Library Books for Mac3.24

Still working on 10.13.4. Thanks mister Developer!

Sad news for Library Books and its users, though I can understand the developer’s need to move on. So long, Harold, and thanks for the fish!

I've been using this since its first release when only a handful of libraries were supported and made a couple of requests myself that were quickly supported. Highly recommended!

Thank you. All my libraries are supported and works.

A fine piece of software, but sadly the libraries that I use have been unsupported for quite some time. Oh well, I’ve only been waiting 1014 days for the libraries in Lund (Sweden) to reappear. Guess I can wait a few days more …

The developer is very responsive and always interested in adding libraries. This program is incredibly helpful in rounding up books on their due date. I highly recommend it.

Checking on the beta requires re-entering library information. There is no sign of anything new in the app itself other than adding iPhone support in the preferences. From prev rev: this is pretty handy as an app. I was leery at first, but its really well done. On first load after buying this app I found that you had to retry the UPDATE a few times for things to register accurately, but now it works fine (pre-Beta).

New bug in 3.0xxx release: tries to update but when it downloads and installs update it fails. Permissions problem? Anyone else?

This is an excellent FREE program. Now that one of my two requested libraries is set-up for it, I am using this software daily and appreciating how it helps me monitor my loans and requests. All I can reasonably wish for is support for the other library that I use. Many thanks to the developer!

I wonder what's similar between Library Books and GraphicConverter???

Super convenient, but when are you going to put the custom icon back in the application?

This latest version still has excessive icons in the menu bar but does get rid of excessive graphics in the dropdown menu. Clearer to see due dates. Getting rid of the 2 extra icons in the menu bar would make this more usable with cluttered menu bars and small screens. Does anyone else agree?

MacUpdate: The screenshot is not for this version. The screenshot is for the version 2.0.

1. Growl support is now the only thing keeping me from switching to this completely. (My libraries are supported now!) 2. As noted elsewhere, the icons are now too big! Menubar space is limited!

This new version of Library Books is a menu hogger taking up 3x the space as the regular Library Books. The additional menu icon now includes a picture of a notebook which does nothing and a little green ribbon. Given that users use many other (more important menu services (Dropbox, Airport, Textexpander, etc) the author would do well to return to a single icon for Library Books that simply indicates the number of books checked out. This icon can turn different colors depending on whether books are due or over due. I've returned to the old version because this version simply does not fit in my menu bar.

No longer includes Sacramento Public Library

I love this app. It revolutionized my library experience simply because I don't have to continually type my library card numbers or PINs now to log into the library website. But everything, from the calendar integration (I use BusyCal) to the menubar star works great. I would love to have paid money for the app and support its development, because the one thing it isn't is pretty. And I happen to love a beautiful interface. So if the developer would ever like to get some money for this app and add a little bit of eye candy, I'm on board. Right now, with two accounts and nineteen items out from the library, it's just a big fat white eyesore. But I'm not complaining: in utilitarianism, it takes the cake, and that's what apps are for.

Very good app but this beta version does not seem to save PIN/ID information.

What a stellar app!! Using it on Snow Leopard, and it works great. From what I can tell, it has no competitors. If you frequently take advantage of your local public library, this app is of great help keeping track of what's checked out and what's on hold. The fact that it can also log you into the library's website automatically is a wonderful bonus. I haven't tried the iCal integration yet. There's only one thing I'd like to see as an option in the future. My menu bar is starting to get cluttered. Instead of a menu bar item, I'm wondering if a dock item could be an option (which would display the number of items checked out, just as the Mail dock icon shows the number of new messages). The developer's website alludes to an iPhone version but I didn't find an ETA. Looking forward to it!

Wow, thanks for this! Like most people who would value this, I'm a heavy library user. Logging in to the library's own website is a multi-step affair, and you wind up at an unattractive website that's difficult to navigate. This program gives you an always-on connection so you don't have to log in every time you want to check your account and the information presented is clean and easy to read. The description didn't mention it, but, for my library anyway, I'm also seeing the list of books I have on hold and which ones are ready to pick up. And a link to the library renewal page--without having to log in. Nice! Thanks to the developer for the great work and making this really useful software available free.

