How to Turn a Physical Book into a Searchable PDF

If you are studying or doing research - books are your friends - BUT finding information within a book when you need it can be a challenge. Instead of using flags, bookmarks, highlights and other methods of keeping track of the various searches from your book - why not turn the physical book into a searchable PDF that you can use to easily find what you are looking for?

This is a very handy way to speed up your research and study. You can quickly find every instance of a term, concept, or person that appears in the book. It’s also fast.

Here is the link to the CZUR scanner I'm using (this is not sponsored and this is not an affiliate link - although CZUR has sponsored other videos and are very nice!

You can watch my video on the CZUR Scanner here: (this was a sponsored video):

Would you like to learn Microsoft Whiteboard?

I've launched a course on Microsoft Whiteboard! Over 2 hours of tips, tricks, and skills. This course is designed to make you a Whiteboard Wizard!
To celebrate the launch, there is a 30% Discount if you use the code Launch30 at checkout. It's limited to only 50 enrollments, so you'll hurry if you want the discount.

Did I mention Something unique in the Video?
In this section, I try to put any citations, references, and links that might be useful to the subject of the video.

Join me on my podcast where I share ideas on how we can take a science-based approach to learning. On the podcast, I share ideas, book reviews, best practices, and more about learning.

Links I like to share:
Skillshare: I have courses on Skillshare and am adding more
A free course I created on Excel - I'm planning to create some more courses - let me know what you think. It's a work in progress.

My Favourite Gear
Here is my Amazon Store - I try to keep it updated 😁
Canada
US Store

Social Links

About…me.
Hello there - I'm glad you've taken the time to look at my videos and this description box!
My name is Frank and I've been teaching post-graduate programs in technical subjects for almost 25 years. My Master's Degree is in Learning and Technology (from Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC - where they filmed the X-Men movies!).

I'm a Microsoft Certified Trainer (since 1998), a Cisco Certified Academy Instructor (since 1999), and have a lot of different technical certifications (I even had my own consultancy and was a member of the Apple Consultants Network for a few years. I like technology a lot.

I've been fascinated with learning and how to improve learning for years. Especially how to leverage technology for learning. From productivity Applications like Teams, OneNote, Excel, and the entire Microsoft Office suite to tools such as Mindmapping, Metaverse, VR, AR, and more - I like to see how we can use tools to leverage our ability to teach and learn.

Learning and Technology YouTube is about helping students and teachers improve their learning by leveraging technology tools. Whether remote teaching, distance learning, hybrid teaching, or completely in the classroom - we can use technology to enhance our skills. This channel is dedicated to developing teaching and personal productivity when it comes to learning and technology. Thank you for watching!

Note: some of the links to other sites may be affiliate links that I get a referral fee for.

#czurscanner #scanner #digitalbooks #teaching #pdf frank bergdoll learning and technology with frank ocr

[VickiRetzlaff]

I am so glad I came across your video. We live an interesting life and travel full time in an small 24 ft motorhome. I love to cook and sail. I have too many books now I have a better way to refer back to my books for a recipe or sailing terms. This will greatly cut down the weight and book space in our RV. Thank you so very much!!!

[georgeofhamilton]

This kind of service seems like something every university or public library should have.

[KingKatura]

In most places you can make copys of your own books anyway, because it allows you to save the actual book so it doesn't get destroyed over time. Thats the whole reason for Digitalizing things to begin with. Especialy if they are older.

[kentboortz]

I was really impressed until I saw the scanned pages at 6:50. I expected the softare to flatten the curved pages and compensate for uneven lighting because the page was not completely flat when scanned. And also learn as it goes, finding out the page size to use for all pages. And auto levels so that you don't see through the text on the back of the paper.

But this review is a year old, maybe the software has improved since. Alternatively, comes with different size paddels so you can force the pages to be flat with your hands more easily.

I did try create exactly this setup with a multipurpose stand and an iPhone with its built in software to scan to PDFs. Never got it to work good enough. So I do think for the price, this product looks quite good even with its flaws.

