Monday, November 10, 2008

Musing Mondays

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS is about the giving & keeping of books!

If you keep your books, where do you keep them? And, if you give them away, who do you give them to? Do you participate in Bookcrossing, BookMooch, PaperbackSwap, or the like? Do you give your old books to family & friends, or donate them? Are any of your books in storage due to not having enough space for them all? Or, are you one of the lucky ones who has their own “library”? Feel free to share pictures, if you have them!

I have a tendency to keep all my books, which leads to a dilemma - where to put them all. I have two large bookcases in my living room crammed full of books, and I have a smaller book case I use for my TBR pile and current readings. I also have bookcases in the bathroom (please, don't even ask), my bedroom, the spare bedroom and my daughters bedroom.

That being said, I have at least 10 large totes full of books and these are stacked into every available closet space I can find. Of course, this doesn't count the books I have stacked on the end of the couch or piled up on the end tables and nightstands.

My goal is to one day have built-in bookcases for the spare bedroom and to turn it into a library slash writing room. But currently, the funds are way too low and I don't have the energy to clean the junk out of the room. This will be a big project over the next few years.

Sometimes on rare occasions, I may donate books to the public library, but that's usually if I end up with duplicates. I favor hardback books over paperback books, so I do sometimes sell paperbacks at yard sales. I also loan out books to family members, and occasionally to a few residents at the local nursing home.

Books play a big part in my family's life - my hubby and youngest daughter love books as much as I do. Books are also the presents we give people at Christmas, birthdays and other special occasions.


(I wish that was my bookcase! Photo by Kestan)

9 comments:

Sunny said...

Wow! That's a lot of books! (I wont ask about the shelves in the bathroom.)

I'm in need of cleaning out and organizing too...someday! ;o)

Anonymous said...

Books are so preious and to part with them is so har!

Mine is here!

Beth F said...

Cool photo. I too would love a library room. Instead I have books in every room!

Karen Harrington said...

Nice post. I have books everywhere, too. My real question would be - who doesn't? :)

Lisa (Southern Girl Reads) said...

Wow! I love those book cases!! I think books are wonderful to have! I have a hard tome letting go of my books. I LOVE them! lol I did trade some to the used book store but it was traumatic for me! I had seperation anxiety!

Book Lover Lisa said...

beautiful bookcases. I have the house full of boojs thing going on too.

Natalie said...

Yeah and it makes it REALYL bad when you live in an apt with no room. I have books all over the place.

Jeanie said...

A good question! I keep most (many) of them. And the book cases are packed. And every so often, I load up a bunch to take to the lake to fill those shelves. From there, to the used store to swap for more books. What's wrong with that picture?!

I also will try to give them to people I know would love them. Some I'll resale at our local bookstore, which has a generous cash offer, and donate some to the library. I just want them used!

Robin M said...

I like the bookcases. Very nice. I too dream of a library room in my house. someday!

My post is up now at www.mytwoblessings.blogspot.com

Have a good evening.

Robin