[Zsinj]

You know, I own a whole lot of books, well over 60 to be honest, and while there's still a world of space to be filled up, on inevitable fact looms on the horizon for me like a dark cloud: sooner or later I will run out of room. And when that day comes I think I'll put the books I have read/not going to read again for awhile up in boxes in the attic, because I'd really hate to sell them because their such good books and well worth reading over and over again. How does everybody else here feel on this issue and what have you done/going to do when you run out of room?

[Evil Agent]

Buy more shelves! :D

But I know what you mean. My bookshelf is quite small, and the bottom 2 rows are old University books, the top row is ALL Tolkien (hardcover, paperback, artwork, movie books), so that leaves me only 2 shelves for all my paperback books.

Some of the ones I used to keep on there have now moved into boxes in attics, or have been sold or traded at used book stores. But I don't think I evere want to get rid of the ones up there now, and I'm pretty much out of room, so I have to figure something else out SOON!

Also, a while ago, I started stacking them on top of each other, instead of side by side. I can fit a LOT more books that way.

[azhdeen]

I bought more shelves. I also stack books on top of each other too, its amazing how many more you can fit on the shelves.

I have books in suitcases, and in cupboards.

Occasionally, when I need more room for the new additions, I become ruthless and have a clear out, sometimes I pass them on to friends where I know they will be looked after and where I can borrow them from again.

If they are books I know I don’t want to read again, I hand them into charity shops or charity sales.

[ezchaos]

As I've gotten older I've gone over to the view that lesser is better. Is it really worth it to keep ALL of the material possessions that we collect (including books) over time? In todays commercialistic/materialistic world we live in, it's SO easy to amass a lot of crap without even thinking about it. However, when we we reduce our possessions down to those that we really need, then life becames that much more simplified. My wife and I have consciously, over the past year, gotten rid of much of the junk that we've collected over the last 8 + years that we've been together. It's so nice to come home after work to an uncluttered home. And we're by no means anal or neatfreaks!

Personally, I rarely reread books. So, unless a particular book is super-awesome and/or very hard to obtain, then I eventually will either sell the book to a used book store or give it to the library. And guess what? I don't think I've regretted selling or donating any books so far. Once we get past the, "I really don't want to part with this book because....." we pretty much forget about the book afterwards. I think that if you have to resort to storing books in boxes in suitcases in the attic and the cellar, then you have too many books. That's just my own opinion.

There's a show on TV where they go to someones house. They pick a room and move everything in that room outside. Then the people that live there have to make a decision about what they're going to keep and what they're going to chuck or sell. I don't know the rules, but I guess they are only allowed to keep a certain amount of stuff. I'd love to do this.

Hopefully I haven't been too preachy. :D

[Iskaral Pust]

After my three big bookshelves filled up (I can't bring myself to stack them) I moved on to the windowsill, got about another forty there. Then the small space under the radiator got filled up, about another twenty fit in there. Then I started a system called "make little towers of books about the room until I get more shelves" working well, but I'm a clutse, so I knock over these towers at least once a week. New shelves coming this easter.

[Evil Agent]

TRY STACKING THEM! It's really not bad once you get used to it, and since most books print the title that way you can actually read the titles correctly, instead of having them all sideways! Hey? Hey? :)

[Zsinj]

Buy more shelves!

Well, my dad and I are planning on building awning-like bookshelves all around my room, so I have plenty of room yet to fill up! Ezchaos is right in a way, too. I guess when I come to that point I'll have to choose the books that I can part with the easiest.

[Iskaral Pust]

Originally posted by Evil Agent
TRY STACKING THEM! It's really not bad once you get used to it, and since most books print the title that way you can actually read the titles correctly, instead of having them all sideways! Hey? Hey? :)

I had them like that for a while, but it's so ugly. It's near impossible to get the books out, esspecially when they're on a high shelf. And don't even start me on how bad it is when you get a new book...

[AuntiePam]

ezchaos, that wasn't preachy at all. :)

I'm constantly winnowing. I'm getting older, and someone is going to have to deal with my books when I'm gone. My kids are interested in the SF, fantasy and horror, but I'm steadily finding homes for the other books, the mysteries, thrillers, general fiction.

Garage sales, library donations, the marketplace at Amazon, on-line friends, or someone who mentions they're looking for a book I happen to have -- I like finding homes for the books I won't read again.

[Iskaral Pust]

I can't sell books or get rid of them, I just can't.