Tell me! You're nerds, right? And you have stuff?

[thebitterguy]

I'm gonna start with a generalization that we, as geeks, will accumulate stuff. Our hobbies tend to be based around things, whether books of some kinds (periodical graphic novels and collections and rpg books and paperback novels and old pulp magazines)

I'm also going to state that we tend to let them out to like-minded folk. Can I borrow your copy of X? is a common question.

So, I have questions.

[Poll #1179185]

And I would like to just state right now, if I've fucked conjugating the word "to lend/loan/let" repeatedly, I am sorry.

Comments

[absinthe-dot-ca.livejournal.com]

Something that seems to resonate here among the comments is the need for a good tracking system. I've been looking at one of those myself, except that they all have a lot of up-front labour (especially if you have as many books, etc. as we do) and you have to remember to "sign" items in and out. A near-ideal system using RFID suggests itself (at least in terms of picking up when your stuff enters and leaves), but the initial labour is quite high, and now you have to pay for the RFID stuff.

Yep, I'm a geek, don't bother telling me.

[thebitterguy]

There's actually a piece of software that uses that Mac camera as a UPS code scanner and can be used to track your books, cds & dvds, and you can track what's be loaned to whom.

We constantly quibble about getting it.

[absinthe-dot-ca.livejournal.com]

Not just for the Mac - Libra (http://www.getlibra.com) supposedly does the same thing. The software is pretty easy to use, but I haven't tried the webcam bar code scanning functionality yet.

[doc-mystery.livejournal.com]

I have this, the Delicious Library (it came with a Mac Heist shareware package I got). The bar code reader only works for some items where the UPS code 1) was assigned and 2) matches the item I have. While many RPG/SF items are included, not all are, making hand entry a grumpy requirement (which is why I don't use it much).

I've also noted trying to scan some stuff in just doesn't work very well all the time.

::B::

[thebitterguy]

Is it mostly the older/esoteric stuff you have problems with?

[uniquecrash5.livejournal.com]

While many RPG/SF items are included, not all are, making hand entry a grumpy requirement (which is why I don't use it much).

I am stunned a public repository of barcodes does not exist. Whyfor not?