My Woodworking Library
Search the database? - Back to library menu?
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How to search the library database.
Go to the search page and enter the keywords you wish to search in the text box. The search is not case sensitive. Separate each search term with one or more spaces, but please do not use commas or any other form of puctuation.
Underneath the text box are two buttons. The top button, when clicked, tells the search engine that you want all of your keywords included in your search. This means that the engine will return only those entries where every single keyword is present. The bottom button tells the search engine that it needs to find entries that contain any of your keywords. This means you will get returned a larger list as the engine will return every entry that contains any one or more of the keywords on your list. The all option is the default.
When you are finished, just click the search button and the computer will do the rest.
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About the Database Entries
Each entry consists of an APA style bibliography entry in a grey box followed by information about the book. Please see the picture below:
Under the bibliography, on the left, is a list of data about the book. At the top is the category I have placed it in for my purposes. Then I have the ISBN number listed, as I get the occasional email requesting it so people can order the book. Following this is the price that I paid. Please note that I bought some books at garage sales, I believe the description identifies these books, and some were bought used. This is not a guarantee that you will find them for the same price. However, Powell's Books is an excellent source for used books and helped me save a lot of money. After the price is the number of pages in the book (useful if you hate paying $50 for a 50 page book like I do), and the type of cover.
On the right, under the bibliography, is the rating I have given the book (more on this below) and a few words describing what I thought of it. Until recently I have not placed a great deal of info here so I am ugrading these from time to time to make them more useful. If you want to read about my favorites then try this little article which used to be all I had online about books. It is still quite informative, if out of date.
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About My Rating System
My rating system is really based on one thing - how useful the book was to my woodworking. Now, all woodworkers are different and work wood differently, so this may not apply to you. Besides, everyone has their own tastes. Entertainment factor, related to how well the book was written, does factor in to this. If I really enjoyed the book, it will rate higher than those that I found boring. However, a poorly written book that is still full of useful information will still get high marks.
So, when you look at a book's rating, keep in mind it reflects the use I got out if it personally. For example, a scroll saw pattern book (I do have one but it was a gift) will not get a high rating, regardless of how nice the patterns are, as I dont have a scroll saw nor do I have any intention of buying one.
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Why can't you find the book you are looking for?
First of all, I ain't rich! Second, I don't read many types of woodworking books. In fact I restrict myself to books that fit in one of the following categories:
- furniture design
- examples of fine furniture
- workshop design and setup
- finishing methods
- tools and machinery maintenance and construction
- woodworking as a business
- joinery and other techniques
- and historical woodworking
If the book you are looking for isn't on the list, I haven't had the money to buy it yet, or it doesn't fall into one of those categories.
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