We worked with a client recently to pack their book collection for an international move. It got me thinking about collecting, caring for, and organizing your personal library.

Owning vs Collecting

I remembered an article from a few years ago that states, “…labelling a group of similar items a ‘collection’ does not automatically make it one.” Generally speaking, a collection is intentional. Certain items meet the criteria for belonging to the group, and others don’t. For example, someone may wish to assemble a personal library of classic historical romance books. They would specifically choose the hardcover copy (maybe even the first printing) of books such as Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. They would not choose mass-produced, paperback Harlequin Romance novels or non-fiction history textbooks.

Besides being intentional, here are a few other guidelines to help you decide if you have a collection or you “own a lot of the same thing.”

• Time: You have the time to manage your collection without sacrificing the time you spend on other areas of your life.
• Money: You can afford to maintain your collection and purchase new items without jeopardizing your financial security. Likewise, you are not counting on the sale of your collection as your retirement income.
• Space: The physical space your collection occupies does not impair the normal functioning of your home.
• Future Provisions: You’ve arranged for the care or disbursement of your collection should you become unable to care for it.

Caring for Your Book Collection

If you invest in building a personal library, it is essential to care for your books correctly. Ideally, store books in a space with constant temperature (20°C) and humidity (35-40%). Keep books out of damp basements and attics that are too hot or too cold. Also, avoid storing books in direct light – especially sunlight. Light can fade inks and break down the chemicals in the paper, causing them to turn yellow and become brittle.

Regularly dust your books. Over time, dust and pet hair can promote mildew build-up and degrade the paper. The soft-bristle brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner will do a good job of removing the dust. On delicate books, use a soft cloth such as an old (but clean) t-shirt. On books with fore-edge painting, use a soft paintbrush. Remember to hold the book closed while dusting to avoid damaging the pages.

The Southern Illinois University Carbondale Library has a great video showing how to remove a book from the shelf so as not to damage the spine. In addition, do not force books to open flat. Use foam wedges or a folded towel to support the book’s cover and pages when you place it on a table. Consider using archival-quality storage boxes if you have old and delicate books or large paperback books.

Finally, handle your books with clean hands and keep food and drink at a distance. Don’t use paperclips, tape, or rubber bands as bookmarks – and never fold the corners of the pages. Consider using a simple slip of archive-quality paper as a bookmark.

Organizing Your Personal Library

As with so many other things, I love organizing books! There is so much more involved than just grouping them by colour.

One book is easy to carry. Many books are heavy so you need suitable shelving! In the image above, the clients had custom-built shelving for their book collection. If you do not have the option for built-ins, choose sturdy shelving that you can anchor to the wall. Look for units with adjustable shelves that won’t warp with the weight of the books. IKEA’s IVAR system is a good choice. It is sturdy, has adjustable shelves, and you can easily disassemble it if you move from one home to another.

Many people organize their book collection alphabetically by subject or author. If your space is limited, consider organizing books by size. Then you can adjust the distance between the shelves so the books can stand upright without getting squished. And if they are soft cover editions, the books on either side will provide support to keep them from bending.

Keep the shelves full but not overstuffed. You don’t want so much space that the books will lean on one edge, nor do you want them so tightly packed you can’t get them on or off the shelves. The video above shows an ideal spacing.

Extra tall books should be placed flat on the shelf, not on their spine or opening edge –  which can damage the binding. Stack books with the largest ones on the bottom and the smaller ones on top so each book is fully supported by the one below. Follow these tips, and you will benefit from your personal library for years to come.

If your book collection is lacking shelf-control, start a new chapter and contact the Out of Chaos team today.