Explore the catalogue
Search books and authors, follow a work into its editions and compare the publication details you need. Keep a title separate from a particular printing.
Free utilities
Book
Explorer
Explore the book.
Compare editions.
Keep your reading library.
Free with a VISINVOKE accountWindows and Android
Books, editions and your reading life
Find the record. Make it your own.
Explore factual catalogue details, then organise the books that matter to you.
Keep a personal reading library
Use shelves, favourites, ratings, notes and lists on your device. Set a yearly reading goal and return to recently viewed records.
Works and their editions
One book. Different publications.
Follow a work into its editions. See original publication separately from a later edition or reprint, with the identifiers and publication details attached to each.
Explore the author bibliography and catalogued series statements. The records keep a book's identity distinct from a particular publication.
What you can explore and keep
A catalogue and a personal reading library.
Move from the record you find to the reading notes you make.
Search titles, authors and ISBNs
Search the VISINVOKE book catalogue by title or author, with accent-insensitive matching. Check an ISBN-10 or ISBN-13 before looking up its edition.
Keep works and editions distinct
Explore the book as a work and the editions attached to it. Keep the original publication separate from later editions and reprints.
Compare edition details
Review publisher, publication date, language, format, page count and identifiers. Filter editions by language, format or ISBN and compare two to four side by side.
Explore an author bibliography
Follow catalogued life dates and aliases to linked works. Order the bibliography by first publication, title or edition count.
Read catalogued series statements
See series information as it appears in the catalogue. Use the recorded statement without an invented reading order.
Organise reading shelves
Mark books Want to Read, Reading, Read or Owned. Keep favourites and your reading status together in your personal library.
Keep ratings and notes
Add a one-to-five-star rating and your own notes. Store your reading observations on the device you use.
Make your own lists
Group books for a club, course or collection. Keep lists alongside your shelves, ratings and notes.
Follow a yearly reading goal
Set a yearly goal and review your progress. Return to recently viewed records as you explore the catalogue.
See where a record comes from
Open Sources for the catalogue record, its last update and the catalogue release used. Missing fields are marked not recorded.
Compare editions
Put the publication details side by side.
Filter by language, format or ISBN. Compare two to four editions across publisher, date, language, format, page count and identifiers.
Search with a checked ISBN-10 or ISBN-13 to locate an edition. Missing catalogue fields remain marked not recorded.
Your personal reading shelves
Keep your reading intentions in view.
Mark books Want to Read, Reading, Read or Owned, and keep favourites close. Add ratings and notes alongside the records you explore.
Create lists for a reading club, course or collection. Shelves, ratings, notes and lists are stored on your device.
A yearly reading goal
See your reading progress take shape.
Set a yearly reading goal and follow your progress. Use your reading status to keep track of the books in your library.
Return to recently viewed catalogue records as you choose what to read or review what you have finished.
Catalogue sources
Keep the facts connected to their records.
Open Sources to see the catalogue record, its last update and the catalogue release served. A missing fact is marked not recorded.
Read series statements as catalogued. Explore factual identifiers and publication details without advertising or shopping links.
From a search to a reading shelf
Explore, compare, organise and revisit.
Use catalogue information and your own reading records together.
Find the book
Search a title or author, or look up a checked ISBN. Open the work and follow its editions.
Compare the publication
Filter editions by language, format or identifier. Compare a small selection field by field.
Make a reading record
Set a shelf status, add a rating or note and group the book into a personal list.
Return to your library
Review your yearly goal and recently viewed records. Keep reading choices and observations together on your device.
Part of VISINVOKE
Your reading utility. Your wider workspace.
Explore the products around Book Explorer.
Desktop Control Centre
Open your VISINVOKE products through a signed-in Windows desktop workspace.
VISINVOKE utilities
Explore the VISINVOKE collection of tools for everyday tasks and personal interests.
Illustrations show books, reading records and related subjects. They are not application screens or reproduced book covers.
Questions and answers
Know your catalogue and reading library.
Works, editions, local records and account access at a glance.
How are a work and an edition different?
A work represents the book itself. An edition represents a particular publication, with its own publisher, date, language, format and identifiers. Original publication and later reprints remain separate.
What can I search and compare?
Search titles, authors or checked ISBN-10 and ISBN-13 identifiers. Filter editions by language, format or ISBN, then compare two to four editions field by field.
Where are my reading records kept?
Personal shelves, favourites, ratings, notes, lists and reading goals are stored on the device you use. Your reading library sits alongside the catalogue records you explore.
Does it include book text, cover art or shopping links?
Book Explorer concentrates on factual catalogue records and identifiers. It does not reproduce book content or publisher descriptions, and catalogue exploration has no advertising or shop links.
How do I check a catalogue detail?
Use the Sources panel to see the catalogue record, its last update and the catalogue release served. An absent fact is shown as not recorded; series statements stay as catalogued.
How do I access Book Explorer?
Book Explorer is a free VISINVOKE utility for Windows and Android with a VISINVOKE account. Get Desktop Control Centre for Windows through your account installer page.
Continue in VISINVOKE
Your account. Your reading library.
Create a free VISINVOKE account or sign in to your existing account. Book Explorer is a free utility for Windows and Android.
Get Desktop Control Centre for Windows through your account installer page and open your VISINVOKE utilities.