How do you organize your library of books?

My book shelves are set at varying heights, for storing short books on top, then, taller and then tallest on the bottom, i.e exhaustive concordance. Over time the books I use most often have gravitated to the near end of the lower shelves, so I can reach them while still sitting in my office chair.

Not very scientific, but works for me.

 

In my "office" (computer room/Library) I have a 8Ft X 8Ft book case against one of the walls which
of my sons built for me. It is jammed with books in order by kind which has long been put into disarray; plus there are several nooks and crannies full of books stacked up to various heights in no particular order or kind making it difficult to navigate through the room. Also some books have migrated into different parts of the house singularly and in groups.

If you know IT jargonese it would be called a partitioned random access storage device with data overflow sectors.

This method does not make my wife happy.

HankD

 

Having a larger library I've generally followed a similar pattern to GT. My commentaries go in one section and are ordered according to book of Bible or, upon approaching a section such as Wisdom Literature, at the start of the section. Then I've placed general OT and NT studies and introductions together.

The rest of the library follows a basic pattern of lumping them together by theological field (soteriology, ecclesiology, historical theology, etc) and then discipline if the works are outside traditional theological categories. It is a system all my own and it works for me. I know where all my books are when I need them.

I've also divided up my library between my home study and church office based on how I use the texts and the nature of them. Generally speaking, church growth resources and some general purpose texts that I use for prepping for studies or preaching. I do most of my in-depth research for studying, teaching, preaching, and writing at my home study.

I don't have much fiction but what is there isn't in my formal library but assorted across our family room and a guest room. Frankly, if there is a fiction book out there I'm usually buying it through my Kindle or getting rid of it as soon as I'm done with it.

 

I have some books on my ipad but I like having an actual book. I segregate mine in the same way as has been mentioned. I have other topics such as poetry and history. I also have a set of books on a small shelf next to my desk which holds my primary tools of study such as commentaries, Bibles, some historical books related to scripture, a book on writing and grammar, and research.

 

I've limited myself to seven shelves of books, any more than that and I cull the lot.

I've not got much of system, but it works for me.

Three are in my family room.
One shelf is solely for fiction.
One deals with interpretation, this shelf also contains various hermeneutical approaches to the science and Genesis debates.
The last contains translations by individuals, (e.g. Alter, Fox), books on interpretation and structure of OT narrative as well as books dealing with biblical authority, inerrancy and a bit of interpretation.

In my 'library' I have four full shelves.
One is for the physical sciences and history.
Another contains concordances, lexicons, dictionaries, and Hebrew and Greek grammars, with a smattering of other related material.
Next to it is a full shelf of commentaries arranged by biblical book.
I've got half a book case for doctrine and Systematic Theology texts. Under these are two shelves of various translations and old bibles.
The bottom (taller) shelves of each bookcase contains notebooks of articles, notes and class material I felt was worth keeping.

Lastly there's my bedside shelf where I keep books I read, want to read, or have read and want to read again and again. Arranged haphazardly.
The number of books is small enough that I know where every book is without much though.

Many of the books I've purchased recently have been digital.

Rob

 

Those of you, especially if you have a large number of books, should look at Library Thing.

https://www.librarything.com/

 

Thank you very much for posting this. Never thought to ask you. Should have.:smilewinkgrin:

 

The site will give you Dewey Classification numbers. If you use those and put them on the spine of your books that will bring like subjects together.

Also subject headings are shown. This should help also.

Here is an example of two of the books I own:

Once you enter your book you can click on it and more information will be brought up.

Happy classifying.

 

Bookcase 1
Calvin Commentaries
Creationism
Christian Biographies

2-
General Works ie OT/NT surveys etc
OT Commentaries
Puritans and Reformed stuff

3-
Systematic and Historical Theology
NT Commentaries
Church History
Hodge Podge