Dear Organizer:

I am an avid reader and my bookshelves are overflowing. I have boxes of books stored in my garage. I realize they are taking up lots of space but have a hard time when I think about parting with them. Some are special to me. What should I do? J. –Rittman

Dear J.-
You are not alone! Many of us have a difficult time letting go of books. As a professional organizer, I have learned that one big reason why books are hard to part with is because they are a tangible indication of what we humans would like to think is our knowledge. Interesting point to ponder…isn’t it? Books are a wonderful and important part of our lives. Let’s bring some order to your personal library so that they remain a positive in yours.

Step One:

Don’t save weeding for your garden alone! Andy Rooney says it well:
“Bookshelves need as much weeding as a garden and the weeds are not so apparent.”

In your situation, I recommend you begin weeding in the garage. Open the trunk of your car and place empty boxes for donations inside. Tackle one box of the stored books at a time. Be honest when you ask yourself (out loud) “ How special is this book to me?” Remember, these books are in a box in your garage, after all. Rescue the truly special ones. Place all others in your trunk.

Avoid stopping to ‘read’ the book again. A common pitfall at this stage of the process.
Move quickly. Think of the game HOT POTATO! If the book stays in your hands too long, it will begin to burn. Look at the title and decide if it stays or goes. Trust your instinc ts to know which books are truly special. Remind yourself constantly of the value of donating books to other people. Placing a book in new hands instead of back into a storage box allows you to share the pleasure of that good book!

Short Guide to Letting Go:
-Old Textbooks
-Novels that you have no plans to read again (Seriously, aren’t you just thankful you had the time to read it once?!)
-Outdated or irrelevant reference books
-Out grown children’s books (Tough one for many of my clients! Lots of memories of time shared reading with the kids. Be selective. Hold onto the worn copy of Goodnight Moon. Share the rest with other children)

-Constantly remind yourself that information is easy to access these days and that some information is quick to change.
-If this process is overwhelming, please consider asking for help.

When you are done is the garage move inside and repeat the process.20

Step Two:

Take a good look at your current library shelves. Make sure you are storing books on shelves that are designed for them. 12” deep is plenty of room. Avoid deeper shelves. They promote stacking books in two rows and the back row will get lost.

Still have too many books for your current shelves? Consider adding shelves in other rooms. Books are inviting and decorative in any space if they are housed in a functional way. If you like to read mystery books before going to sleep, assign that category of books to your bedroom.

Arrange books in the same way that they are organized in a library or bookstore. Separate non fiction from fiction. Then group non fiction by type (travel, history). Next, alphabetize by author. Arrange fiction this way too. OK, hold on, I feel some eyes rolling at this detail! Look, we’re not saying you have to learn the Dewey decimal system here! We’re just bringing some alphabetic order. The larger your collection, the easier it will become to maintain if you follow this tried and true s ystem of arrangement to function. Set the system up once and then maintain it. If it is important to you, you’ll make the time to keep up with it.

Step Three:

Congratulate yourself! You’ve streamlined and have made an important part of your life more functional and convenient. Maintenance tip: Visit your public library more frequently. While you are there, decide which books you wish to check out and the ones you wish to purchase ….then, visit the bookstore. When you are removing the 3 new books from the shopping bag, collect 3 books from your home library and place them in the same shopping bag. 3 IN / 3 OUT. Walk the bag to your car so it is ready for your next donation run.

Keep up with your weeding. In a garden or on the book shelf….small sessions are just simply more manageable and rewarding!