How to Get Started
Step 1:
How do you want to organize your books?
The first step in getting your personal library started is to figure out how you want to organize your books. You can organize your books alphabetically by author, by genre, by both genre and author, or you can organize them from greatest to least favorite. It's up to you how you want to organize your personal collection.
Step 2:
Sorting.
One of the hardest things to do for a book-lover is to get rid of books. However, if you have an extensive collection and a small amount of space, it really is best to sort through your books and keep only those that you really want for your collection. Any books that are not collector's items, are too old to keep, or are unwanted, can be donated to your local library. The best way to sort through your books is to try to set your emotions aside and really stick to picking out only those books that you know you will love to have on your shelves. You might want to come up with a "weeding" list such as the following:
How do you want to organize your books?
The first step in getting your personal library started is to figure out how you want to organize your books. You can organize your books alphabetically by author, by genre, by both genre and author, or you can organize them from greatest to least favorite. It's up to you how you want to organize your personal collection.
Step 2:
Sorting.
One of the hardest things to do for a book-lover is to get rid of books. However, if you have an extensive collection and a small amount of space, it really is best to sort through your books and keep only those that you really want for your collection. Any books that are not collector's items, are too old to keep, or are unwanted, can be donated to your local library. The best way to sort through your books is to try to set your emotions aside and really stick to picking out only those books that you know you will love to have on your shelves. You might want to come up with a "weeding" list such as the following:
|
Reasons to Keep
|
Reasons to Donate/Relocate/Toss
|
Step 3:
Cataloging.
This is an optional step to organizing your personal library, but I believe it to be well worth the effort. Whether you make use of an online personal library helper (such as www.librarything.com) or use your computer to make an Excel spreadsheet of the books that you have in your collection, both ways will allow you to not only have a list of the books you own, but to keep track of them as well in case you let someone borrow a book or two.
Cataloging can also help you to start grouping your books into genres if that's how you want to organize your collection. I find that an Excel spreadsheet is great if you want to really personalize your collection or if you don't always have access to the internet but would still like to be able to view what you have in your home library. Here's an example of a spreadsheet I created using Excel:
| website_booklistexample.xlsx |
That is only an example of how you can organize your books on your computer to help keep track of them. This also helps you to know which books you already have when friends or relatives ask if there's a particular book you might want for a gift. You can also try cataloging your DVDs, Blu-rays, or CDs in this manner as well.
Step 4:
Location.
Where are you going to put your collection? Personally, the majority of my collection is in the spare bedroom/office on two separate bookshelves. The tallest bookshelf contains my collection of classics, reference materials, and my husband's game guides. The shorter bookshelf contains my Anne McCaffrey collection as well as my Mercedes Lackey collection and a few manga books as well. Neither bookshelf sees much of the sun as I do not want the light to fade or damage any of my books. Location is very important for books and many libraries do not have direct sunlight on any of their bookshelves in order to help preserve their materials. This is something that may not be thought of when creating a personal library.
In order to help choose the right spot in a room, you should make sure that if there are windows in the room, that direct sunlight will not be on your books for any length of time. Place a bookshelf on the wall next to a window might be the only option, but you would have to be sure to dust the books often enough so that anything coming in on a breeze doesn't do any damage to your books as well.
If the only option you have is to place the books where they might be in the sun, than you could purchase bookshelves that have doors on them. There are several available through IKEA and other furniture stores as well. However, if buying all new furniture is not an option, than making sure to close the blinds or curtains when the sun hits the books can not only help save your books, but also keep the room cooler as well.
Step 5:
Preservation.
Once you have selected and/or cataloged your books that you're keeping for your collection, than you have the option of covering your hardcover book jackets in order to help preserve them. Through Brodart, Demco, Highsmith, you can order clear book jacket covers that will help keep your book jackets in pristine order. Libraries use these on their hardcover books in order to help them last longer when people are constantly checking them in and out. Think how much longer your own personal books will last since your own collection won't be going through so much wear and tear!
Another part of preservation has been mentioned in the Location section above. By placing your books in the right location in a room, you can help add years to their durability. Sunlight is very damaging, as are dust and bugs. By dusting and vacuuming at least once a week, you can help preserve your books in a pristine state.
Step 6:
Enjoy.
Once you have weeded through your collection, cataloged it, and placed it in its new home, you can now enjoy your hard work. You could even purchase book ends to make some of your shelves look more decorated. You could play with the way the books are stacked: horizontally or vertically. Or you can simply sit down with one of your books and read in the comfort of your own home.
Step 4:
Location.
Where are you going to put your collection? Personally, the majority of my collection is in the spare bedroom/office on two separate bookshelves. The tallest bookshelf contains my collection of classics, reference materials, and my husband's game guides. The shorter bookshelf contains my Anne McCaffrey collection as well as my Mercedes Lackey collection and a few manga books as well. Neither bookshelf sees much of the sun as I do not want the light to fade or damage any of my books. Location is very important for books and many libraries do not have direct sunlight on any of their bookshelves in order to help preserve their materials. This is something that may not be thought of when creating a personal library.
In order to help choose the right spot in a room, you should make sure that if there are windows in the room, that direct sunlight will not be on your books for any length of time. Place a bookshelf on the wall next to a window might be the only option, but you would have to be sure to dust the books often enough so that anything coming in on a breeze doesn't do any damage to your books as well.
If the only option you have is to place the books where they might be in the sun, than you could purchase bookshelves that have doors on them. There are several available through IKEA and other furniture stores as well. However, if buying all new furniture is not an option, than making sure to close the blinds or curtains when the sun hits the books can not only help save your books, but also keep the room cooler as well.
Step 5:
Preservation.
Once you have selected and/or cataloged your books that you're keeping for your collection, than you have the option of covering your hardcover book jackets in order to help preserve them. Through Brodart, Demco, Highsmith, you can order clear book jacket covers that will help keep your book jackets in pristine order. Libraries use these on their hardcover books in order to help them last longer when people are constantly checking them in and out. Think how much longer your own personal books will last since your own collection won't be going through so much wear and tear!
Another part of preservation has been mentioned in the Location section above. By placing your books in the right location in a room, you can help add years to their durability. Sunlight is very damaging, as are dust and bugs. By dusting and vacuuming at least once a week, you can help preserve your books in a pristine state.
Step 6:
Enjoy.
Once you have weeded through your collection, cataloged it, and placed it in its new home, you can now enjoy your hard work. You could even purchase book ends to make some of your shelves look more decorated. You could play with the way the books are stacked: horizontally or vertically. Or you can simply sit down with one of your books and read in the comfort of your own home.