I installed this update, but the About page says it's b207. Is Macupdate out of date or does the app not report the correct version?

Brilliant little application that shows the number of books I have checked out of the library and it turns red when they are due. A click later and I am logged in to the renew screen at the Denver Public Library. I can be a bit forgetful and I was constantly racking up fines. Not anymore: I haven't had one single fine since I got this app about 6 months ago. Thank you!

Great App - Library Books is a handy little app for anyone that uses the library system. At first I could not get it to update but the developer was extremely responsive and fixed the problem within 24 hours. Being a free app this was better customer service than I usually get from high priced software. Highly recommended.

Apparently the developer's website is hosted on his home computer. When his Internet access goes out, the site drops off the Internet. I don't know why he doesn't mirror it somewhere, or arrange to have the actual latest version of Library Books hosted someplace with more reliable uptime, but it's free, and it's his call. I do think that it's a tremendously useful app.

I have tried to contact the developer numerous times to no avail. When the programs works, it's great. However, for the past 128 days my library has failed to update. I use the USA-GA-Dekalb Public Library. Below is the debug: URL: http://findit.dekalblibrary.org/uPortal/Login?request=%2Fpatron%2Fitemsout%2Fgetdetail&uP_root=root&uP_sparam=activeTab&activeTab=4 Expected content length: 1254 MIME type: text/html Text encoding: (null) Status code: 404 (not found) Headers: Server: Jetty/4.2.19 (Windows 2003/5.2 x86 java/1.4.2_16) Content-Type: text/html Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:22:02 GMT Content-Length: 1254

Library Books is great. It even works in my obscure Canadian city. Great job.

I'd like to try this, but the page absolutely refuses to load.

Hi Eric, you're right development has stalled. I haven't looked at my emails for a long time. I've set up a uservoice forum at http://librarybooks.uservoice.com for reporting bugs and voting on what should be fixed next. BTW: I don't put updates on MacUpdate or VersionTracker. Someone else puts the updates. I'll update the link so that it points to a proper web server.

Website is almost always too busy. Perhaps, author could use SourceForge as mirror site? Appreciate updates but unable to download them due to chronic website problem.

Still does not work with Sacramento Library System in California despite two properly documented bug reports to developer. Development seems to have stalled.

Developer's website seems to be overloaded. Any mirrors?

A+. Works just like it should.

Dev's website is back up now.

Great app, but the dev's site has been down for at least a couple weeks. Please come back?

This is better than free because it has saved me from overdue fines. The red star visual reminder for books coming due is fantastic. The green star for requested books becoming available on hold is great, too. This is a very useful and helpful tool. Highly recommended (just like I highly recommend taking advantage of, and otherwise supporting, public libraries).

This is a great app! But don't bother downloading this version, go to the author's website and get the "bleeding edge beta", which now supports Growl! The author is very responsive to emails, and actually listens to your suggestions/comments....

My university library changed it's log-on page yet again, just enough to stop Library Books working. I emailed the developer and he already had a beta version (2.6b30) ready that fixed the problem! Amazing support for freeware.

This program does exactly what is says! I've used it for a week and decided to donate to the developer. He is very responsive to requests. My library information was added with little effort on my part and he sent a customized version with my library in a couple of hours! We are a homeschool family and I need a program like this to track all of our school materials. The best feature is the iCal sync that creates a claendar with the due dates of checked out items. We are on time with our books now. This is a great little app!!!

I've been using Library Books v 2.4 for several months now and it's been great. It has crashed only once, during an update -- I have a flaky wireless connection. The only thing I would change is the grey used to list books on hold. Don't know why grey is so popular; I find it hard to read. If black isn't an option, maybe a color could be used.

Absolutely amazing! Was looking on it long time ago, with support of only few libraries. Very happy today to find that it now supports my library. Very clean, intuitive interface. Give it a try!

As the last user said, this is so cool! Straightforward setup; just works. Kinda sorta wish I could have it in the dock rather than in the menu bar, but hey...

This software is unspeakably cool in a quiet, effective, getting-on-with-business sort of way. Having all of my borrowed books at my finger tips is a great way of keeping track of my PhD reading as well as keeping me out of trouble with two universities' libraries. Definitely worth a trip to PayPal.

