Top 10: Book library software

2022. Calibre 6.0 now has text to speech and full text search



Calibre has just released a major update to its ebook management software. The standout feature is Full Text Search; Calibre can now optionally index all the books in your library, allowing you to search your entire collection for a specific word or phrase. To use this new function, click on the FT button to the left of the search bar. This will enable you to index your library and, once indexing is complete, perform searches. Another significant new feature is Read Aloud, which will use your computer's default voice assistant to read any ebook in your collection. This includes Google Assistant, Siri, Alexa and Cortana. You can even adjust the playback speed for those who prefer to speed it up or slow it down. Calibre also now supports CPU architectures, including Apple Silicon, without the need for Rosetta translation. This is a major enhancement, as the app is now optimized for the M1 and M2 chips in Apple laptops and Apple Studio computers.


2019. Alfa 8: New UI and Faster performance



The latest edition of the popular home library software, Alfa Ebooks Manager 8, is built on an upgraded engine, enabling faster performance even with large collections. The developers have also introduced a new user interface that is cleaner, more refined and more comfortable, with options for color scheme customization. Some of the new features include customizable color schemes, faster and more reliable scanning, updated Book and Author cards, batch MP3 audiobook metadata editing, complete drag-and-drop functionality, a new Table View with text zoom, enhanced CSV import/export tools and improved Calibre import capabilities.

2014. LibraryThing for Libraries advises what to read next



Library users will find it easier than ever to discover what to read next as LibraryThing for Libraries broadens its Book Recommendations feature to include a wider array of “if you enjoyed this, try that” suggestions. The new, free and automatic upgrade for existing subscribers to LibraryThing for Libraries’ Catalog Enhancement Package will showcase book recommendations by the same author, similar authors, genres and more, all based on the library’s current collection. The upgrade improves LibraryThing for Libraries’ distinctive tag-based discovery and links to other book editions and translations, offering more ways for users to find books they will enjoy. Insights from readers, librarians and professionals—through ProQuest’s Syndetic Solutions and Books In Print—are combined to generate the recommendations in LibraryThing for Libraries, creating an unusually rich and balanced service.


2013. Book library program BookCAT is discontinued



FNProgramvare, the company behind BookCAT, is shutting down and discontinuing its software. As a result, BookCAT will no longer receive support from the developer. Current users can still download the most recent versions. BookCAT was a robust database application designed to catalog and manage personal, club, school, church, or business libraries. Users could efficiently catalog their books by retrieving information from the Internet. A comprehensive set of data fields allowed users to track a broad range of details. Meanwhile, other major players in this sector, such as Collectorz and Alfa Ebooks Managers, are seizing this opportunity to offer seamless data export from BookCAT.


2012. Alfa eBooks Manager is now compatible with Windows 8



In October Microsoft will launch the new version of its operating system Windows 8. Alfaebooks developers decided to play a proactive and rebuilt their book library software Alfa Ebooks Manager (current version 3) to make it compatible with Windows 8. They also claim the new version works much faster on Windows 8 than on the older Windows versions.


2012. Book library software Calibre gets a modern new look



The latest version of e-library organizer Calibre 0.9 features a new "modern" appearance. This update provides a more contemporary look to the interface with emphasis highlighting, gradients, rounded corners and more. The refreshed e-book viewer includes a new "paged" mode, where the text is divided into pages. This allows you to view multiple pages on the screen simultaneously. Calibre can now connect wirelessly and via USB to Android devices. Modern Android devices often use a specific "MTP" protocol when connecting through USB. Calibre now supports this protocol on Windows (Vista and later) and Linux. Another new feature is Calibre Portable, which keeps the Calibre library and settings bundled with the Calibre program. This means you can store the entire setup on a USB drive and take it with you. Calibre's conversion engine now fully supports Amazon's new KF8 format. It can convert KF8 books to other formats and convert other formats to KF8. To convert to KF8, set the output format in the Calibre conversion dialog to AZW3.


2004. Delicious Library - a new book library software for Mac



**Delicious Library** is a new digital asset management software for Mac OS X that allows you to track and organize your physical book collections. When you first open the application, Delicious Library provides a sample library to start with. Delicious has relatively simple preferences, though you can disable the audio settings (which is advisable if you plan to scan a large number of books). By default, Delicious will display your iTunes books and audiobooks. All you need to do is enter a keyword to search for a book. Delicious Library will fetch the image and metadata. If you have a USB or Bluetooth barcode scanner, you can use it to scan item barcodes. Delicious Library also allows you to scan barcodes using your computer’s built-in iSight camera. While it functions quite effectively, you can also manually input ISBNs. Delicious Library automatically retrieves metadata, such as summaries. If you are uncertain about the edition of the book, you can click "More Info" to view it on Amazon. Once you have added it, you can also include your own review or rating.