How to sort books
Your Unique needs
From time to time people move and move again, which results in their books, DVDs, and CDS no longer being in any sort of order. Thus they become very difficult to find.
Unlike in libraries we all have collections which reflect our own interests and needs.
So how we sort out what is on our bookshelves should be unique to us all.
Thus sorting them into order should be a unique task.
At various times during my life I have helped various friends to sort out their book shelves, which is something which I find really enjoyable to do, but which is impossible to do all the time.
What’s needed.
So here is a brief guide to some aspects of what a book shelf sort involves.
First, get a good set of bookshelves. The best ones nowadays probably come from IKEA. Muji used to sell some really good light weight self assembly ones, but sad to say they are no longer available.
You might also consider buying some open box files for your pamphlets or maps.
Sorting by type
First of all put all you reference, non-fiction, and fiction books together.
Books by the same author should go together, then – in fiction – they should be in alphabetical order of authors.
Non-fiction should be sorted by subject.
e.g.
All art books by the same artists and same composers grouped together.
While cookbooks should be on a separate bookshelf near the kitchen.
I also mix some of my Books and DVDS based on the works of the same authors together.
Thus the books and film versions of the Time Machine and War of the Worlds by H.G.Wells are placed next to each other.
The same goes for films of various detective stories. Do it that way and you will no longer have to play Sherlock Holmes to find them all.
I also sort my CDs via the composers or performers in alphabetical order, be it 1950s or 1960s, world music by country, pop music, jazz, or classical works.
Then add various dictionaries and phrase books together by languages.
After which all maps and guidebooks can be sorted by town, country, or region.
Plus all Ordinance survey maps.
Historical maps can either be kept together, with the town maps and guidebooks, or with your history books.
How this is done very much depends
upon your interests and how you use these works.