TheBookSwarm
Ask Question

How do you keep track of the books you own (to avoid buying doubles)?

How do you keep track of the books you own (to avoid buying doubles)?

Selina #questionnaire

72
Reply

124 Answers

Melly

I typed up a list in Microsoft Word, then added them to Libib – I have the app on my phone 🙂

1
Reply
Donna

Here: http://www.librarything.com/ I have a tag set up, “wish list”, which I use to tag books that I’d like to read so that when I shop, there’s a list ready to go.

1
Reply
Stephanie

Up to now it has mostly been through memory but I have messed up from time to time. Usually, I try to start at the beginning of a series or the first book from an author. Doesn’t always work but it hasn’t been too bad.

0
Reply
Denise

Yes,Im like that as well. I mess up from time to time also but it doesnt bother me as I rarely buy books brand new so I havent wasted money so to speak. I will just read them again a lot of the time. Will look at this LibraryThing later though.

1
Stephanie

I actually do but brand new, but that’s another story.

0
Deanna

I keep track in Goodreads

0
Reply
Ruthena

I keep a small journel with the books i have and the ones i want to buy. I have rebought books before.

1
Reply
Mel

Goodreads

0
Reply
Ann

It happens, But rarely.

0
Reply
Moni

Goodreads , also i take screenshots or pictures of each book and save it in a folder on my pc and USB flash , juuuuust in case ?

0
Reply
Catherine

I use an app called Book Buddy.

1
Reply
Shawntay

I have an app called iReadItNow where I enter all the books I own and it keeps track of my reading progress per day, month and year and which books I own

0
Reply
Siri

I’ve read all the books I own—except maybe five or ten—so this isn’t an issue for me??

0
Reply
Julie

LOL I don’t know if it’s because I’m autistic but I have NEVER had this problem, once I did buy two of the same book but it was two different covers and that was recently, as a kid my dad would ask me if he had this or that book before he made an order because I had such a good picture memory.

2
Reply
Steven

I usually buy books from home where all my books are, but I also regularly take pictures of my bookshelves to keep track, and if I’m out at stores sometimes I’ll take a picture of their shelves too so I can check back later what they have and what their prices are. A picture is worth a thousand words.

1
Reply
Stephanie

I forgot to mention this earlier but I also have been known to take pictures of my book shelves.

1
Елена

I have a wish list at my favorite online book store (I add books I want to buy there), I usually check there first if I have the purchased book and remove it from my list. 🙂

0
Reply
Sondra

Lol I don’t! I just bought a second American Gods and didn’t remember I already read it until I got to chapter 3 lol

0
Reply
Sondra

In my defense I thought I had read a “sample” on Kindle…until I got too far for it to be a sample and then recalled the whole book lol

0
Claudia

I keep a list of books by favorite authors on my phone so can look while book shopping.

0
Reply
Amber

Alas, I don’t, so the doubles stay of the covers are different, and get donated if they are exact.

0
Reply
Ryleigh

My books are basically catalogued in my brain, so that’s not really a problem.

1
Reply
Krisne

I will also sometimes get a double of certain books so that I can lend them out (usually at a second hand bookstore )

0
George

I can tolerate doubles :):):)

0
Reply
Michele

I use recipe cards and file them alphabetically by author, and list what I have read.

0
Reply
Amber

Image may contain: text
0
Reply
Rita

I just seem to remember.

0
Reply
Jenell

Three ring binder

0
Reply
Rube

Via goodreads

1
Reply
Sheila

In my head. I do have list of books read… and a notation of whether I have the book ‘got’

0
Reply
Julie

I keep a list

0
Reply
Jenny

Goodreads and I own such a small amount of physical books that I remember which ones I have

0
Reply
Emily

Goodreads
Notebooks
Spreadsheet

0
Reply
Keith

I have over 3000 books i m doing an excel sheet

1
Reply
Raymond

I don’t and often have to give duplicates away to friends

1
Reply
Frode

I don’t, and I do have doubles, or even triples. I sell them, occasionally, or just give them away (nice gifts to nice people).

0
Reply
Amanda

An Excel doc on a sheet because the constant table format makes it easy to add/remove books. And ones I’ve read are on a program called Book Collector. I print out copies of it all and take them to the big sales, etc.

0
Reply
Deepak

Everytime I buy books I click a picture so I can quickly look back and avoid buying an extra copy.

0
Reply
Ally

I have a list on my PC and a library on my phone.

0
Reply
Gloria

I have an index card file. That’s how I discovered they change titles.

0
Reply
Melissa

Memory.. 🙂

0
Reply
Maha

I don’t and quite often buy doubles.

