In this article, Rev. Robin Swieringa describes how she is using Paper Tiger Filing System software to index her extensive library and in her move from Canada to the United States. She will be so organized when unpacking in her new home! She won’t have to waste time searching through boxes to find something. She will be able to conduct a quick Google-like search in Paper Tiger’s database or on her file index report and quickly find what she needs.
I love Paper Tiger because I have a professional library of over 2000 books. In November, I began a project of cataloguing (or “filing”) the books in different bookshelf “locations” around our home. For each location, I then organized them by subject, then by author (so that I can also get up and physically look for the books I’ve owned for some time). Then I began assigning each book a number, and plan to assign new books consecutive numbers as they come in, regardless of subject or author, which I will cross-reference in the database.
After a couple of weeks into the project, we decided to move from Canada to the U.S. Although I’m tempted to drop the cataloguing in order to focus on packing everything else, I’m more committed than ever to completing the physical numbering of the books because packing and unpacking the books will be easier than ever with them numbered! I’ll be able to pack the books according to size and what fits into any particular box somewhat “in order” and label the packing boxes with the location and range of book numbers included. Then, when we unload the moving truck, we’ll be able to place the boxes in the correct “locations”, and I’ll be able to unpack the boxes and shelve the books in the numeric orders I’ve established by location! This will save many hours of re-organizing books after unpacking them.
Finally, I plan to catalogue my paper files before we move; this will help me both to purge what I really don’t want to move across the continent and to establish my new home and workplace offices in a jiffy.
By the way, for anyone moving from the U.S. to Canada, you are required both to number and make a list of every box you move AND to count and sort every item within each numbered box (e.g., “25 books and 100 CDs”) and include that information on the list of boxes, by box. Additionally, you must number and include every unboxed item you move on your list. Then, you must place a realistic dollar value on all the items you move. You are required to present your list to the Canadian border officials before they will authorize your entry into Canada. I now see that Paper Tiger would have been the perfect way to accomplish the numbering and valuations of the boxes and unboxed items, if not every item in each box.
Thus, Monticello could open a new “market” for Paper Tiger, if you haven’t already thought of it: Human Resources departments of companies that move workers internationally. Although they may have moving companies doing the boxing and listing of boxes, etc., the workers being moved might find cataloguing their possessions valuable, as well.
Thank you for a great and tremendously useful product!
Rev. Robin Swieringa, M.Div.
Paper Tiger Professional licensee
Edmonton, AB T5W 0B5
Canada
