Looking for virtual online bookshelf

i don't know but if you find one i would also like a copy if you are feeling creative you might be able to find something in google gears that may be adaptable tho i have not used it i have seen a few references that suggest it may be one of googles projects that can be used by users in an open source way.

http://code.google.com/apis/gears/api_database.html

Google offers such a service but I want a better looking one on our own page.

easy mc'peasy!

I would use php/mySQL to create a database, and then a page to access it. I have the skills to do that, but i would need somewhere to create the database (ie a mySQL/php server).

if you dont already have one, check out www.one.com (tis who host my site) they are really really cheap and the customer service is beyond great.

After that is done i can very easily make said system, or show you how (providing i can fit it around my degree)

Ponder

It's not that I couldn't program such a thing but I thought there might be a cool, free and well-maintained system out there somewhere.

Oh, then alas, i do not know *sniff*