1
Reply
Nadine

photographs of my bookshelf

0
Reply
Stacey

I have a spread sheet/list by author and title

1
Reply
Meaghan

I usually know what books I have/don’t have but I do have doubles of some books with different covers because prettyyyy

0
Reply
Louise

I don’t! ? and I do have some duplicates! Luckily I read a lot from the library so can just take those I havev already read, back!

0
Reply
Maria

I have a list of books I own on Goodreads.

0
Reply
Bernice

Oh I remember every one of them

0
Reply
Caroline

I have a catalogue on Excel with title and author name as primary columns. I’ve saved it on Dropbox and update it whenever I get new stuff. When I go to a bookshop, I pull out my tablet and confirm before buying.

0
Reply
Leonie

I have an app on my phone called Book List

0
Reply
Megan

I don’t often buy doubles.
Though I did accidentally buy a paperback version of an ebook I bought.

0
Reply
Silvia

I know what books I own. 🙂

1
Reply
Julie

Memory

0
Reply
Cassie

I always remember the title so wen I see a book I read I remember that I have it

0
Reply
Lauren

I entered everything we owned in a spreadsheet once and printed it for trips to the (used) books store (also marked what number in a series books were on the list) Then I entered some in library thing… and now I’m using good reads since it’s on my phone and can use the bar code scan for most.

If you own 100 books.. good for you to remember them all.. if you own 4000…. lol

2
Reply
Amanda

I realised a year ago I’d have to make a list of my TBR shelves, that are around 450 or so.

0
Lauren

We don’t just read fiction – we have reference books for our careers, and books for every hobby we are interested in. Our upstairs living/dining room is called “the library” for a reason. lol
The thrift store closest to our house has books 5/$1 every day of the week and the library has $2 a bag book sales every few months.
We do purge books about once a year, but I can’t imagine not being able to go read the spines and reread a favorite chapter in a book I’ve read 100 times whenever I want to.

0
Qin

I make a list of book in my bullet journal

0
Reply
Tricia

Always seem to remember when i look and author are read back only hapoend me once

0
Reply
Moira

Amazon tells me if I’m duplicating a Kindle order.

0
Reply
Jill

Barnes and Noble will not let you buy duplicates for Nook. I actually pre-order the same book twice and they caught it.

0
Reply
Mike-Tammy

I keep a list of the books I own with me at all times just in case….i write books down on a notepad that I’ve got organized by author or series

0
Reply
Alane

Same here

1
Jennifer

I can generally remember what I have

0
Reply
Georgiana

Microsoft word…or better Excel..

0
Reply
Emelie

AVOID buying doubles??

3
Reply
JosieandHomero

Josie~~An app called Libib. The basic version is free, which is what I use. It lets you create different libraries, I have 3 & it lets you scan barcodes. I really like it because it’s easy to use.

2
Reply
Jennifer

Will have to look for that

1
JosieandHomero

? You can also name the libraries & keep them/it private.

0
Reply
Nicole

I just know if I have it or not. I don’t buy random books. I make conscious decisions when I shop. If you don’t even know what books you have then take some time to do an inventory and stop buying.

1
Reply
Glynn

A system. Just know for the most part

0
Reply
Douglas

I get doubles once in a while but for the most part I know what I have.

0
Reply
James

I depend on memory

0
Reply
Dian

I’ve bought doubles and had to return them. Makes me feel so dumb.

0
Reply
Ashley

Remember. This was only a problem when I was younger and like binge buying books in large amounts when I had unread ones at home. I changed my buying habits. Read most of the ones I have and only buy books I really want to read and try to read them after I purchase them when I’m still excited about them. Rather than letting them sit.

0
Reply
Wes

I use book crawler

0
Reply
Johanna

Not as well as I’d hoped.. as I do have the odd double!

0
Reply
Tina

I list all my purchased books in a Word document which I check before making new purchases.

0
Reply
Tejaaswinie

I mostly knw every book i own… Even those that i lost by giving others… And even who lost them.. ?

2
Reply
Joyce

Me too

1
Danielle

I’ve got a free android app called book catalog (that’s how they’ve spelt it lol). So when I come to buying more while out I can quickly search it. Don’t know if it’s available on apple though x

0
Reply
Lorna

Goodreads and I also have a hand written list of the books I’ve read this year written in a journal. It’s my first year doing this.Before that, I just had to guess!

1
Reply
Vanessa

I have a list of book i own on my computer and another on goodreads.

0
Reply
Amber

I honestly just seem to remember if i bought it before or not. If i dont remember i will come home and check to see if i have it first.

