We're moving in a couple weeks (the first time since I was 9 years old), and I've been going through my library of 3000+ books, choosing the books that I could bear to part with and NOT have to pack to move. Which made me wonder...
When's the last time you weeded out your library? Do you regularly keep it pared down to your reading essentials? Or does it blossom into something out of control the minute you turn your back, like a garden after a Spring rain?
Or do you simply not get rid of books? At all? (This would have described me for most of my life, by the way.)
And–when you do weed out books from your collection (assuming that you do)...what do you do with them? Throw them away (gasp)? Donate them to a charity or used bookstore? SELL them to a used bookstore? Trade them on Paperback Book Swap or some other exchange program?
Dear Me,
If I think about it, I have always been over-hauling my books because I have to move them from another corner to another room or transferring them to a new shelf or simply to sort them out according to my favored collection, accessibility and for a number of other reasons.
With countless books in my big shelves, in the bedroom, in the living room, in the kitchen, in the floor, in nooks, in boxes and paper bags, I can't recall a time that I ever finished sorting them out. I would sort them out for two straight days and I would stop because I had to attend to some more pressing matters. Days will pass by and the book organizing task has been completely left unattended, if not forgotten. Soon, more books will come and the sorted pile will soon be just another growing tower of paperbacks and hardcovers.
On the other hand, when I do sort my books, I try to purge a few out from my collection. If I have read it already and not really a book I would consider as a treasure, I would either donate them or give them away in a book-swapping site like BookMooch.
I think any book lovers will agree with me: we would rather spend our precious time reading than managing our books which are in total disarray.
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You're right! I would rather spend my time reading.
ReplyDeleteI do weed yet my pile remains constant!
ReplyDeleteBooking Through Weeding
Good point, I would rather spend my time reading! My amount of books basically stays constant because I don't buy many books. I rely on the library.
ReplyDeletedue to space constraints i am forced to sort through my books every now and then.i usually sell/trade/give books which i don't plan to read again and it helps a little to control the mess/pile.good luck with the weeding! :)
ReplyDelete@Amy, I would do the same but I'm trying to sort sometimes. Hehehe.
ReplyDelete@gautami, I think another true fact for us booklovers is that we acquire more books as we read along.
@Sarah, I wish we have libraries here like yours. Our libraries here aren't that updated and only have few, selected books to lend out.
@raine, I think having less space in the house is the equalizer in purging one's book collection. I discovered it through a number of entries in BTT. :)
I would rather spend my time reading than weeding, but sometimes it's a pleasure to go through and look at your beloved books too right?
ReplyDeleteI haven't disposed of my books except my textbooks. I love collecting them. But when I have the money, I want to rebuild my library by buying hard-bound books printed on acid-free paper. Most of my books have yellowed over time. Some of them are even unread. :(
ReplyDeleteWow, it looks familiar hehehe, I have tons of those too...
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I am trying to generate some support for our daughter. I entered her into a Smile Contest, so if you could please vote for her (just once), the contest runs until October 31st. Your vote would be so much appreciated.
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Thank you very much for your help!