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We got some great responses to my June 28 column on “Taking Stock." Thanks to everyone who responded! Here are some of the suggestions we received.

Have a great day!
Juliana

Free Inventory Software from Abebooks.com

If you go to www.abebooks.com/docs/homebase/main.shtml you can download the Abebooks HomeBase database for free. Book dealers use it to sell books online but individuals can use it to catalog their personal books.

Marianne

Book Numbering

I was reading what Juliana Smith plans to do with her books, and I thought I would let you know what I have done with my over 800 painting books on shelves. I have put stickers with numbers on each book. Then I have an inventory book that lists all my books by number, and another book lists them alphabetically, also showing the book number. This way I can find the book either way. I have added a small description of the contents to the list as well.

Louise Reichwein

Microsoft Templates

I am writing in regard to Juliana's article in Ancestry Daily News on Monday, June 28th. Microsoft has free templates on their website for cataloging your collections. (http://office.microsoft.com/templates/default.aspx)

Click on "home and community," then "hobbies, sports and collections," and you'll find several templates you can download and use for free (the best price of all). I am currently using one of their templates to create my family cookbook.

Hope this helps you!
Debra Holster, librarian and genealogist

Create Your Own Database

There is another way to catalog your books, and the software may already be on your computer. Either use the database program Microsoft Works Database (will be under Microsoft Works), or use Microsoft Access. Access is fairly easy to use.

My fields are ISBN number (so no duplicate data), First Name, Last Name, Title, Genre, Dewey Decimal number, Cover Type, and Shelf.

It took about ten minutes to set up.

Cindy Rives

An All-Inclusive Database

After reading Juliana's "Taking Stock," I wanted to add my organization plan for an inventory of books, CDs, and memberships. I made up my own database with the fields: Title, Author, Media, Location (bookshelf, binder, and so on). I include books, Genealogy CDs, magazine subscriptions, and memberships. My entry for Ancestry.com will include what data I have access to and expiration dates.

Many a time I have seen a book and would have bought it again, had I not checked my database.

I also have a database for all Genealogy websites that are of use to me. Yes, they are also in my "Favorites," but if I were to have a computer crash, I am still in business.

Sally G. Thomas

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