Monday, February 24, 2014

A Bookish Arrangement...


Everyone has their own bookish preferences when it comes to organizing and arranging their books. Some are strict alphabetists--bibliophiles who arrange all their books in alphabetical order by the author's last name, no exceptions, and who wouldn't dream of doing it any other way.

Then there are the Dewey Decimalphiles--library lovers who like to order their own books according to subject matter and the random numberization of the Dewey Decimal system.

Interior decorators like to arrange books by the size and color of their covers, sometimes even turning them around on the shelves so they all look the same. (Which has got to be the dumbest way to organize a shelf full of books! They may look pretty, but how do you find anything?)

Then there are the random stackers and plastic tote packers--those book lovers who keep their books in piles and stacks (and in boxes and totes), in no particular order, all over the house. On nightstands. On stairs. Even under the bed. There's always room for more books with this particular system, but finding what you want to read when you want to read it can be a challenge.

As for me, my system's a bit of an eclectic mix. I like to separate my non-fiction from my fiction and I like to group certain genres together. For example, all my classics reside on their own shelf, as do my children's books. But because of space limitations, a lot of my other books have to mingle together, in mostly alphabetical order, on my remaining shelves. It's not a perfect system, and I'm sure others would find it a bit random and confusing, but as long as I know where all my books live that's all that really matters. Right?

What about you? How do you organize your books?

8 comments:

  1. My books are arranged in a similar way to yours. Some of them are grouped by genre but the rest are mixed together, not really in any order. I never have a problem finding the book that I'm looking for, so I don't worry about it too much!

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    1. The only thing I worry about is finding more room so I can buy more books. :)

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  2. I had fiction and non-fiction...until today! I have my classics by themselves, but then I put my hardcovers together and all of my paperbacks on other shelves. I think they like nice together. :)

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    1. I separate my hardbacks and paperbacks, too. It just looks better (not to mention fits better) on my shelves.

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  3. I think it is time to weed through my books again to make more room. Mine are grouped loosely by genre, and then alphabetically in that particular genre. Since I don't have a room dedicated to housing my books, they are scattered in bookshelves around the house. The organizational system breaks down in my bedroom where I keep some favorites, and a pile of good intentions!

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    1. HA! Pile of good intentions! Love it. I have one of those, too. :)

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  4. Mmmh, my book shelves are crying out to be organised but I'm too busy reading! Someday. Nowadays I tend to buy more kindle books so that makes finding the book I want easy.

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    1. That would definitely simplify the process!

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