heartofdakota.com

Another recent thread about library organization can be found here. Really good advice on keeping track of books.

http://www.heartofdakota.com/board/view ... ht=library

But, I'm wondering how to physically organize my books. I am planning on organizing the books according to HOD guides (Little Hands, Preparing...etc). But what about the other books I already own and/or will buy in the future?

Here are some possible solutions:

1. Organize according to historical time period (ancient, medieval, american, etc)
2. Organize according to genre (bibliography, non-fiction, mystery, etc)
3. Organize according to who reads the book (mom's books, dad's books, baby books, kiddie books, older readers, etc)

So, I'm thinking that the bulk of the books will be organized according to historical time period. Fiction that doesn't have a prevalent historical focus will be organized by genre. Science books will be placed together, etc. Baby books and twaddly kids books can be placed in baskets somewhere.

Input?

This makes my head spin thinking about it because I am very Olive about where my books are. In addition to below, I have "Readerware" where they are all logged.

I prefer my "add-on" books right next to my computer, which are craft books per subject or lapbook info, other informative reading/artsy books, etc. This helps me remember what I have (yes, red light here) and what I can add on as I write out my spelling lists or poems for the week. However this is difficult because I don't have room for them in my computer place, unless of course I buy another bookshelf. That would be optimal, except sometimes I have books that kind of dual purpose. They're teacher type, but still used by my dd.

So as I have it now, I have one column of shelving for almost each subject. I.E. history is in one column with the readers (because we're at that level) are in a basket, face out. Same with all other subjects, however, lets say science for example, one shelf will be ocean/water, one will be animal one will be plants, etc. And yes, this is how much stuff I have. So I have a column each for history, science, 2 rows for bible/character, one for math and one for manipulatives, one row for art. All readers are in baskets in that subject column, face out, or if they're chapter books they're on their own shelf in their rightful column. Yes...we are screaming Olive here.

Regular picture books for fun are all together, but in a different place and my HOD reading books are in a basket in their own, separate place as well. So I keep HOD curriculum separate so it doesn't get mixed up with the rest of my stuff.

I just really wish I had a larger bookcase in my office so I can add my add-on books there. However, when I'm over being in denial of needing to buy an 84"x48" shelf unit, I will get one.

So in a nutshell, I put mine in order by subject and curriculum is separate then branch out organization from there.

Oh My! You Olives make my head spin Off to take my much need blood pressure meds after even considering this kind of organization. I just squish all my HOD together on my bookshelf and keep my current stuff all one one shelf. I'm in AWE of your readerware program Ann! Can you come organize me?

I put them on the shelf that fits.

We did have them arranged by genre, but they never get put back in the right spot, there are some in the same genre that are large, oversize books and then some that are tiny.
Plus I found myself getting upset when the boys take books and didn't put them back where I wanted them. I decided I didn't want them to avoid the books because of ME! So I got a lot less olive about it.
I still have my excel workbook with them listed in, tho...

Hey Darci?

You don't happen to have our missing copy of "The Buffalo Knife" do you? My boys struggle with putting the books back in the right place also and now we cannot find this book to save our life. I'm sure it's in the dog cage, or under my fern or something like that!

Ummm, they go on the shelf they fit on for the most part. Smaller books on the top shelf, medium size on the middle shelf and larger books/notebooks on the bottom shelf.

That's my whole scheme.

WOAHH! You guys have really put a lot of thought into this. . .

---I'm sure someday I'll get a system. . .but for now. . . . .I'm going to have to go with Lee Ann: small books on the top. . .tall books on the bottom.

MamaMary wrote:Hey Darci?

You don't happen to have our missing copy of "The Buffalo Knife" do you? My boys struggle with putting the books back in the right place also and now we cannot find this book to save our life. I'm sure it's in the dog cage, or under my fern or something like that!

I'll look around!

Hi ladies!
I just finished reorganizing my bookshelves today! How funny that this topic came up. I actually arranged all my books according to topic. Science stuff together...human body, birds, weather, plants, etc. Then I put all my American history stuff together...including non-fiction. Then I have the other books like first readers, little kid books, chapter books, reference books, etc. My mind feels so clear now! I really like it this way. Now, if I can just keep my dc on track to put them back right! HA! I feel like a librerian...gosh I can't spell that at 11:30pm!
I also did it to prove to dh that we have room for MORE books! So when we order HOD I have a place to put them! I actually stuck a whole shelf of books on top of the bookcase so I now have a whole shelf for HOD! I will keep that together for the school year.

Blessings!

Ok, I haven't gotten this far yet because we are just beginning our homeschool journey, but I have seen people on other boards recommending using colored stickers to put on the spines of each book. Use a different color for topics, years, or however you want your books seperated. Supposedly, that helps the kids get them back in the right place because they just have to put it back on the shelf with the other books of the same color. Does that make sense? Like I said I'm new so that may not work, but it sounds good in theory.

well...i don't expect books to get put back where they came from. My littles (and the big one) are especially bad about this. I plan on having a shelf or basket just for little books.

The only reason I'm asking is because we're turning our dining room into a libraary/schoolroom. We have plenty of shelves and have been getting rid of books that we don't need/want anymore. THis way I can room for more HOD and other great stuff.

I don't think I'm an Olive....I'm very messy. But I love books. I love having them organized. When I was a kid, I'd organize them according to publisher and size. Each publisher had its own symbol on the spine, and I liked the symbols to match.

MamaMary wrote:Oh My! You Olives make my head spin Off to take my much need blood pressure meds after even considering this kind of organization. I just squish all my HOD together on my bookshelf and keep my current stuff all one one shelf. I'm in AWE of your readerware program Ann! Can you come organize me?

Love to!!!!

I organize my books by program and usage.

I also use seven drawer bins- a deep bin for each child for core books- such as math, LA, current storytime, guide, ect.

Rebecca