If you do use spreadsheet I would recommend entering one copy per row, even if that means duplicating the title details – but you can copy a whole row so that shouldn’t be a problem.

I would also recommend making sure, where available, you include the ISBN or ISSN so you can join up these separate copies if in the future you ever decide to import the data in a catalogue or library management system.

If you don’t do this it can be difficult to work out how many copies there are and how to tell parts of sets as opposed to copies and their various attributes like location, unique ID (accession number / barcode etc.) acquisitions status, on loan etc.

 

Remember Excel spreadsheets are also difficult to share, publish and search.

 

 

Hi Jess

 

I asked a similar question earlier in the year as we had an enquiry form the hospital volunteers as they were setting up a bedside bookclub (aka patient library). We looked at a couple of the sites that you can use free of charge for cataloguing a personal library  (TinyCat, which is linked to LibraryThing https://www.librarycat.org/; and Libib https://www.libib.com/). Both however have a small monthly charge if you are running a volunteer library.

 

In the end the volunteers decided they didn’t need the options those sites offered and set up an Excel spreadsheet instead. So, it might depend on how big the library is and whether they are just cataloguing or need lending features as well.

 

Best wishes

 

Jane

 

Jane Cooper 

Librarian  | Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

 

Richmond Library | William Kerr Building | Northampton General Hospital | Northampton | NN1 5BD

Tel: 01604 523818 | E-mail: [log in to unmask] | Web: www.library.northants.nhs.uk

Follow us on Twitter: @NHFTNHSLibrary

 

I work Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri. For anything urgent on Wednesdays please contact [log in to unmask]

 

 

 

 

Hello again

I realised my link doesn’t work!

 

Try this one:

 

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-free-cataloging-applications/

 

(Think it’s the American spelling!)

Thank you

 

Jess

 

 

Hello all

 

Please can anyone advise/help with the following? And apologies if this is the wrong list however I felt I had to start somewhere!

I have had a query relating to free, online cataloguing for libraries and I wonder if anyone has any experience of this, or knows of any good, free websites.

 

My user has sent me this link as something she has found herself from a google search:

 

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-free-cataloguing-applications/

 

Previously Library Thing has been used but since abandoned as it was not found to be effective.

 

I don’t feel I know enough about cataloguing systems to advise. They are from a volunteer library and are wanting something that will catalogue their entire stock, and I think money is limited as to what can be bought into.

 

Sorry this is a bit vague!

 

Please could anyone help?

 

Thank you

 

Jess

 

Jess Pawley

Librarian

 

Library Service | Musgrove Park Hospital | Taunton | Somerset | TA1 5DA

(   01823 342433
+   [log in to unmask]

 

Contributing to informed and quality patient care

by supporting evidence-based practice

 

  Drop In on Tuesday 19^th September to learn more about our Current Awareness Bulletins

 

 

 

 

This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail in error and delete this e-mail from your system. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited.

 

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Any views or opinions expressed are those of the author and do not represent the views of the Trust unless explicitly stated.

The information contained in this email may be subject to public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Unless the information is legally exempt from disclosure, the confidentiality of this email and your reply cannot be guaranteed.