For libraries: setting up an EYB membership

An Eat Your Books library membership opens your cookbook collection to your patrons. They can search every cookbook on your shelves at once, find which book has the recipe they want, and see what's in a book before they borrow it.

Our indexers list each recipe's title and its main ingredients under the book, with category tags for recipe type, special diet, ethnicity, occasion, and course. We don't share measurements or methods, so patrons still borrow the book to cook from it. New cookbooks are indexed every week, alongside food magazines, blogs, and newspaper columns.

Setting up a library membership

1. Set up a free membership at eatyourbooks.com. Keep the username short, because it's what your patrons see on the site. A university library is better as USCL than as University of State City Campus Library. Use the email address of whoever will administer the membership.
2. Email us at info@eatyourbooks.com. The introductory annual fee is US$250. Once it's paid we upgrade your membership type to Library.
3. Import your collection's ISBNs with the Sync feature, under the Library tab. It's only available on library memberships. Please import food and drink books only. If a book isn't in our catalog yet, we'll add its data.
4. Run Sync again whenever your collection changes. It offers one-click removal of books you no longer hold, and adds new ones.
5. Create access links for your patrons on your Account page. Each link gives you a QR code and a short URL to hand out.

Patrons scanning the QR code at the library sign in without a password. From elsewhere they also enter the library username you chose in step 1, which is why a short one matters.

What your patrons get

1. Search across every cookbook in your collection at once, by recipe title, ingredient, author, or category.
2. See what's in a book before borrowing it.
3. Browse our full catalog of cookbooks, and follow links to online recipes where the publisher has approved one.
4. Read the ratings, reviews, and photos our members have added, though library patrons can't contribute their own.

Patrons who want a private collection of their own books can create a personal membership as well. The library membership doesn't include the CookShelf app, which needs a personal membership.

Publicity

Email info@eatyourbooks.com if you'd like poster artwork or bookmarks to promote the service to your patrons.