If your bookcases are just too full....
KeskusteluBookcases: If You Build/Buy Them, They Will Fill
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1fancett
I've just started a group called Unclutter Things for LibraryThing members who also want to live a clutter-free life, where we can discuss subjects such as ways of thinning book collections, or indeed whether books can ever be clutter. I thought there may well be members here whose shelves were getting just that bit too full, so if that's the case, join Unclutter Thing and share your ideas on how to tackle the problem.
2justjim
…ways of thinning book collections…
Get thee behind me! The only solution to lack of shelf space is to buy, beg, borrow, steal, or build more bookcases. Or possibly a new house!
Get thee behind me! The only solution to lack of shelf space is to buy, beg, borrow, steal, or build more bookcases. Or possibly a new house!
3TLCrawford
Blasphemy!
41dragones
1.> "LibraryThing members who also want to live a clutter-free life..."
I tried that once, and found it soooooooo boring. Incidentally, books are not clutter if you love them. I don't keep books I don't love... well, I usually DO read them before passing them on, but you know...
2.> I need that last item you mentioned... In order to properly shelve all my books so that I can see what I've got, I'd need about 3 times the shelves I've presently got - if not even more. This apartment hasn't enough space to do that.
I tried that once, and found it soooooooo boring. Incidentally, books are not clutter if you love them. I don't keep books I don't love... well, I usually DO read them before passing them on, but you know...
2.> I need that last item you mentioned... In order to properly shelve all my books so that I can see what I've got, I'd need about 3 times the shelves I've presently got - if not even more. This apartment hasn't enough space to do that.
5Nicole_VanK
In order to properly shelve all my books so that I can see what I've got, I'd need about 3 times the shelves I've presently got - if not even more. This apartment hasn't enough space to do that.
Indeed. As for the OP, occasionally I do weed out some books - mostly doubles for which I find new homes. But books are never just clutter.
Indeed. As for the OP, occasionally I do weed out some books - mostly doubles for which I find new homes. But books are never just clutter.
6fancett
I do indeed say 'or whether books can ever be clutter'. We have over 3000 books and as many bookshelves as we can reasonably fit into the house and unfortunately the bigger house is not a realistic option either.
I'd hate to get rid of most of the books, but do sometimes find that too many books can be a kind of clutter when the fact that they are double stacked or on their sides on top of other books, or there are just too many makes the title or information you want difficult to find.
I do keep a record of books I have owned but no longer have and what I thought of them or why I got rid of them and LibraryThing has been a great help in this respect (in pre-LT days I found it much harder to get rid of books as they then disappeared out of my life altogether).
So, I am by no means advocating that books as a whole are clutter, but do feel that 'unloved' or 'unuseful' books which are kept just just because they are books can become clutter.
I'd hate to get rid of most of the books, but do sometimes find that too many books can be a kind of clutter when the fact that they are double stacked or on their sides on top of other books, or there are just too many makes the title or information you want difficult to find.
I do keep a record of books I have owned but no longer have and what I thought of them or why I got rid of them and LibraryThing has been a great help in this respect (in pre-LT days I found it much harder to get rid of books as they then disappeared out of my life altogether).
So, I am by no means advocating that books as a whole are clutter, but do feel that 'unloved' or 'unuseful' books which are kept just just because they are books can become clutter.
7mene
I did join the group, but I don't think books are just clutter either :) I like looking at my full bookcase!
My reason for joining was that I want my book collection to consist only of books I like and will re-read and interesting reference books and stuff... AND my house (well, room) isn't big enough for that many more books so occasionally I do get rid of books I don't want any more. It's interesting to read what other people do with this, I think.
My reason for joining was that I want my book collection to consist only of books I like and will re-read and interesting reference books and stuff... AND my house (well, room) isn't big enough for that many more books so occasionally I do get rid of books I don't want any more. It's interesting to read what other people do with this, I think.
8Nicole_VanK
> 6: I was only being semiserious. I do recognize the "problem". It's just that getting rid of books is against my instincts. :-)
9infiniteletters
8: Then you clearly have fewer incoming books than I do... or far more space.
10moibibliomaniac
I am reorganizing my library. I need more room for some of my collections. Some of the books on the floor won't be going back on a shelf.
11ALinNY458
Only unloved books can be classified as clutter when strewn around the house. I have 750 books all over my smallish NYC apartment, but my books are what make my apartment a home. They're also a reflection of me and my diverse interests. I wish I could bring myself to part with some of them, especially since I'm going to be moving them all to North Carolina in 6 weeks. But they all bring me great pleasure to read and possess. The good news is that my new place will have a study with an entire open wall just waiting to be covered in bookshelves.
