Whether or not you should keep books you’ve read is a matter of personal preference. However, it can be helpful to organize them in a way that makes them easy to find. Avoid storing them in attics, basements, or garages and handle them with clean, sanitized hands.
Do you remember all the books you’ve read?
Among avid readers, the question of whether they remember all of the books they read in their lives may come as no surprise. If you’re lucky, you may even have a journal where you jot down the title of the book and any pertinent notes you may have in your head. If that’s not the case, you may have to rely on your memory for a more enlightened fate. In short, it’s a sad state of affairs.
The good news is that there are ways to rehabilitate your memory fumbles. Here are some tips to get you on your way. First, try to read a book in short bursts and space them out. It’s also a good idea to read more than one book at a time. This will keep you from forgetting important details in the future.
Donate them to a retirement community
Whether you have old books to dispose of or books you have read and would like to pass along, you can donate books you’ve read to a retirement community. You’ll find that these institutions often have well stocked common areas. In fact, you may be surprised to find that they may already have the book.
The best way to donate books you’ve read is to call ahead and ask what their needs are. You might also want to check out the library’s website to see if they’ve got a book donation program.
There are many book donation programs in your area. A few notable ones include Books for Soldiers, Books to Prisoners, and Better World Books. Some of these organizations may be only willing to accept books in certain categories.
Don’t store them in attics, basements, or garages
Generally speaking, attics, basements, and garages are not the best places to store your books. These spaces are often damp, and they are prone to major temperature swings. They are also a haven for pests. If you are storing books in an attic, make sure you use proper shelving to keep insects away.
A good place to store books is in a cool, dark, and dry area. The ideal temperature for books should be between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The humidity should be around 40 percent.
Books are a delicate material, and can be damaged by heat or humidity. If you are storing books in an area with too much moisture, the pages can become brittle and break easily.
Organize them in a way that makes them easy to access
Organize books you’ve read in a way that makes them easy to find and access. Whether you’re trying to remember what book you were reading or just want to be able to find a specific book, organizing your books can be an effective way to improve your reading habits.
Organizing your books by author last name, for instance, is a good way to remember what book you’re reading. Using this method, you’ll be able to locate books by their author’s name without looking too far.
Another good way to organize books is by genre. Genres make it easy to find a book that fits your taste. For example, you might organize a collection of historical reference books by year of publication.
Honor your emotions as you sort through them
Whether you are tackling a huge pile of books or are just looking for a clutter-free lifestyle, it’s important to learn to honor your emotions as you sort through books you’ve read. This doesn’t mean getting rid of all of your books, but rather making a concerted effort to identify and eliminate the ones that no longer serve you.
There are many books that claim to teach you how to honor your emotions, but it’s important to take the time to actually try it out. You’ll find that doing this can not only reduce your clutter, but it can also lead to a more minimalist reading habit.