The last time I tried this, it did not work for Multnomah County Library (in Portland, OR). After forgetting (again!) to return three books on time, I decided to try it again, and voila! It works perfectly! Many thanks for fixing this (I hadn't seen the work around)! I love the program and the integration with iCal. Thank you so much for making this available for all of us to use! Alexandria Weinbrecht

Excellent app for anyone having to track library books. It displays the number of books that are taken out in the menu bar, and the full description if you click the menu. You can have multiple library accounts, there are links to your account on the Internet, it is intergated with iCal so you can see when your books are due. And of course, it's supper easy to use. Your library is not there? Just e-mail the developer and he'll add it if possible !

This application is fantastic for us library users. My library was not listed, so I contacted the developer who simply could not have been more helpful. After a few mails we have it up and running. I love it. This is the sort of stuff that Mac should include bundled with iLife or with machines. It's truly useful software for the rest of us. I can't sing it's praises enough. Full marks!

Current bugs in 2.2: Please note that some bugs in version 2.2 which have been fixed for the next version: Library Books will initially display dialogue asking you to enter in your library login details. There is a bug that only allows you one minute to enter in the data. It is okay if you are using a preset but may cause problems if you are using a generic library. To work around this problem: 1. Pick any library, enter in a random user id and add it in. It will stop the one minute limit. 2. Click the "+" button to add in your library. 3. Remove the dummy library you added. The preset for Multnomah County Library does not work. You can work around this by using a generic Dynix catalogue and entering in: - Catalogue URL: http://ipac.multcolib.org - Web page: http://www.multcolib.org

Extremely useful. This menu item indicates when your library items are due and takes you to the library's webpage to search and request books. Controls are easy to use and well-thought out (e.g. you can control the type size of menu items). Best of all, the developer is highly responsive. If your library is not listed, email him. He got me a new version in less than a week. Well done!

This is a great application that works as is advertised. Though it may not list your libraries, a simple word to the developer would most likely result in quick help and an update; this is my story.

I cannot add the Multnomah County Library System to my list of libraries. There is an error in this program that does not allow me to select this option.

My entire family makes heavy use of the library, so I was very happy when I noticed this applicaiton was available. My first try wasn't successful in showing what items were checked out. However, a short email to the developer resulted in a quick reply with suggested settings that worked. Harold Chu deserves a big THANK YOU from me, my family and everyone else using this very useful little program. Thanks Harold!

Being a heavy library user, this is probably one of the single most helpful programs I've run across in a long while, fixing something I didn't even know could be. Although I couldn't initially get my library to work, the developer e-mailed me back in the same day and fixed my problem. This the kind of thing that truly defines the Mac!

Fantastic program! I emailed developer Harold Chu to see whether he could include our City library to the list and within 2 days he's emailed me a beta that works perfectly. Cheers Harold, keep up the stunning work!

I really love this program. Mr. Chu is open to feedback, and I hope he develops the open system enough that libraries can be added to it quickly. Maybe some kind of "wizard" or setup utility. Our library works perfectly and my wife has no excuse for late books. Thanks Harold

As I mentioned previously, this is a very cool program. And while it worked perfectly with one library system I use, it wouldn't with the other. As mathboy found, the developer was very dedicated in getting it to work with my second system, and we worked back and forth for several days to figure it out, Now that it works right, I actually find it to be one of the most valuable pieces of software on my computer. sig

Great developer customer service! I downloaded this program hoping to get it to work with my library, but was unable to get the settings to allow me download my account info. I emailed the developer and received a prompt reply. He offered to update the settings to work with my library for me. In a couple of days he had added the appropriate settings to allow the program to work with my library's system. BTW, the program works as advertised. If you check out items from your public library this is a great addition to Mac OS X!

Don't you hate it when people don't pay attention to the descriptions? Anonymous, you don't have to be in Australia to have a DYNIX or other compatible catalog system in your library. This logged-in perfectly with the Seattle Public Library system. Very cool. Now, if it would sync with the King County Library (different system), I'd be very happy.

You missed something under 'Requirements'- "...must reside in Australia..." :P