13pduck
10
I have that same copy of "Tell Me Why."
BTW, I'm in the camp that doesn't think of books as clutter, but rather as an intellectual atmosphere. I love being surrounded by them.
I have that same copy of "Tell Me Why."
BTW, I'm in the camp that doesn't think of books as clutter, but rather as an intellectual atmosphere. I love being surrounded by them.
14Nicole_VanK
> 9: I don't think so - roughly 6000 books in a single bedroom appartment. I've just resigned myself to the fact that I'm a hoarder.
15fancett
#14 Wow! - do you have any pictures of your library? Even our 3000 or so spread out mainly in three rooms (living room, bedroom and spare bedroom) plus smaller accummulations in the kitchen, my office (I work from home) and the bathroom take up a fair amount of wall space, and I'm finding it hard to visualise how you could fit 6000 into a single bedroom appartment.
16Nicole_VanK
Having some trouble with "camera to computer". But I will try to upload some.
But picture: I haven't seen most of my walls in years. ;-)
But picture: I haven't seen most of my walls in years. ;-)
17riani1
I want to do a massive purge, but unfortunately a lot of the library is my husband's books, and even 25 years of marriage cannot change someone's relationship with things he's holding onto for obscure, personal reasons.
19moibibliomaniac
How about an apartment with 20,000 books and manuscripts?
21GirlMisanthrope
Well, I came across a great deal and purchased a 36" wide floor to ceiling bookcase($22.00 at a thrift store!) thinking this would certainly take care of my floor-pile-problem. It looks awesome and was fun to fill, but, erm..., I still have some floor piles. Now need bigger house :)
22bluesalamanders
I recently put about 100 books into a yard sale. That wouldn't make much of a dent in a collection of thousands, but I'm still in counting in the hundreds, so it emptied a few shelves in a bookcase I want to replace anyway. Of course, my birthday is coming up, and my family always gives me books for my birthday...
In my apartment (I'm only speaking for myself) books are clutter if they're not (a) books I'm going to reread; (b) signed copies; or (c) by one of several authors whose work I collect, regardless of rereading. Every few months I go through my shelves and see if I've added or overlooked anything that I can let go of.
I wouldn't presume to suggest it would work for other people, but it works for me. I actually have a lot more trouble deciding to get rid of random junk than the odd book here and there.
In my apartment (I'm only speaking for myself) books are clutter if they're not (a) books I'm going to reread; (b) signed copies; or (c) by one of several authors whose work I collect, regardless of rereading. Every few months I go through my shelves and see if I've added or overlooked anything that I can let go of.
I wouldn't presume to suggest it would work for other people, but it works for me. I actually have a lot more trouble deciding to get rid of random junk than the odd book here and there.
23melannen
>14 Nicole_VanK: I'm resigned to the fact that I have inherited hoarding tendencies, which means I am constantly mindful about not falling into a pattern of 'keep it just because".
...although I currently have almost 3,000 books in a one-bedroom living space (not a one-bedroom apartment, just the one 10x12' room ... which also has a bed ... and too many clothes ... and a record collection,) so that may be a lost cause.
But it's time to attempt another collection weeding, so we shall see.
...although I currently have almost 3,000 books in a one-bedroom living space (not a one-bedroom apartment, just the one 10x12' room ... which also has a bed ... and too many clothes ... and a record collection,) so that may be a lost cause.
But it's time to attempt another collection weeding, so we shall see.
24amarie
While I also agree that books do not count as clutter, I do get the uncluttered lifestyle and have been trying to practice it more lately. Most importantly, I do this by not bringing in the "stuff" in the first place. This makes shopping a little less fun sometimes, but it saves my pocketbook and keeps my house in reasonable shape.
Actually with books I think I was influenced by family in that by a young age no matter how much I loved to read, ownership was reserved for beloved titles that would be re-read often. Everything else could be from the library. As I gained my own disposable income, I relaxed this a bit, but when the owned-but-not-read pile grew over recent years I became more strict. Thanks to LT, at least it's easier to get rid of books and still remember them.
Actually with books I think I was influenced by family in that by a young age no matter how much I loved to read, ownership was reserved for beloved titles that would be re-read often. Everything else could be from the library. As I gained my own disposable income, I relaxed this a bit, but when the owned-but-not-read pile grew over recent years I became more strict. Thanks to LT, at least it's easier to get rid of books and still remember them.