Book control

This is not helpful at all, but don't purge. Don't do it. You'll regret it, and forever be haunted by books you have given away...

I have double rows on all of my shelves now, and, much to Bloke's annoyance, turn the book piles into design features around the house.

For example, we have a row of books along every windowsill in the house. I have put a little pile of books on every other stair (copied this from My Family , and have a vase on one pile in the bedroom, and a lamp on another.

I do a clear out every year. Generally it only really touches my fantasy and children's books collections though, as the classics are more permanently mine. I use two principles, is the book really good, and I feel pleased to see it on the bookshelf; or have I felt the urge to re read the book in the last year. If no on both scores it goes to a charitable cause of some sort. I have very few books I haven't read at least twice, because when I run out of books I make it a rule to check the shelves for something I haven't read for a while and only when I run out of options do I allow myself to buy a new book. We have six large bookcases, of which over 3/4 are my books, so I think I have things under control . My parents have two houses, their holiday house has all the fiction, their London house all the non-fiction. Every book has been read by my father, and there are probably two or three very large book cases in every room. Every time I visit they are installing more bookcases! They have been talking about building a library onto their holiday home and moving there permanently, but it would have to be a big library (maybe one of those ones where the walls are lined with books and there are little sliding built in ladders!). But I wouldn't say my father's book habit was out of control. He just likes to read!

I purged once, we are getting someone in this winter to do us some proper bookshelves.

I still vainly look for books I know I have given away.

I try to purge sometimes generally successfully with books that have been gifts and have turned out badly [racks brain trying to think of an example]. Some books stay because I love them and some because I just think that they ought to be there e.g. Virginia Woolf and one day they will make sense. Most of mine are in the attic at the moment whilst our basement is renovated; I'm despairing of ever seeing them again not because the work has taken 3 times as long as planned (which it has) but because of the number of books garnered in the intervening period and need housing ...

Re previous message - sorry, I don't mean you will be filled with envy looking at the link! - but you will be if you treat yourself to the book - such lovely libraries and collections of books....

I really do sympathise....our house is overflowing with books and purges are rare and very painful...!
A friend bought me this lovely book for my birthday...a fascinating read, with wonderful photographs of some gorgeous libraries. Do have a look at this link You will be filled with envy!
There is lots of advice about organizing your books, and some good advice on thinning out the library - first to go should be out-of-date travel guides, then self-help books (they become dated very quickly) then trash novels (rarely read again) then 'quality literature in mass-market paperback format' because it will always be easy to obtain. For example 'When you want to reread 'War and Peace' it will only be as far as the nearest book-shop or public library'.
Hope that helps...'The Bell Jar' will always be available at the bookshop or library!

I purged once.

I regret it to this day, and even went out and rebought some of the books.

I think you need to make yourself a library......extend if needs be. We are extending, and half of the new walls are not being decerated once it is built, they are just going to be made into shelves at the start.

and then I will need to fill them

oh no more than my life's worth to do secret purges!

he did sell one or two on ebay once..needs his own library room

I stopped purging, as I give away books thinking I won't reread them, then a year later spend ages trying to find it before realising it's gone

did this with Ella Minnow Pea recently, had to buy it again

I always cave and get new shelves as I can't bear to get rid of books, even if I am giving them away to charity!

i don't know but you sound like my dp, books everywhere.