How far do you go in organizing your e-book library?

Katsunami · 01-16-2016, 06:39 PM

As the title says: how far do you go in organizing your e-book library? I'm in the "I use the Editor" category, and I try to fix everything that can possibly be fixed, short of converting the book to a TXT and then rebuilding it from the ground up. I have read about one member here, who seems to do this, if I understood correctly... but I don't. That's one step too far for me. I have neither the time, nor that level of OCD

Cinisajoy · 01-16-2016, 06:42 PM

I tried to organize by subject. Then gave up.

4691mls · 01-16-2016, 06:59 PM

I don't have Calibre. I have collections set up on my Sony reader for author names starting with A-B, C, D-E, etc.

susan_cassidy · 01-16-2016, 07:11 PM

All I do is delete books I've read, except for a few favorites, from my Kindle. I had a K1 for years, which did not have collections. I have a KK now, which does, but never got into the habit of using them. I keep books on my pc (stripped) in folders by author name. I used to religiously download everything, but now only do it for a few favorite authors. Amazon can store all the rest for me.

Ravensknight · 01-16-2016, 07:12 PM

I make sure the title, author and series is correct, then look for the cover I like best. in hd.

Sirtel · 01-16-2016, 09:09 PM

I'm in the Editor category, like Katsunami. I edit the things that bother me (embedded font, too big indents and line-spacing, spaces between paragraphs, left-align instead of justification etc.) I also fix the metadata and cover, and add custom information.

tubemonkey · 01-16-2016, 09:37 PM

I'm in the "Huh?" category

GeoffR · 01-16-2016, 09:38 PM

I edit almost all ebooks. I don't generally change the publisher's stylistic choices unless they have been done in a way that interferes with my ability to make layout adjustments from my ereader, but I fix obvious formatting and OCR mistakes, and often add higher-quality covers and other images if they are available (or clean up poor-quality scanned images myself if not.)

Being able to fix publishing mistakes is the main reason I would never buy an ebook that had unremovable DRM, or that was in a format that couldn't be easily edited.

booklover6 · 01-16-2016, 09:51 PM

I fix everything before putting on an ereader. Kobo can be finicky. Kindle is more forgiving, but since I embed my font I have to fix those, too.

Jack Torrance · 01-16-2016, 09:52 PM

On my Kindle, all the books are in a folder by author and I may keep 50 books there tops.

On my computer my books are stored on a separate HD and backed up to OneDrive. I've gone as far as putting then in folders by author and then if there is a series by an author it may have its own folder. If I get really bored I might add covers if there isn't one.

Fonts - I've never bothered to change them and all the other stuff mentioned never bothered me enough to care.

library addict · 01-16-2016, 10:04 PM

I fix all metadata and have a strict set of tags I use. I sometimes fix the book with the editor, but if it's well-formatted to begin with I don't feel the need to "fix" a book so everything is 100% how I like it. Mostly I use the editor to fix poorly formatted books.

pidgeon92 · 01-16-2016, 10:10 PM

I just can't bring myself to download all of my ebooks at the time of procuring them. I end up doing a batch of 20-30 every couple of months.

ekbell · 01-16-2016, 11:07 PM

I correct/add the metadata I care about and fix the cover if needed. I convert books to my preferred format and maybe I'll split an collection or merge a bunch of short stories but that's close but that's about all.

william z · 01-17-2016, 12:10 AM

I use Calibre and correct the metadata, find a cover or make one if I can't find one, and convert the books to epub. I arrange the books by category or by author if I have several by the same author. I put them in folders and upload the folders to a memory card. Many of my books are ones i read when I was young and enjoyed at the time but have forgotten. I have two ereaders, a Kobo and an Aluratec which is 4 years old. I read at least two books a week.

Katsunami · 01-17-2016, 06:54 AM

Thanks

So, over 83% of people does at least some minimal fixes, such as metadata, 67% changes covers and/or other images if need be, and 26% adds custom information and even edits the book to their liking.

I must say that these percentages are even higher than I expected for an enthusiast forum.

View Poll Results: What do you do to organize your e-books?
Huh? Organize? Maybe I'll import them into Calibre... someday	20	14.18%
I make sure basic metadata is correct. Nothing more.	18	12.77%
I make sure all metadata is correct (and may change covers)	43	30.50%
All metadata must be correct, with a nice cover, and I add custom information	36	25.53%
I fix everything, and edit the book using the Editor	23	16.31%
I strip the book to a TXT and rebuild it from the ground up	1	0.71%
Voters: 141. You may not vote on this poll

01-16-2016, 06:39 PM	#1
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	How far do you go in organizing your e-book library? As the title says: how far do you go in organizing your e-book library? I'm in the "I use the Editor" category, and I try to fix everything that can possibly be fixed, short of converting the book to a TXT and then rebuilding it from the ground up. I have read about one member here, who seems to do this, if I understood correctly... but I don't. That's one step too far for me. I have neither the time, nor that level of OCD Last edited by Katsunami; 01-17-2016 at 12:25 PM.

