Purging your book collection

Every adult has accumulated an assortment of books through the years. Every topic including kids, reference, hobbies, novels, collector’s items and more can be found in bookshelves all over Baltimore. It’s tough to get rid of things that have an emotional attachment, but books that are never read are taking up precious space.

People often enjoy reading books over and over. In these cases, of course, you can hang onto your favorites. Classics like “The Catcher in the Rye” or “Don Quixote” are also keepers. It’s not a punishment to purge some of your books, it’s simply a way to reduce clutter.

Books with old information that is no longer correct like text books, encyclopedias or an atlas from 1976, should go. There is no reason to keep them.

Reference books can become quickly outdated. The information found in many of those references is often available online. You can buy a DVD that holds more data than a set of encyclopedias while taking up a fraction of the space.

If you have a book that has been sitting on the shelf for years and you know you will never read it, it’s time for the book to go. Often times friends share books they like with you, but maybe they are not your cup of tea. Either return them or donate them.

Coffee table books can become dust collectors if no one ever looks at them. If you are really attached, hold onto one or two. Find another home for the rest.

Clearly define what space you will now have for your book collection. If you have too many to fit in that space, further culling must be done.

Sharing is a nice way to keep the books circulating while getting them out of your home. When others read the books you love, you gain a nice way to bond with someone. The book becomes a topic of conversation. Avoid adding to someone else’s clutter. If your friend is not going to read the book, find another way to get rid of it.

Amazon.com, Half.com and eCampus.com are sites where you can sell used books. You may discover that you would rather have some cash than a room full of books.

Another fantastic idea is Book Crossing. You register your book. Then leave the book somewhere for a person to enjoy. Track books and see where they go.

Use the library, either books or digital books, whenever possible to avoid adding to your literary clutter. If you feel like you must add a book to your collection, get rid of one. Do this every time you get a new book and your bookshelves will never overflow again.