By: Erik Vlietinck
Sun, March 30, 2008 - 5:23:00
Pros: Ease of use, complete search capabilities, exports to XML, iPod, etc., powerful metadata, barcode scanner integration
Contras: TWAIN import doesn't work on Mac OS X, Flic serial-to-USB converter needs newer driver software than what's delivered

http://www.collectorz.com
Score:

Book Collector is Dutch firm Collectorz’s idea of a book collection software. Book Collector has built-in barcode scanner support, automatic downloading of book information from all Amazon stores, the Library of Congress, the British National Library, Librarie Nationale de France, Barnes & Nobles, etc. It has a full-blown borrowing management system, supports extra information you can add to a book, even add cover images using a TWAIN scanner. Some of these features don’t work on Mac OS X, but so far I have yet to see a better, more powerful book collection application.

Book Collector comes with a good manual, explaining in clear terms how you get your books in the database, both in Wizard and Advanced mode. The manual is great, but totally unnecessary in my opinion, as the program is almost totally self-explanatory. From the manual, I could deduct Book Collector is not just for people who are used to working with such software, but also for people who aren’t --let’s call them part-time voluntary librarians.

Even for those, I think the program is pretty much a breeze to use. On the other hand, Book Collector is everything a serious book collector or even a small to medium-sized library will ever need in terms of book management.

You add books using either manual entry methods, i.e. filling in the many fields in the program that can be best understood as being the metadata that describe the book. Among the metadata you can enter is the ISBN number, titlel author, but also number of pages, genre, where you purchased it, where it is located in your library, whether you have it in your collection or not (you may want it, but not yet have it).

There are fields to enter small excerpts of the book, chapters, table of contents, etc. The application is available both on Windows and Mac platforms, and the one part of the manual that I would like to see adapted is where it states that you can scan in book covers with a TWAIN scanner. I tried it on Leopard with a HP ScanJet G4050, and it didn’t work. Not that it matters much, because you can scan the covers, and then load them from within Book Collector after which the covers are added to the database and the images can be removed from wherever you dumped them initially.

Book Collector Integrates with Barcode Scanners

(Click4Gallery)

Besides the manual method, adding books can be done using a barcode scanner. Book Collector supports both the CueCat, a limited-use swiping barcode scanner that acts like a keyboard, and the more sophisticated Flic scanner manufactured by Microvision. If you want to use the barcode scanner for more than just scanning in books locally, my advice is to definitely go for the Microvision (flic or ROV) scanner.

There are a couple of reasons for this. The CueCat can only be used in tethered mode and that’s fine as long as you don’t mind dragging books to where your cable reaches. That’s really only efficient when your library is small. If it’s anything more extended than a few dozen books, the Micovision scanner has numerous benefits. For example, you can use it in roaming mode. Used in roaming mode, you will scan the barcodes right where the books are stored. The scanner will hold the barcodes in memory (500 or as many as 4000, depending on the model) until you hook it up to the serial cable that comes with the Collectorz’s model of the Flic scanner.

A second benefit is that you can buy directly from Microvision a Bluetooth radio module --this Bluetooth radio module attaches to the back of any Microvision made Flic or ROV scanner and allows the scanner to operate up to ten meters away from the computer. When used in roaming mode, the Flic or ROV scanner will empty its memory as soon as the cable plug (odlly enough, a mini-jack stereo connector) is inserted in the scanner’s connector. Book Collector will automatically “pour” the barcodes into the Advanced Add Book screen in batch mode as well.

With the Bluetooth module, the batch mode isn’t necessary. I actually asked Microvision to provide me with a Bluetooth radio module, and I tested it with Book Collector and other applications that accept Bluetooth barcode scanning such as the Delicious Library application, and it worked like a charm --although not without extra drivers in Book Collector.

A third benefit, with or without the Bluetooth module, is that you can take the scanner with you to your book store and scan ISBNs of books that you would like to have. In Book Collector you can scan these books, add the information automatically, and set their status to “Not in Collection” (yet). As soon as you buy the books, you can then change the status, and add some more information if you like. The combination Microvision scanner with or without Bluetooth and Book Collector actually enables you to plan your library for the future.

The Bluetooth module has the added benefit that you can scan in wireless mode, directly into the application, but also in roaming mode without having the target application open (and therefore also out of reach of the computer) --when you are in reach, or open the target application, the scanner will automatically connect and download all its barcodes in the target application.

Book Collector has built-in the initialization module for the Flic scanner when it is hooked up through the serial cable. Here --as with the TWAIN scanner-- I ran into problems, although I did get the scanner to work with Book Collector after downloading an updated driver for the serial-to-USB converter that came with the scanner. You can download that driver from the Prolific web site --the manufacturer which makes the chipset for the serial-to-USB converter.

Needless to say, the Microvision Bluetooth radio module doesn’t need this. Unfortunately, Microvision doesn’t deliver the Mac OS X drivers for the Bluetooth module and when used with Book Collector, the Bluetooth module requires the scanner to be put in keyboard wedge mode --something you can only do with another driver from another developer.

Managing a Library

Back to Book Collector. What makes Book Collector really stand out are not the powerful features I’ve talked about earlier. It’s the ability to really manage your library. For example, borrowing books to other people is a breeze with Book Collector. You can set a default number of days a loan period extends. The Loan screens will show you a complete history of a book, list the books overdue, the books borrowed, etc.

Statistics will show you not only which types of books you have in your collection, but also which books are especially valuable --you’ll even get an idea of the average price of each book in your library. Export is possible to the web, but also to an iPod, and to XML, which opens up numerous professional applications…

Book Collector doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, despite its many features and semi-professional functionality. As far as I know it is the only book management application that can deal with so many book data sources, including European ones --often a flaw with US-American products. If you’re serious about book collecting, Book Collector definitely must be on your short list.

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