01-16-2016, 09:38 PM	#8
GeoffR Wizard Posts: 3,821 Karma: 19162882 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Te Riu-a-Māui Device: Kobo Glo	I edit almost all ebooks. I don't generally change the publisher's stylistic choices unless they have been done in a way that interferes with my ability to make layout adjustments from my ereader, but I fix obvious formatting and OCR mistakes, and often add higher-quality covers and other images if they are available (or clean up poor-quality scanned images myself if not.) Being able to fix publishing mistakes is the main reason I would never buy an ebook that had unremovable DRM, or that was in a format that couldn't be easily edited. Last edited by GeoffR; 01-16-2016 at 09:58 PM. Reason: ... unless they have been done in a way that interferes ...

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01-16-2016, 06:42 PM	#2
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	I tried to organize by subject. Then gave up.

01-16-2016, 06:59 PM	#3
4691mls Wizard Posts: 2,776 Karma: 30081762 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: US Device: ALL DEVICES ARE STOCK: Kobo Clara, Tolino Shine 2, Sony PRS-T3, T1	I don't have Calibre. I have collections set up on my Sony reader for author names starting with A-B, C, D-E, etc.

01-16-2016, 07:11 PM	#4
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	All I do is delete books I've read, except for a few favorites, from my Kindle. I had a K1 for years, which did not have collections. I have a KK now, which does, but never got into the habit of using them. I keep books on my pc (stripped) in folders by author name. I used to religiously download everything, but now only do it for a few favorite authors. Amazon can store all the rest for me.

01-16-2016, 07:12 PM	#5
Ravensknight Serpent Rider Posts: 1,123 Karma: 10219804 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony 350; Nook STR; Oasis	I make sure the title, author and series is correct, then look for the cover I like best. in hd.

01-16-2016, 09:09 PM	#6
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,467 Karma: 239219543 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I'm in the Editor category, like Katsunami. I edit the things that bother me (embedded font, too big indents and line-spacing, spaces between paragraphs, left-align instead of justification etc.) I also fix the metadata and cover, and add custom information.

01-16-2016, 09:37 PM	#7
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,762 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	I'm in the "Huh?" category

01-16-2016, 09:51 PM	#9
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,545 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre 1, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle, Kobo Libre Colour	I fix everything before putting on an ereader. Kobo can be finicky. Kindle is more forgiving, but since I embed my font I have to fix those, too.

01-16-2016, 09:52 PM	#10
Jack Torrance “Here’s Johnny Posts: 186 Karma: 3863056 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Overlook Hotel Colorado Device: Kindle DXG - 9.7 iPad - iPhone 12PM - Macbook Pro	On my Kindle, all the books are in a folder by author and I may keep 50 books there tops. On my computer my books are stored on a separate HD and backed up to OneDrive. I've gone as far as putting then in folders by author and then if there is a series by an author it may have its own folder. If I get really bored I might add covers if there isn't one. Fonts - I've never bothered to change them and all the other stuff mentioned never bothered me enough to care.

01-16-2016, 10:04 PM	#11
library addict Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,115 Karma: 37197878 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Nexus 7 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8" (retired=Sony PRS650, Kobo Mini)	I fix all metadata and have a strict set of tags I use. I sometimes fix the book with the editor, but if it's well-formatted to begin with I don't feel the need to "fix" a book so everything is 100% how I like it. Mostly I use the editor to fix poorly formatted books.

01-16-2016, 10:10 PM	#12
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	I just can't bring myself to download all of my ebooks at the time of procuring them. I end up doing a batch of 20-30 every couple of months.

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01-16-2016, 11:07 PM	#13
ekbell Guru Posts: 627 Karma: 12345678 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Canada Device: none	I correct/add the metadata I care about and fix the cover if needed. I convert books to my preferred format and maybe I'll split an collection or merge a bunch of short stories but that's close but that's about all.

01-17-2016, 12:10 AM	#14
william z Connoisseur Posts: 56 Karma: 4622408 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: B.C., Canada Device: Kobo Touch	I use Calibre and correct the metadata, find a cover or make one if I can't find one, and convert the books to epub. I arrange the books by category or by author if I have several by the same author. I put them in folders and upload the folders to a memory card. Many of my books are ones i read when I was young and enjoyed at the time but have forgotten. I have two ereaders, a Kobo and an Aluratec which is 4 years old. I read at least two books a week.

01-17-2016, 06:54 AM	#15
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	Thanks So, over 83% of people does at least some minimal fixes, such as metadata, 67% changes covers and/or other images if need be, and 26% adds custom information and even edits the book to their liking. I must say that these percentages are even higher than I expected for an enthusiast forum.