Are you a book lover? Do you have more books than shelves available? Do your friends jokingly call you "bookworm" or "bibliophile"? Having lots of books is great, but tripping over them or never being able to find exactly what you want isn't as fun. To make sure your books are kept in a fabulous order and you can always locate them when you need them, here are some simple but effective ways to organize your book collection.
Steps
Determine how you think about books. Do you classify them by type of story, color, format, genre, title or author? There are as many ways to organize books as there are people. However, what really matters is that you choose the method that most appeals to you or that makes the most sense to you. That way, the right method will get your memory working and help you quickly locate the book you want. The following paragraphs outline several proven methods for organizing a book collection; choose the one you like best.
Method 1 of 5: Alphabetical Classification
Step 1. Organize all your books alphabetically, by author or title
This method will work well if you are good at remembering titles or names. Keeping books by the same author together helps you easily find a book within a series.
- This method is less successful if you are the kind of reader who remembers the content of a book but has a hard time memorizing its title or author. If so, you will need to try a different approach.
- An alphabetical classification should also take into account a division between fiction and non-fiction (for other suggestions, see the Topic Classification below).
Method 2 of 5: Classification by Format or Color
Step 1. Arrange the books on the shelf according to their format
It is best to put the largest and heaviest books on the lower shelves, and the smaller and lighter ones on the upper ones; this is a fundamental principle to ensure stability to the library. This method is visually attractive and has a neat appearance because it follows a subdivision according to the format. If you remember books based on their size or shape, this method may be for you.
Step 2. Sort the books by color
Some people remember the color of the book better, or the illustration or type of coloring of the cover, and in this way they instantly remember every book they read. Also, if you like to arrange things around the house by color, this could be a great addition to the decor, as well as an easy way to retrieve books.
Method 3 of 5: Classification by Topic
Step 1. Sort books by subject
This means dividing the books into what you consider different topics, arranging all the novels on one side, the scientific texts on the other, the philosophical ones, the biographies, the manuals, etc. somewhere else again.
Consider separating fiction from non-fiction. You might like to make a distinction between fiction books and essays; this method tends to spontaneously encourage this subdivision. This distinction can be applied to the same bookcase, for example putting all novels on the upper shelf and all carpentry manuals on the lower one. Or you can use different bookcases inside the house, for example keeping cookbooks in the kitchen and romance novels in the bedroom
Step 2. Determine the space required for each item on the shelves
It is always better to assume that you will need more space and not less, as your collection will likely grow over time and somehow stray books will always end up needing to be placed on some shelf!
Step 3. Put the books back on the shelves according to the topic, along with others of the same genre
In some cases, as shown in this image, you may want to add some relevant items as well, such as figurines, photographs or collectibles.
Step 4. Choose a tag that identifies each genre or topic
If it is easy enough for you to remember where you put the books according to their subject, this method is optional. But if you need to highlight the topics further, some simple methods to take can be:
- Colored labels: Choose labels with permanent adhesive from a library supply firm's catalog, or be prepared to cover the labels with permanent adhesive tape. Avoid parcel tape and common scotch tape, as they yellow, crack and peel off, while duct tape becomes sticky over time.
- Colored fabric adhesive tape: These adhesive tapes with a permanent glue are very good for this purpose.
- Symbols: use a permanent marker to write one or more letters, or an identification mark for each genre or topic. For example: "A" for romance novels, "G" for detective stories, "R" for religion texts, "B" for biographies, etc. Unfortunately, not all books are the same color, so what stands out on a particular cover may not be seen at all on a different color; consider making an exception for books that have the same color as the label by choosing a white one and using a marker of your favorite color.
- These systems are great if you move frequently and want your book collection to remain relatively intact once boxed.
Method 4 of 5: Organizing the Desk
Step 1. If you keep a collection of books on your desk, organizing it can make your work or study more efficient
Take a look at what books are currently on your desk.
What kinds of books do you consider necessary for a collection to keep on your desk? These are usually books that you have to consult almost every time you sit at your desk, such as dictionaries, reference manuals, manuals for computer problem solving, guides for writing, editing or calculating, texts that are currently important for an essay, report or book you are writing, etc. Among the books that are probably not that necessary may be manuals that you do not consult more than once every few months, novels that you intend to read, and books that are more interesting than what you should keep doing! Remove anything that is not used frequently or that is a distraction
Step 2. Give your book collection a very small part of your desk
The basic rule of books to keep on your desk is to keep them to a minimum. The desk is an area dedicated to documents, the computer and the consultation of the texts you are using. Anything else is irrelevant and risks getting in the way, especially on a small desk.
Some ideas for shelves to put on or next to desks can be: a small portable shelf that can be lifted by hand with the books still inside; books held upright by portable bookends; shelves fixed to the wall above the desk; or, simply, books leaning against the wall, if the desk is against a wall
Step 3. Arrange the books according to how often they are used
Put the ones you use most as close to your reach as possible, while the ones you rarely consult, but are still useful, can be stowed further away from your desk. Simplify things.
Make it a habit to always put books back in their place after you have used them. Piles of books on a desk can discourage you from going back to study or work, and it's not a very tidy thing either
Method 5 of 5: Alternative Classification
Step 1. This technique can also be considered a sub-technique
It only works if you store the books in more than one place (different shelves in the same bookcase do not count, while different bookcases count. You may also have other places where you keep the books). It is similar to the organization of the desk, but applied to the whole room.
- Decide where you do most of your reading.
- Organize all your books based on how often you look at them or when you will look at them next time. For example, if you intend to start reading a book as soon as you have finished what you are reading now, move it closer to your reading area. If, on the other hand, it is a book that you will only consult occasionally or that you will not read until you have finished many others, move it further away.
- Remember that this technique can be combined with others.
Advice
- Buy good quality libraries. Your books will benefit from clean bookcases that do not bend under their weight and that are not damp. Dust the shelves regularly.
- Buy good quality books. When you have the choice between a hardcover and a budget edition, always buy the former. It will last much longer and, moreover, it will keep its value better, on the off chance that, one day, you want to resell it.
- Buy book protection products and materials to repair them. Dust jackets keep books clean and in good condition.
- Buy good book organization software and create your collection catalog.
