![]() ![]() If you get the urge to read it in the future, chances are the library will have it! (For peace of mind, you can keep list of books you might want to read one day, but don’t need to store.) 3. Don’t hang on to a book just because it’s a classic or a nice-looking copy or on a subject you feel you should learn more about. Books that you’re unattached to.ĭo you own books you haven’t actually read and can’t see yourself reading in the near future? Give them away. But if you’re not using it for your current job or continuing education there is simply no point to keeping it. If you’ve hung on to old textbooks or required course reading, it’s time to say goodbye! It might hurt to get rid of something that cost you a chunk of money (I’m looking at you, Norton anthology!). If you don’t have kids, still curate a small collection of children’s books–either for your own enjoyment, or for nieces, nephews, and other young friends who may come to your home.īooks to purge: 1. ![]() Yes, you can and should take advantage of your public library, but it’s also nice to have a few favorite children’s books on hand that your kids will fall in love with as they grow up. Quality books to build your children’s home library. For instance, my husband is a teacher he keeps books related to his field to use for lectures or research. Keep your oft-used cookbooks, nature guides, health encyclopedias, and dictionaries. Reference books you know you’ll use.īooks in this category are academic or informational. These are your old friends! Keep the books you know you’ll return to for comfort and inspiration down the road. High-quality copies or editions of your favorite books. Here are some guidelines for deciding which books to keep and which books to get rid of: Books to keep: 1. Your goal is to look at every book with fresh eyes and not take its shelf spot for granted. Handle each book and think carefully whether or not it needs to be part of your permanent collection. Go through your books one box or shelf at a time. ![]() Downsize Your Books: How to Declutter Your Bookshelves Figure out which of your books are your true friends, and part ways with the rest. In Anne’s House of Dreams and the novels following, she uses that phrase to describe people (or in this case, books) who resonate with her.Įvery book lover has an opportunity for deeper self knowledge–and more personalized bookshelves–if they’re willing to declutter their books. “Ah!” I thought, “The perfect litmus test for my books! Are these books friends?” Now, unlike Anne I have kept a number of books that I haven’t read yet–books I’m waiting to “meet.” Once I do read them I’ll decide if we’re mere acquaintances or if we’re something more.Īlso, that part about “the race of Joseph” is another way of saying kindred spirit. We’ve picked our books up through the years, here and there, never buying one until we had first read it and knew that it belonged to the race of Joseph.'” – Anne’s House of Dreams by L. “‘Our library isn’t very extensive,’ said Anne, “but every book in it is a friend. Not long after I began culling books, I came across this passage in Anne’s House of Dreams: I narrowed my criteria for keeping books, and ended up getting rid of few dozen. The big revelation was that just because a book has value doesn’t mean it has value or usefulness FOR ME. And when I did, my thinking on the subject evolved. It’s a book, ergo, keep it.īut I was committed to going through every item I owned (my goal, even before Marie Kondo’s lovely book came out!) so I finally faced the books. I didn’t need to justify my overflowing bookshelves because books are inherently valuable. Actually, I thought it was kind of wrong. ![]() There was a time, though, when I thought decluttering my books was impossible. If you already know me from my other blog, you know decluttering is a passion of mine, and that I find beauty in a simple home. Here’s why it’s a good idea to declutter your book collection, plus practical steps (and a bit of book collecting wisdom from Anne of Green Gables). Decluttering your bookshelves isn’t easy when you’re a bibliophile. ![]()
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