Book organization

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  • andream
    Participant

    We just got new bookshelves and I’m scanning them all into one of those book organizers. I have 32 cubes (those IKEA shelves) As I arrange them on the shelf, I am thinking of doing the following categories organized by author: picture books, early readers, art and craft books, chapter books, history (just the time period we are studying for the year), science, poetry, math, Bible

    Should I keep the chapter books that are historical fiction with chapter books or with the historical time period? For example the bronze bow with Ancient Rome? (Not sure if that is even right time period) or Ben and Me with American history?

    Should the picture books about nature things go with picture books or science?

    I know there isn’t a right or wrong way, just trying to see what would make the most sense. Thanks for any advice.

    andream
    Participant

    Another example: do I put black ships before Troy with chapter books or historical time period Ancient Greece

    Do Jean Craighead books (my side of the mountain etc) go with science or chapter books?

    Linabean
    Participant

    Hi andream, Your right, you CAN and SHOULD organize your books however it most makes sense to you.

    I personally organize my books according to the way I use them. So, if a picture book is used for a science lesson, it goes with science. If my early reader chapter books are about a historical figure and I am going to be using it as part of a history lesson, it goes in history. I have a “literature” shelf and that’s where any picture books that are strictly for reading and enjoying a good story go, in a picture book basket on the bottom shelf. I also have a learning to read shelf and any books that are used strictly for that purpose, practise reading, go there.

    I have several categories and subcategories that I organize my books into so that I can easily plan, find what I need, direct people to what they need, put things away and keep organized. It needs to work for you, so do it however it makes the most sense to you.

    Also, how exciting that you get new bookshelves! I LOVE getting more shelves, it makes me slightly giddy, actually! ; )

    -Miranda

    Amy
    Participant

    Can you share which book organizer you are using?

    andream
    Participant

    Yes, I’m so excited and thankful for the shelves. I got more than I need now knowing that our book collection will grow. I realized I was keeping “the best” books in a closet so they would stay in good condition, problem was they didn’t have access to them. I’m going to order the books on these shelves where they will have access to them. I’m taking an idea I saw on this forum, using paint sticks, each kid has a color. They can checkout one book at a time and place the stick where they got it, then they’ll know where to return the book. I’m hopeful this will work!

    The organizer is called book manager, its an ipad and iPhone ap. my husband did some research and picked this one. He’s got it on his phone and I have it on my ipad, we can scan at the same time. This is a big project!

    I’m at 368 books and I don’t think I’m halfway through scanning yet. I think this will be really helpful when I go to the used bookstore. I’m getting to the point where I can’t remember if I really bought a book or just thought about buying it : )

    Benita
    Participant

    I agree with organizing according to how I use them.  Fiction and non fiction are together by time period. Poetry is all together. Shakespeare is all together, etc.. I desperately need another large bookshelf in the family room.  I have 3 already.  I have even rearranged the furniture to make room for it.  I just have to purchase. And then I can really organize better.

    TailorMade
    Participant

    @adream  I’m so glad I popped over to your blog.  The winter birch tree art project is now on my list for winter projects.  So cool!!!  Loved the pictures. 

    missceegee
    Participant

    I use Bookpedia to manage my large home library by scanning or typing in info. Many of my books are old and do not have bar codes.

    My history section is chronological and all historical fiction and non-fiction: biographies, picture books, etc. are shelved accordingly. My science section is by day of creation and appropriate picture books are on each shelf. I have a picture book section, holiday section, handicraft/hobby/life skill section, Bible and personal development section, curriculum section (MUS, apologia, etc), literature section, reference section, fine arts section. Each book within a section has a color coded spine label (from Demco). It makes re shelving much easier. We have between 5000-6000 volumes at present and it still can get disorderly even with all of my organizational efforts. I have 9-10 large wooden bookshelves in our loft/library and several more scattered throughout the house. One can never have too many books in my mind! Happy collecting and organizing.

    andream
    Participant

    Thank you all, that is very helpful.

    Tailormade, I kind of forgot I had a blog! I haven’t written on it since our first year of homeschooling : ). I’m glad you found something you could use : )

    Wings2fly
    Participant

    I organize ours similar to missceegee. For history, I recommend setting out all time periods. My ds10 is stuck on colonial period and reads these in his free time, though we have moved on to more modern times for school. My dd 7 is intrigued by Ancient Egypt and goes to these books sometimes in her free time. If you want a particular title saved to read for school, you could pull it to put in your teacher supplies so they do not read it ahead of time. Or they can just read it again for school when the time comes and they may get more out of it since they are living books. I am happy for you to have a place for all of your books!

    Benita
    Participant

    I have other bookshelves all over the house and my husband has 7 in his office of just his books plus we have about 5 rubbermaid tubs full of books and this is after purging the twaddle!  If we ever build, I want a library room.  Nothing but bookshelves!

    missceegee, I like your idea about the stickers on the spine.  I started that years back but never finished.  I may make that my next school year project. I also think I will sub divide science by creation day as opposed to just topic.  Great idea.

    andream
    Participant

    Do you organize your beginning readers by reading level rather than author?

    sheraz
    Participant

    I did because when I am in a hurry (or the middle of my day) it is easier to grab and go.

    Linabean
    Participant

    I organize readers by level. Sheraz is right, it is easier to get what you want. I also organize history books by time period as the others, as well. Makes everything so much easier when you are looking for something specific.

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