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hildea · 11-29-2020, 05:00 AM

Principles for my library management:

Laziness -- I want to do as little as possible before I can read
Robustness -- I don't want to risk any of my books getting lost if a bookshop goes belly up (been there, done that) or bookshop algorithms decide to do something weird and inscrutable and steal books I've paid for (I've read about too many cases of that happening)
Flexibility -- I want to get books from lots of different sources, and see them all in the same library

I buy books from several sources, and also get some from legal free sources, like the free library here. I download them all to my PC, import them into Calibre, change format if necessary, edit the tags to ones I like (they usually come with too many and too specific tags to my taste), and from there export them to my ereader. When importing to Calibre, the books are automatically cleaned of DRM and backed up to the cloud. I have a bit over 700 books in my library right now.

I like rereading, so I keep all my books on the reader. I also have Calibre Companion on my phone, and use it to download favourites there, so I won't be without something to read if I'm caught waiting somewhere without my ereader.

I try to keep the Read: Yes/No tag in Calibre updated, and keep it empty for books I've started to read, but abandoned. I try to only buy books I'm planning to read fairly soon, so I won't have a too huge pile of TBR, but haven't quite managed it. I know I have books I've bought, wanted to read, and then forgotten -- especially when I get a bunch of books in one go, like Humble Bundle.

I sometimes use Calibre Companion on my phone to search for something to read, because the library on the ereader isn't updated with metadata. When my current ereader gives up the ghost, I'll try to find one that can run CC.

I used Goodreads for a while, to log books I've read and books I wanted to read, but the recommendations weren't good enough to make it worth the hassle. I've tried out the new Storygraph. I like it a lot better than Goodreads, but not enough to keep it updated so far. I've been thinking about putting all the books I buy there -- the recommendations seem good, and they have a function where you can enter what kind of book you're in the mood for, and it can recommend something from the books you already own but haven't read. Huh, I see they now have an app -- maybe I should check it out.

11-29-2020, 05:00 AM	#25
hildea Wizard Posts: 1,315 Karma: 67561852 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Norway Device: PocketBook Touch Lux (had Onyx Boox Poke 3 and BeBook Neo earlier)	Principles for my library management: Laziness -- I want to do as little as possible before I can read Robustness -- I don't want to risk any of my books getting lost if a bookshop goes belly up (been there, done that) or bookshop algorithms decide to do something weird and inscrutable and steal books I've paid for (I've read about too many cases of that happening) Flexibility -- I want to get books from lots of different sources, and see them all in the same library I buy books from several sources, and also get some from legal free sources, like the free library here. I download them all to my PC, import them into Calibre, change format if necessary, edit the tags to ones I like (they usually come with too many and too specific tags to my taste), and from there export them to my ereader. When importing to Calibre, the books are automatically cleaned of DRM and backed up to the cloud. I have a bit over 700 books in my library right now. I like rereading, so I keep all my books on the reader. I also have Calibre Companion on my phone, and use it to download favourites there, so I won't be without something to read if I'm caught waiting somewhere without my ereader. I try to keep the Read: Yes/No tag in Calibre updated, and keep it empty for books I've started to read, but abandoned. I try to only buy books I'm planning to read fairly soon, so I won't have a too huge pile of TBR, but haven't quite managed it. I know I have books I've bought, wanted to read, and then forgotten -- especially when I get a bunch of books in one go, like Humble Bundle. I sometimes use Calibre Companion on my phone to search for something to read, because the library on the ereader isn't updated with metadata. When my current ereader gives up the ghost, I'll try to find one that can run CC. I used Goodreads for a while, to log books I've read and books I wanted to read, but the recommendations weren't good enough to make it worth the hassle. I've tried out the new Storygraph. I like it a lot better than Goodreads, but not enough to keep it updated so far. I've been thinking about putting all the books I buy there -- the recommendations seem good, and they have a function where you can enter what kind of book you're in the mood for, and it can recommend something from the books you already own but haven't read. Huh, I see they now have an app -- maybe I should check it out.