When I started with Windows 7 I saw the Libraries and thought, “I’m not gonna mess with that!”.
Actually, they are really a great feature. After starting these articles, I’ve created a library for them and their images.
Libraries are a new Windows feature in 7. Windows 7 comes with libraries for documents, music, pictures, and videos. But you can personalize these, or create your own, with just a few clicks.
In this long overdue (yes, a library pun) article I’m going to show you how easily one is created, and in my next one I’ll show you how to remove a library.
They are central collection points for files of a certain type that can exist in any number of locations. This is very convenient for work, or for creating projects and having all the data, pictures, etc. “under one roof”.
By default, Windows 7 configures the Libraries on a system to display files from your local system. For example, the Documents Library displays files from the My Documents and Public Documents folders on your system but you can add other locations easily. The locations don’t even have to be on the same drive or on the same computer (provided it is networked with yours). You can add folders, files or graphics and I’ll show you just how easy it is to get really organized.
To create a new library
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Click the Start button, click your user name (which opens your personal folder), and then, in the left pane, click Libraries.
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In Libraries, on the toolbar, click New library.
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Type a name for the library, and then press Enter.
To copy, move, or save files to a library, you must first include a folder in the library so that the library knows where to store the files. This folder automatically becomes the default save location for the library. For information about including folders and setting the default save location.
To include a folder in a library
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In the taskbar, click the Windows Explorer button.
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In the navigation pane (the left pane), navigate to the folder that you want to include and single-click it (don't double-click).
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In the toolbar (above the file list), click Include in library, and then click a library (for example, Documents).
To include a folder from an external hard drive
Make sure the external hard drive is connected to your computer and that your computer recognizes the device.
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In the taskbar, click the Windows Explorer button.
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In the navigation pane (the left pane), click Computer, and then navigate to the folder on your external hard drive that you want to include.
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In the toolbar (above the file list), click Include in library, and then click a library (for example, Documents).
However, folders from removable media devices (such as CDs and DVDs) and some USB flash drives can't be included in a library. They must have a fixed location on a drive.
To include a Network file in a library
A network folder must be added to the index or made available offline before it can be included in a library. Therefore the computer must be added to your Home Group to be indexed.
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In the taskbar, click the Windows Explorer button.
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Do one of the following:
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In the navigation pane (the left pane), click Network, and then navigate to the folder on your network that you want to include.
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Click the icon on the left side of the address bar, type the path of the network, press Enter, and then navigate to the folder that you want to include.
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In the toolbar (above the file list), click Include in library, and then click a library (for example, Documents).
If you don’t see the Include in library option, it means that the network folder is not indexed or is not available offline.
Also, if you don’t save the results of an online search as a document, it can’t be included in a library. So, if in a given project you found a source you wish to quote, make sure you copy it to your documents folder (make sure there’s permission to do that. If not, then summarize it and save your summary and source as a document).
Easy? Yes!
Sources: For and article with pictures - http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/personalize-windows-7-by-creating-new-user-defined-libraries/4676?tag=nl.e064
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Libraries-frequently-asked-questions