52 Weeks To Better Genealogy - Week 48 - Personal Library and Reading List

The challenge for Week 48 is to examine online tools for cataloging your personal genealogy library and keeping track of the books you read.  I am a fan of LibraryThing (http://www.librarything.com/).  It is a site where you can catalog and provide tags in your personal library.  I have been using librarything for about three years and even purchased the cat ISBN reader that plugs into your computer and scans the ISBN number eliminating the need to physically enter the information.  The cat does not always work but when it does it makes it a breeze to catalog books.  I use librarything  to print out a listing of genealogy books I already own prior to going to genealogical conferences.  I check my list prior to purchasing new books - yes I have a habit of forgetting what I already own.  Currently I have 225 books in my personal library, I also have a copy of my inventory in the safe just in case I need it for insurance purposes.  Librarything has several options for printing and sorting  your inventory lists for specific purposes.  I have tags that include regions, states, historical time periods - the more tags the easier it is for me to locate the books I am looking for.  I also have included where the book is located (sometimes where the book should be) and I can also note whether or not I have lent the book to someone.  I also click on other folk's libraries that have similar books - like genealogy books - to see what they have in their library and what I might add to mine.  

I checked out  Good Reads (http://www.goodreads.com/) and Shelfari (http://www.shelfari.com/).  These web sites allow you to import your list of books which may be tempting but I am a creature of habit so I think I will stick with librarything.  I use the Amazon wish list to keep track of books I want to own in the future.  I do this for two reasons - 1)  Amazon allows me to add items from any web site to my wish list with just a click of a button; 2)  my family is frequently stumped when they are looking to buy a gift for me and I know from experience they are more likely to buy what  I want if I make it easy for them to purchase the items.     


I am looking forward to pulling out my Cat scanner and adding new books after my birthday on Thursday  and Christmas.  Bring on the books! 


Thanks to Amy Coffin of We Tree (http://wetree.blogspot.com/) for another wonderful challenge.

Comments

Amy Coffin, MLIS said…
I'm amybean2 on LibraryThing if you want to be my friend. :)
December 1, 2010 at 8:09 AM
Amy Urman said…
Put in a friend request on librarything.....
December 1, 2010 at 11:35 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Poundstone Family death certificates

Image
The death certificates arrived yesterday. John Newton Poundstone's DC was signed by his wife Charlottie.  Information provided includes length of stay in this place (Cerro Gordo, Illinois) 73 years; occupation:  common laborer; DOB; DOD; burial date; cemetery - Cerro Gordo; funeral home - Freese Funeral Service of Cerro Gordo; and cause of death: carcinoma of the stomach, chronic myocarditis. Ora Pearl Poundstone's DC was signed by his son Herbert.  Address noted of 801 N Morgan Street, Bement, Piatt, Illinois - length of residence thirty years.  Occupation:  drayman for the Bement Grain Company.  SSN; DOB; DOD; burial date; cemetery - Bement Cemetery; funeral home - Roux Funeral Home in Bement; and cause of death carcinoma of the sigmoid (colon), chronic myocarditis. The brothers John Newton (85) and Ora Pearl (84) both died in their eighties with similar causes of death. Their father Richard Poundstone's information was provided by son Ora Pearl.  Richard died
Read more

Tucson History - St. Mary’s Hospital and Sanitarium

Image
cir 1885                                                                                     cir 1910 Dedicated in 1880, St. Mary’s hospital was fully supported by the residents of Tucson. Originally it had been planned as a school, however, the Bishop Salpointe decided to make the school a hospital as it neared its completion. The hospital opened with twelve beds, Dr. John C. Hardy, and four Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelot: Sister St. Martin Dunn, Sister Julia Ford, Sister Basil Morris, and Sister Mary John Noli. A second story was added to the hospital in 1882. The physician staff grew by six and the hospital had the capacity of fifty beds by 1900.   The Arizona State Genealogical Society sells a book documenting admissions to the hospital 1909 to 1920.
Read more