Organizing e-books

[Catlady]

I'm wondering how others organize their e-book collections, particularly if using Calibre. Right now, I just have folders and subfolders on my SD card, for genres, authors, and series; I've only used Calibre for conversions, not management. I'm wondering if I should set up some kind of system before things get completely out of hand. What do the rest of you do?

[bill_mchale]

Well, before my Jetbook broke, I just managed my book collection on my computer the same way I managed it on my Jetbook. Essentially I created a directory tree, that divided books by genre (Science Fiction, Fantasy, Classics, Historical, Adventure, etc.) and then books within the genre were divided author, last name first.

As long as I remembered the author and genre, I could find any book I wanted very quickly indeed.

If I didn't know author or genre, that is where the find command comes in handy .

--
Bill

[silverraven]

Mine is different. I like the folder system too, but mine is set up with the alphabet, then authors under the appropriate letter, then series under that. For example:
J
K
L
Lowell, Elizabeth(author)
St. Kilda (series)
Wrong Hostage (book)
Blue Smoke and Murder (book)
Death Echo (book)
Donovans(series)
Amber Beach(book)
Pearl Cove (book)
M
N
That way when I go under books I see the alphabet, then can go under each letter as I need. Hope that makes sense. There is a way to do this with Calibre.
S

[Ken Maltby]

Mine is prety much like Bill's, except I use the folder on my hard drive as a "Master
Library" folder and create "SyncToy" pairs with that and my SD cards. I have it set
to "Echo" the Master Library Folder changes onto the SD card.

Then any changes I make to the Master Library, (and only the changes) are made to
the SD card whenever I put the SD card in my PC's media reader and run SyncToy.

Luck;
Ken

[GA Russell]

I too have used calibre only for conversion.

Authors of multiple works get their own folder.

Each time I add books to my SD card (about once a month) I include one folder with the remaining books. The folder is titled the date of the addition.

Since Ken pointed out the Recently Read option to me, I use that to find the books I am reading.

[Catlady]

It sounds like all of you are doing basically the same thing I'm doing, with folders and subfolders. I think I may adopt silverraven's letter folders, though, for my non-genre/mainstream authors, so my top level of folders will be A-Z plus Mystery, Historical, Juvenile, etc. (Currently I have the mainstream authors all in the top level with the genres.)

GA Russell, do you mean your dated folders are functioning as a "to be read" pile?

I am still leery of using anything to sync automatically. I just have a copy of everything on my computer. When I acquire new books, I keep them in a "to be added" folder, and whenever I copy that to the SD card, I move it to the "Jetbook" folder on my computer.

I'm beginning to feel like I need to study the Dewey Decimal System to organize my books!

[GA Russell]

Originally Posted by Catlady

GA Russell, do you mean your dated folders are functioning as a "to be read" pile?

Catlady, I have two copies of each of my eBooks.

1) I have a copy of everything on my hard drive.

2) I also have on my hard drive two "finished" folders - "Read 2010" and "Read 2011".

I keep only my "to be read" and my "currently reading" books on my SD card.

Once a month I update my SD card. I add the books that I have collected in the recent weeks, and I move from the SD card to the "read" folder those books I have finished.

[Catlady]

Oh, I see. I have been keeping one copy of everything on the SD card, not just current reading. I am not quite sure why I need to carry my entire library around with me, but I do!

[silverraven]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Oh, I see. I have been keeping one copy of everything on the SD card, not just current reading. I am not quite sure why I need to carry my entire library around with me, but I do!

I know the answer to that. It says it right under your name - addict!
S

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by silverraven

I know the answer to that. It says it right under your name - addict!
S

It should say Obsessive-Compulsive and Anal-Retentive, too!

[jlg432]

I use the folder tree system making sure not to go more than 3 deep (may cause performance issues). I keep a lot of reference manuals on board (lots of room with an 8 gig card). I also archive a lot of Articles in html format on various subjects that interest me from the Internet etc.

I do keep an "Author" folder followed by subfolders for each authors name.

I keep a master copy on my pc's hard drive and sync my sdhc card in my device using synctoy and a usb cable. Any major volumne of data transfer I do with a card reader. I also use Calibre but only for conversion. I also use isilo to edit and/add a TOC as well as chapter breaks.

I see no reason in not having all my data with me after all it dosen't add to the weight but does keep it handy.

John