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Media Platforms Design Team

I love old books and buy them whenever I see them at flea markets, yard sales, you name it! My problem is that my collection is overflowing my bookshelves! What is the best way to organize them?

Ellen I.

There are a number of ways to organize a large collection of books. Some people sort alphabetically by author; others arrange large collections in smaller categories such as garden books, history books, art books, etc. It's important to choose the system that makes most sense to you, so you will be able quickly locate a particular title when you need it.

It also sounds like you'll need some new bookshelves. Assess the size of your collection as well as the size of the interior space that can accommodate more shelving. Be sure to allow ample shelf space for each book so that the volumes are not crammed in too tightly; too much pressure can weaken a book's binding. When planning where to install new bookshelves, avoid locations that have direct or overly bright sunlight, which can dramatically fade old books and negatively affect their appearance and value.

A helpful new resource for book collectors is Your Home Library: The Complete System for Organizing, Locating, Referencing, and Maintaining Your Book Collection by Kathie Coblentz, published by the New York Public Library. The book is available through the library's gift shop as well as online booksellers like amazon.com. Good luck!

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