[steve-fypk]

WOW, I never imagined. Wished I had learned this way back when it first became a thing (after I retired) I’ve read so many great books and I’d like to have had it in digital form (like he does so I could reference -words and phrases).

[Digmen]

Thta was a great vidoe
I have just bought an Czur ET25 and watching you scan those pages so quickly was great.
I had been waiting for the system to process each page.

[farbverlaufen]

Thanks so much for presenting the CZUR Book Scanner. I own now one myself and it's a fantastic tool for my research :) Thanks a lot :)

[anarchisttutor]

I bought a CZUR in 2019. Regarding curve correction, I think it does well with B&W text and music books, but it gets confused by books with fancy graphics inside. Also, I think the software could be better, and the book tends to shift as you go; you're supposed to line up the center with the yellow guide on the screen. Perhaps later versions are better. I'm looking into how to quickly remove pages from a book to run them through a feeder scanner, which could potentially be faster.

[stevenprosser]

This is amazing! I could see many ways that this could come in handy. I'm also in Canada and I'm glad you mentioned copyright use, I've been getting ads for CZUR scanners and many of the comments are concerned with copy right. I'd like to explore this more. I could use it for research in university to search topics as you mention, but I also like the idea of creating copies of my already purchased books if possible, A). I have a likely irrational fear that they could be destroyed in a fire, flood, etc. But also I am maybe a bit OCD about keeping my books in as "top-knotch" condition as possible 😅. I personally take dust jackets off to read books so they stay in mint condition. If I could quickly scan a physical book and then read it on my eReader it would make it more transportable and prevent damaging my physical copies. I hope this kind of use would be under the fair use laws in Canada 🤔. I use to collect cds, over 1000 and did the same back in the day with uploading them all to make them more transportable on my iPod annnnd to preserve the CDs. I've been waiting for something like this for years fot books! 😁

In general I buy ebooks these days and only buy physical copies of my absolute favorite books or in instances where an ebook isn't available; which is where CZUR could come in handy 🤔😁. I have absolutely no desire to ever redistribute anything. I just would like a book version of what I have done with cds in the past for personal use

[AltaroRitmerZaxmer]

Wow, got it! And then I can read them or translate them in the form of PDF with the help of Immersive Translate. Thanks for your sharing

[ronp]

I love this. I’m going to have to look into getting one of those scanners!

[steveparker]

If I have a single book that I want to convert into a PDF for reprinting, what is the best route? Pages are b&W, 5.5" x 8", 233 pages. I only need to do this once, so I'm not looking for a huge equipment cost. Suggestions?

[patriziomancini]

Hello and thank you for the video, the book is searchable but it is also possible to copy and paste sentences and paragraphs like a normal pdf? thank you in advance!

[MilsurpMikeChannel]

I might consider getting one of these scanners. I have a family history book I would like to digitize first of all... but the ability to translate foreign language books would really help me out in making content for my channel.

[jaysimone]

I bought the czur shine pro but unable to get it to work. I'm stuck on "device undetected" even though it accesses the laptop camera. Followed the instructions given by support but i'm still having issues. I'm about to return it. Any other suggestions for scanners?

[adamhearts]

I have a privately printed family lineage book that I need to digitalized, there's only one copy of it so I'm hoping to get it onto Google store or Amazon book to be printed so other family members can buy it.

Do you happen to know the format needed to submit it to Amazon is it a PDF format or do they need just the text files thank you

[dynamics]

You have a wonderful and very interesing channel, I watched most of your videos, they are very interesting.... Great job !...

[frhythms]

Wow! This is so cool! Thanks, Frank!!!

[douggottlieb]

Great video! Does the scanner come with the foot pedal controller or did you rig that up? Seems essential, as do those little finger tabs. Where’d they come from? THANKS!

[emil]

Do you know how i can do this with my phone or iPad? Really want to have searchable pdfs on a budget:)