Downsizing book storage-Bumma!

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Looking at the "new" house we've found....
There certainly won't be enough room for all the books I've collected over the last 50 years....
I was certainly spoiled at the farm, now I'm going to have to "rationalise" down to about 20 feet of library storage.
How the devil do you make a decision like that??
I have some very old (pre1800) first editions, about 4000 "general" astro books, then there's the "atlas" collections and the bound set of S&T and BAA Journals....
This is going to hurt.....

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

Can you not hold on to them in sealed storage somewhere?

A good library is a great thing to have and I'd hate to have to downsize ours(although not anywhere as large as yours) and would find it extremely difficult too.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Wrapping them (all!) in plastic bags and storing them in the garage seems to defeat the object of having a library...
I'm/ was used to having them sitting on the shelves - nice to look at and always readily available.
I think the garage is one step closer to the tip...don't want to go that way.
I'll have to spend some time updating the "catalogue" and may be try to sell the "excess" in one lot....
Any interest in 3000+ astronomy books?

[traveller (Bo)]

Maybe look for a suitable library or museum to donate or loan them to?

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

Yes I totally get that, a library is something to be proud of and as you say even useful when you can just easily grab what your after.
I actually think I might actively be murdered if I was to come home with a truck load of books like that. It is after all a heck of a lot of books.
Not to say there is no interest in a few of them though.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Bo,
Not too many choices in Melbourne!

Jarrod,
Yes! There's a lot of space needed!

[overlord (Charles)]

Good on you!

I have been collecting books to read for several years now and I already have quite a library!

And no room, they are in boxes on the floor!

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

The house we've bought is so much smaller, there would be NO room on the floor(s) for all the boxes!

[ZeroID (Brent)]

I know it's a tough call but with that number of books will you ever get to read them all again ? I think the best option is to set a size\number limit, pick the books you know you will use again be they reference or reading for pleasure etc and either have a good garage sale with the rest or find them a good home where the will be appreciated hopefully. I know because I've got a fair few hangng around and have had to cull them and decided unless they are important reference and\or I am definitely going to read them again then maybe someone else will enjoy their knowledge.
So regard it as spreading the word.
You could always get a pad or kindle or similar and get electronic copies of important reference tomes. Saves on space and lets you keep more of the valuable personal hard copies.

As an aside on this when my first marriage broke up I 'lived' in a Camry station wagon for about a month with all my worldly possessions. THATS when you learn to understand what is important to keep. I think I eventually collected a Fridge and one piece of furniture plus my clothes, cameras and fishing gear. An interesting episode in my life.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Wrapping them (all!) in plastic bags and storing them in the garage seems to defeat the object of having a library...
I'm/ was used to having them sitting on the shelves - nice to look at and always readily available.
I think the garage is one step closer to the tip...don't want to go that way.
I'll have to spend some time updating the "catalogue" and may be try to sell the "excess" in one lot....
Any interest in 3000+ astronomy books?

It isn't at all ideal to store books wrapped in plastic, as this is not a sound preservation technique. Books need to be stored with proper "acid free" wrapping, not in plastic.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Wrapping them (all!) in plastic bags and storing them in the garage seems to defeat the object of having a library...
I'm/ was used to having them sitting on the shelves - nice to look at and always readily available.
I think the garage is one step closer to the tip...don't want to go that way.
I'll have to spend some time updating the "catalogue" and may be try to sell the "excess" in one lot....
Any interest in 3000+ astronomy books?

Hi Merlin, I would be interested in buying the three volume set Atlas of Galactic Nebula, by Vehrenberg, if you have it, and may be interested in other titles?

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Peter, et al,
Yes, I know about "proper" archival storage, but it was said tongue in cheek....
I've tried the ebook thing...no good for me...when I do use the library I'm usually researching an issue/ problem and end up with a few books open at a time to compare info..can't do that on a ipad.
I did TRY, when I came o'seas to just bring a few books with me, one's that I thought would be used....like my wife's clothes when she packs...only 50% were actually used and I ended up purchasing copies of books I knew were back in storage in Oz.....

