen to keep track of what you have read and/or purchased. It’s all a matter of preference and what works best for you and your needs.

Happy Reading and Tracking,

Tech Guru

- by Amelia R., Information Technology Department