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organizng bookshelves
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I was typing as Missceegee posted her thread about how she uses Valerie’s system. That works too! In fact, it might be easier, LOL. Great ideas!
Elsnow6,
My DC do destroy the shelves a bit. I re-sort them a few times per year. I keep the bottom shelves for picture books, and those are the ones they usually get into. I don’t have picture books sorted at all. The school shelves are re-sorted each time I put books away…or at least at the end of the week. lol
For the color dot system, do you place two or three colors if it would fit into more than one category? The History of Salt or The History of Glass Making, as examples, are science, history, fine art, and picture book. Or do you just color code with one label so it is always sure to go back to its home? I am never sure where to put interesting books like these.
Wings2fly – I choose one color category to label with and then in my software add tags for other categories as appropriate. The key is being able to find and use all of your resources. Choose where it fits best for you (if not using Dewey), file it there and note in your software that it goes along with xyz.
My colored dots (think Avery kind from Walmart) didn’t last like I wanted them to. Many of them are peeling off after 3 to 4 years. I only used 1 color per book. I’m switching to the Demco stuff or Washi tape (which is often cheaper and comes in super cool patterns/colors). I have a couple different books that I am ‘testing’ with the Washi to see how it holds up and if it comes off nicely or destroys spines. It’s been on for 2 months and I’ll try peeling it off soon.
Thus far I’ve only broken the books into categories like Science or Ancient History. Within those color-coded sections it’s anyone’s guess. When we re-organize (hopefully soon!) I’ll (maybe) get more organized like all the chemistry books together in the science section, but I’m not sure.
missceegee: What size Demco color label protectors do you use? Do you use the same size for all of your books?
Has anyone used the Demco subject classification labels successfully? Do they need a see-thru label protector over them? I am thinking of combining all the history books in chronological order and using these labels to note biography, President, Historical Fiction, and Newbery.
I also plan to use an idea I read somewhere on the Internet, maybe here. It is similar to the shelf markers missceegee linked to. Use colored (painted) paint stirring sticks for kids to put in the bookshelf where they took a book from, so they can put it back where they got it. Of course this takes some time in training good habits first. The stick colors designate the child who took the book out. Then you know who to go to if a book has been gone a long time.
Great thread. Thanks for all the helpful ideas.
I’ll have to ck the size. Maybe 3/4-1″. Yes, I am slowly getting them on all books. Want to come help? 🙂 it’s a long process with so many books! I had seen the paint stirred stick idea first and then found the ready made version and opted for that!
I do have the Biography, Historical Fiction, Reference classification labels. These are going on either front or back bottom near spine and not under label protector. So far, so good. I know I could have put them on the spine, but I wanted some uniformity in the way spines look.
And if you’re really OCD, you can make all the spine labels the same distance from the bottom of the book. Simply cut a strip of card stock, mine is 3/4″, and use it as a placement guide for adhering your labels. I just wrap the card stock strip along the bottom edge of the spine and place the bottom of the sticker label at the top of the card stock strip…if that makes sense. They look really nice. My librarian, Emily, taught me this trick.
And I use Dewey so I’m not contributing to the conversation. 🙂 But have fun!
Robin, I have done the same thing with getting them in the same place. Something about seeing one out of place really catches my eye and then drives me bonkers! LOL
@ Christie,
Within your color coded system, do you shelve books by title or author within a time period, or topic? I’m going back through these posts and I’m sure I’ve missed this info.
I’ve sorted through untold numbers of books this weekend. We pulled at least half of the books out of our building and the other half will be out over the next day, or two. Painting and shelving are soon to follow. I’ve sorted into categories. Literature will be shelved by author’s last name Dewey style. The others are posing a problem for me if I don’t follow Dewey.
Suggestions welcomed.
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