I'm thinking...go through and sort the active interest books, then the $$$ collectables and the "series" books (Like many others I just hate seeing Vol 2 (of a 5 Vol series) just sitting alone on the shelf - it must reunited with it's mates...)
The rest (sigh) may have to go like they do at Hay on Wye (The book town) sell by the bag (or per Kg) or by the shelf length ( so much per foot)...Hmm I could always rip the spines off and glue them to some customwood sell as a "safe/ secure storage front!!! (Only joking, but it IS done in Hay on Wye)
(Let's not talk about divorces - been there tried that.....)

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Peter, et al,
Yes, I know about "proper" archival storage, but it was said tongue in cheek....
I've tried the ebook thing...no good for me...when I do use the library I'm usually researching an issue/ problem and end up with a few books open at a time to compare info..can't do that on a ipad.)

Yes, Merlin, I know what you mean about eBooks, but it is the way of the future though, Maybe multiple iPad's are the go (Hmm, any excuse to buy more technology). However, the problem with eBooks, at present, you just can't get what you want, particularly in technical reference/astronomy material. I would really love to be able to carry around all my useful reference material in one slim device.

Like you, I do a lot of research too, mostly using the Internet, so know how it can be having several sites open at once, but then, that is why I have multiple screens, just love having lots of screen "real estate", to spread multiple open documents over.

Cheers Peter

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Peter, et al,
The rest (sigh) may have to go like they do at Hay on Wye (The book town) sell by the bag (or per Kg) or by the shelf length ( so much per foot)...Hmm I could always rip the spines off and glue them to some customwood sell as a "safe/ secure storage front!!! (Only joking, but it IS done in Hay on Wye)

Ken, the English shop here has had a couple of these types of book sales for charity, sold by the centimetre if I recall.
Sadly I never managed to find any astronomy books there, the closest I found was a Jim Al-Khalili book on Quantum mechanics for the perplexed.
I donated the Danielle Steele books my Mum left from her last visit which was a relief to get them off the shelf.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I feel your pain.

[Trixie (Carey)]

I feel your pain as well! I have been collecting books for years and am running out of room. We have one room left to be renovated so until I do that I can't buy any more books.

I read somewhere that Samuel Pepys limited his library to 3000. I have a long way to go before I reach that limit, just need to find the space! So far I have limited my collecting to 18-19C fiction but am so tempted by some of the gorgeous bird books around!

[blink138 (Pat)]

hello ken have you thought about under the house?
i know if you have an older style there is a fair bit of room under them, and it is very easy to add a trap door, that is what i have (had to have) done with a wine collection....... precious books are worth just as much and the underground environment will keep your books very well
pat
oh by the way i am still talking about a proper library setup not in boxes on the floor, very easy to pave under the house

[syousef]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Peter, et al,
Yes, I know about "proper" archival storage, but it was said tongue in cheek....
I've tried the ebook thing...no good for me...when I do use the library I'm usually researching an issue/ problem and end up with a few books open at a time to compare info..can't do that on a ipad.

Forget the iPad. You should try a multi-screen setup. Desktops are most suited. They have other uses too. I was watching 3 webcasts of the Venus transit before work...that is when the sun wasn't actually visible (95% of the time it wasn't here).

[syousef]

Reminds me I really need to get rid of 20 and 30 year old computer reference books. I don't think I'll be using Windows NT 4 or Borland C++ 4.5 any time soon. (On the other hand the Borland manuals actually have some very good tutorials on Object orientation and C++ which are still relevant). As you can see I have really trouble letting go of books too....and then there are fond memories of re-creating my bedroom in VRML...

[silv (Annette)]

under the house, eh?
interesting idea.
makes me think of those tropical reserve hotels with huts on stilts?
but even if that was possible, the dampness hurts the books more than it hurts your wine collection.


oh, my, that is so sad! so many books!

I can totally relate to you preferring to stay with paper books and how you are used to work with them.

however - seeing that you will have to part with most of them - and most of them won't be available for sale as e-books -
if you have the time - or the money - you can get them digitized?
that means: scanning or photographing them page per page.
ideally then editing them with software that recognizes words (OCR).
http://www.books4all.org.uk/Making-Books/Scan-and-OCR/

I could imagine a student being paid for the effort if you don't have the time to do it yourself.

Good luck in your new home! May it be a wonderful new place to live in and reward you for your sacrifice.