0
Reply
Amanda

Same lol

0
Janet

My library app on my phone. Just recently started using it.

0
Reply
Margie

I have a hand written list

0
Reply
Jennifer

Wow I just downloaded the Libib app and love it!! I wasn’t recording my books until now :p

0
Reply
Shaerry

I don’t !!!

1
Reply
Karen

Now I take pictures, used to write a list

0
Reply
Shannan

Can someone make an app where you can scan (with your phone) your bar code and it keeps your list for you?!?! I get so confused on what I have!

1
Reply
Jennifer

Download libib , you can do just that!

0
Jennifer

I just scanned my books barcode and it went right into my list

0
Gail

search ‘play store’ or whatever app system you have on your phone. My old phone had one where you scan the barcode and it automatically added the book name, author, publication date, and the number of pages.

0
Amy

Not very well! I’ve made the mistake of buying doubles several times.

0
Reply
Sayantan

My brain is enough !

0
Reply
Kurio

I usually just know. I don’t think I’ve ever bought a duplicate. I’ve also read all my books multiple times that I can quote a few of em.

1
Reply
Kayla

I just know. ?

1
Reply
Rebecca

You can create a new folder on your Goodreads and title it books I own. Or something like that

1
Reply
Jill

I end up with doubles all the time

2
Reply
Barbara

LibraryThing is the best!

0
Reply
Jennifer

I used to keep a list but now.i have too many to keep up with

0
Reply
Dinese

I wish I had that problem

0
Reply
Taylor

I’m weird I remember every book that I own or used to

2
Reply
Sarah

Goodreads

1
Reply
Audi

I remember every book I own!

1
Reply
Pamela

I keep them in my bookshelf. It worked until recently I bought the same book twice

0
Reply
Shubhu

I don’t. ?
I have at least six books on the double. Fortunately, no triples ??

0
Reply
Karen

I have doubles a few. One copy of UK and another from USA.

0
Reply
Jessica

I only buy books if the library doesn’t have it. If I get a double of something, I give it as a gift. 🙂

1
Reply
Hannah

There are some books I own more than one copy of because I like the different covers. I have like 4 or 5 of Phantom of the Opera and a few of Wicked

1
Reply
Eli

I just know it!

1
Reply
Jamie

I’ve been blessed with a good memory. That’s the only way I stay halfway on top of my chaos.

1
Reply
Madeline

I don’t, I just take the chance. Haha

0
Reply
Joanne

I put them on a database and print them out. Thirty-eight pages of eight-point type and my purse is getting heavy. I also have a list of books I’ve gotten rid of so I don’t accidentally buy them again. That’s just the non-fiction. I don’t keep track of the fiction.

0
Reply
Christine

I keep a detailed database…2 actyually, I also keep one for my husband. I have over 1500 books so would be totally lost without it! With Windows 10, I upload to OneDrive and if I had a compaqtible phone I could sync them and access it on my phone when out and about. I rarely leave the house however so I’m okay for the time being.

0
Reply
William

I have bought doubles very rarely

0
Reply
Paula

I don’t

0
Reply
Elisabeth

I have doubles of the Lunar Chronicles series (1-3), but one set is in hardback (my sister’s) and the other’s in paperback (mine, autographed). ❤️

However, I don’t think I have any other doubles, my bookshelf is a little small and it still has room for a few more books..
Also, I try to read more books on Emily’s (my sister) bookcase, and we read the same genres.
Although, I have a pretty good memory..
(I even remember some of my old library reads that I don’t own yet. Eg: The Siren) ❤️

0
Reply
Catherine

I have a little pink book that I’ve started logging books in – unfortunately I forgot to take it with me this morning so I’m going to have a copy of Devoted in Death to “fairy” soon. ???

0
Reply
Janelle

I have a google doc (that way i can access my list where ever I go). I also have a pinterest board with all the books I own. That way I can see the covers <3

1
Reply
Sara

don’t have much memory left, but i can still remember my books!!

2
Reply
Judy

I buy on Amazon and they keep track for me.

0
Reply
Daphne

I remember every book I have no expection

0
Reply
Leave a Answer Cancel

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Loading Please wait
Log in
Register
Categories
  • get the book
  • questionnaire
  • recommend
  • review
Genres
animal art biography business chick lit classics comics contemporary cookbooks crime detective fantasy fiction gay and lesbian graphic novel historical fiction history horror humor and comedy kids languages manga memoir music mystery nonfiction novel paranormal philosophy poetry psychology religies religion romance scary science science fiction self help spirituality sports suspense thriller travel young adult young adults
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

2019 © TheBookSwarm