As an avid book reader and collector, you face two problems:you have to organize your book collection and deal with the lack of space. Books come in all shapes and sizes, cover every subject, and bring the world to your doorstep. That's the joy of books. But they can be a nightmare to sort through.
Contents5 ways to organize your book collection1. Sort books using the Dewey2 decimal system. Make a "to read" pile3. Keep your favorite books separated4. Organize your books alphabetically5. Sort by seriesCatalog sites Help track reading progressCollectorz creates a virtual libraryGo digital to save spaceDonate books you no longer wantHow do you organize your books?Fortunately, technology can help you keep your books in order. What's the best way to organize your book collection? How to organize a library with lots of books? And should you really get rid of your precious novels?
Books are personal, so you need to organize them in a way that's most accessible to you. Do you separate hardbacks from paperbacks? Do you pile them in a heap? With that in mind, here are some ways to organize your books.
How do you organize a library? This is the professional way of doing it, i.e. how they are listed in educational institutions. So what is the Dewey Decimal System?
It is simply a numerical method of organizing books by genre and then by author's last name. Here is the basic system used in public spaces:
000: Computing, information and general works
100: Philosophy and Psychology
200: Religion
300: Social Sciences
400: Language
500: Natural Sciences
600: Applied Science and Technology
700: Arts and hobbies
800: Literature
900: History, geography and biography
Each issue is divided into smaller categories. For example, literature is divided into American literature in English (810), English and Old English (820), and many others. William Shakespeare even has its own subcategory (822.33).
But of course, you can do your own thing by creating your own organization system. The division by genre could simply mean that you are grouping all crime novels together. Romance has its own place, as do thrillers. Perhaps the classics deserve their own space – it's entirely up to you.
Or you can simply divide your collection into fiction and non-fiction.
Let's explore less intense ways to sort your collection.
You have completed a book and want to create a new one. But they are randomly scattered, so you may not find the one you are looking for.
Instead, create different stacks, shelves, or cabinets. These separate the books you've read (and want to keep – which we'll come to) from the volumes you still want to enjoy. This will mean it will be easier to decide what to enjoy next.
Are there any novels you would like to read again? Or journals that will be useful for work? Keep them separate from the rest of your books.
Keeping your favorite books aside can be a handy pick-me-up on days when you're feeling down. If you're feeling down, a fantastic immersive story can lift your spirits. Remember, there are plenty of websites you can browse when you're also feeling down.
This is the easiest method to keep your collection in order. Organize your volumes alphabetically, by author's name or by title.
It can be the first or last name, as long as you remember which one you chose. It wouldn't be such a problem when looking for Christie, Agatha, but it's more important for Zafón, Carlos Ruiz.
Few things are as frustrating as finishing one book in a series and eagerly reaching for the next... only to find you've misplaced it. You spend the next day scouring your shelves, intermittently crying, and checking behind the couches. Then you order a replacement copy online.
Alternatively, you can keep the series in chronological order and make life as easy as possible.
How do you keep track of the books you've read and would like to catch up on?
A good option is to use a cataloging website.
The best known is Goodreads, which contains details of the vast majority of books, including different editions. You can mark the ones you've read and review them. Many authors are also members, so they will see their comments and may be asked questions about their work. Plus, you can bookmark books you're interested in and Goodreads will email you further recommendations.
At the end of the year, Goodreads will give you a helpful summary of everything you've read.
Another solution is LibraryThing, a similar service that's now free and also includes movies and music. The interface is simple but don't be discouraged:it's a fantastic social network for readers. You can filter by tags, which means organizing your collection is easy.
And if you prefer physical records, LibraryThing lets you print your catalog!
You can use various cataloging apps, but one of the best is Collectorz. This covers many mediums, including movies, books, and video games. It goes beyond that, though:the comic book version, for example, includes a library of graphic novels.
