June Chats - 2022

Husband built a new bookcase so that I didn't have so many book stacks without a shelf (he calls them 'trip hazards'). The books are mostly sorted by DDS and in shifting the collection, I've been grouping a few out of order.... only it's now gotten to the point that I may have created some sort of DDS/LC hybridization in certain numbers... I guess it's ok but I really should write down my system in case someone else needs to borrow something. :)

Anyone else do this?

>1 genesisdiem: Good Heavens! I am beyond impressed. I am the champion of organization but alphabetized and maybe sorted by genre is as far as I want to go. Good that you have a bookcase building hubby:)

>2 Carol420: Most of the books came from the library book sale table, so they have a DDS number on them already. But I think some parts of DDS just doesn't work for me. e.g. I collect etiquette books but those have numbers in three different sections at least. So I just put them all together. Same for fashion and costume history (700s and 300s). Also, it seems random to have a subject pop up in between two seemingly related subjects that should go next to each other (business falls in between home repair and deck building?) Maybe my brain is just eccentric but I have considered creating my own system from time to time. I just don't want to have to relabel all of the cutter tags. Fiction is by author but I have a few complete series I have considered separating out, as well as all of the Harlequin books I collect for the cover art.

Maybe I should just go back to work at the library and play in their books awhile. :D

>3 genesisdiem: It sounds as if you would enjoy creating your own system and it would probably work really well for you. I'm sure the library would love to let you play with their books. I always said I had had the best job in the entire world (Education program and Volunteer Coordinator for the local Zoo), but a few months ago I actually gave a thought to putting in my application at the library. I decided that I would rather just read them and let someone else organize them. I'd probably drive them crazy anyway:) Let us know what you decide to do with your collection. It sounds really interesting.

>4 Carol420: you could offer to create a small collection for the zoo of educational resources? :)

>5 genesisdiem: I did some of that already. I was there for 28 years. The Zoo had a really extensive resource library, and the vet office had a library that other vets used.

>1 genesisdiem: I group my books roughly by subject, which with my interests means history, third world, social and political campaigns, biography, religion, novels, poetry, natural history, cooking, walking/rambling/hiking. I've kept the same shelves for the same subjects for a long time. Surprisingly, I can always remember whether I've still got a particular book and can put my hands on it pretty quickly. That may change before long because I'm picking out more books to pass on because they've sat unread for too long and they're wasting. I'll find myself going for a book I'm sure I had, only to find it's not on the shelf and is on my 'given away' list.

>1 genesisdiem: Wow! How impressive, and what a great excuse for a woodworking project for DH!

>7 Spartaca: I kinda did the same as well, except I do it by shelves. One shelf is feminist thought/women's biographies, one is French language/college books (actually, that spills into 2 shelves because I cannot shelve 19th Century fiction with 20th century Theatre de l'Absurde!), two are sci-fi fantasy, one is books from my childhood.

So yes, Genesis, create your own organizing and cataloging system. I'm finding that it helps with my re-reading goals for this year.

So here's a question for the Group Mind:

A friend gifts me books at Christmastime, and she works for a publisher so they are good, hardback editions of current books. Books like Wintering and Daisy and the Six and of course Margaret Atwood's The Testaments.

I want to acknowledge her gifts to future generations by inscribing both my name and hers, but I'm not used to writing my name in my books or acknowledging my ownership.

OTOH, when I buy a used book, especially a classic, I do feel a certain connection to a previous owner when I see a name inscribed. I bought one recently and it had "Enjoy this on your trip!" or words to that effect.

OTOOH, writing a name or putting in a nameplate is an irreversible act on a book.

What are your thoughts, O Members of This Group, about the practice of writing your name in your books?

>9 threadnsong: what about taping a paper bookplate inside the cover? That way it is there but a future owner could remove it if wanted.

>9 threadnsong: I love bookplates! I also think that those who acquire used books don't (or shouldn't) have a problem with names, messages, or bookplates. They add to the book's charm. If it really bothers them, they can leave it and look for a cleaner copy.

To any of our members that are Dad's or Granddads...hope you have a great Father's Day. Our British Dads can probably celebrate twice:)

>10 genesisdiem: and >11 Hope_H: Thank you both. I had not thought of a removable bookplate - that's a really cool idea!

I think I will go with inscribing my name and "Gift from" plus year on the front. It might help with cataloguing what I have in the decades to come, and will be a way to commemorate our friendship and her gifts.

Love being able to post questions like this one to fellow book-lovers!