I wanted to write a bit about bookshelves. Bookshelves are basic furniture and mostly not very remarkable.  They come in many varieties from board and cinder block, to built-in. Some are floor to ceiling; some are short and squat. Some beautifully crafted, and some come in a flat box to put together.

My first memory of a bookshelf that was just for me (I must have been around 8 years old) was one that my dad built. I don’t know if it came as a kit or if he built it from scratch, but I do remember that it had a long bottom shelf and successively shorter shelves going up.  There were two round dowels at the ends of each shelf holding the next level up and each shelf and dowels were painted a different color.  I remember filling it end to end with my books and thinking it looked beautiful.  As a teen, I had my own, but different bookshelf in my room and it was also filled with my own books.  I have many bookshelves around my home now and they are also filled to the brim with books, although not all the books are mine.  I do share the space.

My theory is that bookshelves are mainly to hold books. I have always thought it so odd on those decorating shows when the host goes on about bookshelves and how nice books are and then puts three books in a little stack on one shelf, another three on the next shelf lazily leaning on the side support, and then a couple of oversized books on the bottom and the rest of the space is filled with nick-nacks and photos or artwork.  Nick-nacks, photos and art are wonderful, but they belong on top of the piano or on a side table or hung on the wall. Books belong on the bookshelf and I do not want to waste precious real estate on nick-nacks!  Although I will admit that I do have a few tucked in here and there, most would say, upon seeing my bookshelves, that my bookshelves serve the purpose of holding my books, not displaying my nick-nacks.

Then there is the decision of how to organize the books on the shelves. Whatever system that works for a person and is usable is great. I do wonder how one finds the book they want when they are all covered in plain white book jackets, or the page edge faces out?  I have a beautiful book of photos of bookshelves with books on them, and some of the photos show each book covered with a different segment of a picture so when the whole shelf or shelves is done it shows the Mona Lisa or something.  That is kind of cool, but you need a lot of books the same size – maybe they used encyclopedias? And then how do you know which book is which?  I suppose that is not the point.

I’ve seen books organized by color, giving the shelves a bit of rainbow effect, and you can still read the spines.  Books organized by size is pretty common and I use a modified size organization as some of my shelves are too short for full sized hardcovers or oversized books. I know some people organize their fiction by genre or by favorites or by some other personal preference. I don’t think there is one “right” way; whatever works!

What works best for me is simple alphabetical by author for fiction, and by subject for nonfiction.  I like that each book is its distinct self and I can lay my hands on a book within seconds if I need too.  This system is somewhat modified if I have a number of books all belonging to a set, such as “Junior Deluxe Edition” books.  Those are all together, organized alphabetically by author.

I have been asked fairly often if I ever get rid of books as my shelves are pretty full and I have multiple sets of shelves.  The answer is “Yes!” The first way a book does not stay in my collection is when I get a new or a new to me book, it doesn’t get a place on the shelf until I’ve read it.  If, after reading it, I realize, for whatever reason that I will read it again, it gets a place on a shelf.  Otherwise, it goes into the “pass it along” pile.  The next way books will leave the collection is my yearly cleaning of the shelves.  Of course, I straighten, dust, and vacuum the shelves and the books regularly, but each year I also take all the books down, shelf by shelf, clean the shelf, wipe down each book and replace them on the shelves.  As I do this, I also edit the collection.  What ends up in the “pass it along” pile is pretty random.  Maybe a book I thought I’d read again, but realized I really don’t want to.  Maybe I realize I have several copies of the same book, so I can part with some.  Maybe it is a book that I’ve read many times and I am good with not reading it again.  Maybe I grew out of that author or type of book.  There is always a core of books that hasn’t changed much over the years, but I do let books go off and find a new reader pretty often.  I have also been known to gift a book from my shelves if someone is excited to read something that they have found there. 

That is the nuts and bolts, so to speak, of bookshelf “Theory and Organization” and my bookshelves in particular.  But what about the “Meaning and Emotional Value” of books on shelves?  I am a fairly organized person in thought and deed, and I think my bookshelves do reflect that.  It makes me happy to see my friends sitting all in organized rows where I know just where I can find them at any time.  If I am stressed or anxious, I’ll often stand in front of a bookshelf and just look at the books. I’ll read the titles and authors and smile as I remember the stories inside.  It calms me down.  I remember doing that a lot as a teenager.  I still find myself doing it when I am worried. I think about the story within each book as I look at it and it takes me away from myself a bit and makes me spend the thought energy on recalling the story, the characters, what I liked about it.

Shelves full of books also represent a kind of achievement for me as well. Sort of like an accounting: this is what I read; this is what I know because I read this. I grew in this concept or was exposed to life in a new way because I read this or that book.  Also, like anybody’s home, it is a reflection of me.  The sum of what I choose to keep on my shelves, is a window into who I am and what is important to me.  Just like photos and art on the walls, your choice of furniture and draperies, your nick-nacks, your style of dishware and even how you choose to paint your walls.  Everybody’s home is a mini museum of themselves and their family.  I guess my museum is more a library!