How to Use BookCollector to Catalog Books
Using Database Software to Organise a Home or Office Book Collection
BookCollector by Collectorz.com is an easy to use and inexpensive database software package designed to manage a home or small business library.
While the program is simple to use and manage, it is important for users to consider exactly what features they need to use before starting, to avoid having to continually return to update records.
Cataloging a Book Collection for Insurance
If BookCollector software is needed to catalog books for an accurate home contents insurance quote or to keep with other insurance records, users can limit the number of entry fields and quickly record a large number of books. A simple record of title, author and ISBN (Main book details screen) would be sufficient to identify the book and adding a purchase and/or cover price (Personal book details screen) will provide an estimate of the value of the collection.
There are also places to include additional details that might influence the value of the book including:
- Details screen: extras such as included promotional items, author autograph, dust jacket, CD etc.
- Personal: Condition of the book; whether there is a dedication inscription
There is also a Notes screen where any additional details can be entered.
Using BookCollector for Home Book Collection Management
Using a database program is a convenient way to organise a home book collection. BookCollector has a large selection of entry fields allowing for detailed book collection reocrds.
The Main Book Details screen has genre and subject information fields. When adding books automatically from the BookCollector database, some book records have subject information included which can be quite specific at times (eg picture books – pears). Alternatively, users can add additional options to both subject and genre lists through the book entry page. These lists, along with others, can easily be managed and unwanted entries quickly deleted through the Tools: Edit Lists option.
The Credits and Characters screen has seven predefined and three user defined options for listing additional names associated with each book, including illustrator, translator, editor, cover artist, foreword author, photographer and ghostwriter.
There is a Links screen for adding relevant website links for a particular book. It is also possible to add a website link to author, publisher or other credit (illustrator etc) details through the Tools: Edit List screen. Author details can also be edited by clicking on the edit icon in the Main Book Details screen. These links are then embedded into each relevant book record.
Filters and sorting of entries is relatively simple and offers a flexibility to check and manage particular entries quickly.
The Personal screen contains fields for a user defined location as well as the name of an owner for the book, which can be particularly helpful for managing books which might eventually need to be separated from the main collection such as those belonging to children.
The Tools: Field Names menu option allows most of the fields to be redefined by the user to add greater flexibility.
Check Details and Edit Correctly to get Maximum Benefit
When correcting an error with an entry that has already been saved, use the edit menu. Retyping the entry within the field will create a duplicate record. Duplicates can easily be merged through the Tools: Edit List menu option.
Take time to decide exactly which fields need to be used and fill these as each book is added. Consider the purpose of the database when deciding how detailed the record for each entry needs to be, to avoid wasting time editing past entries and entering unnecessary details.
With its versatility and intuitive layout, BookCollector is an ideal inexpensive book database program to record and manage home and small business book collections.
Manage and Catalog Books at Home
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