I used to follow some booktubers who loved to revamp their bookshelves based on color, title, author, genre, or alphabetical order. The real debate here is: what’s your preference - neat and thoroughly organized or delightfully chaotic?
For me, the color or alphabet sorting feels like a headache waiting to happen. Instead, I prefer to sort my books by author and series, if applicable. It’s a system that just clicks with me.
What about you? Share your bookshelf organizing style, your reasons behind it, and any tips you’ve picked up along the way.

  • canpig9@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    I have about 2000 books. I use the random method.

    Because I’m an asshole.

  • Kirstemis@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Split into fiction/non-fiction, then alphabetically by author surname. Multiple books by same author in chronological order.

  • Velocitor1729@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    I put all the books I’ve already read, but keep around for some reason, on one shelf. I put all the books I’ve acquired but haven’t read yet on another. Thst way, when I’ve finished a book, I know where to put it, and I know where to look, when I’m looking for the next book to read.

  • CatMomCrafter@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    I found a mobile app called My Library. You can add most books just by scanning a barcode. If it has the ISBN, you can manually use that. Also, if the book is older than ISBN, you can still add by title or add details by hand. It’s been a life saver for me because I have a ton of books. I also use it when I buy new. It keeps me from buying repeats. It also has a movie and game option, but I haven’t used those as I use Gameye for my games and consoles.

  • Miss_Bookworm@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    I’ve been trying to figure out how to organize mine for a while now (they all have to fit in my room and the collection is steadily growing XD). I’ve been trying demographic, such as classic, adult, middle grade, and miscellaneous (art books, guide books, manga, comics, etc.), but I may tweak it a bit since it feels a tad too spacious right now…gotta get me another shelf or two…

  • zbmcg@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Divided into fiction or non-fiction then alphabetically by author. Graphic novels in a separate cabinet. Valuable or signed editions in a glass cabinet. DIY, travel, and subject matter books (e.g. gardening, architecture) on a separate bookcase in another room.

  • frazettatome@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Divide books by categories. Like maybe separate hardback and paperback, fiction and non fiction. Then by genre. All lined up in rows so it’s easy to see titles…

  • Probablyprofanity@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    I don’t have a lot of space right now, so I organize my books mainly by height so I can stack more books on top, and I keep a spreadsheet catalogue of all of my books including their location and whether or not I’ve read them.

  • Shadow-McTavish@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    My system is fairly easy. Shelves are divided by genre with everything by an author together. Large sized books are in a separate bookcase and are rather random.

  • mrgreengenes04@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    All books by the same author or series are together, but other than that, there is no real organization. However they best fit on the shelf is what works for me. I have close to 900 books, but I know where they all are. I may not know the exact location on the shelf, but I know the bookcase, the shelf, and approximately where on the shelf it is.

  • jmurphy42@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    I’m a librarian. I don’t go crazy with it, but I loosely follow Dewey order. I’ve got enough that it’s just easier when I want to find something.

  • blahajlife@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    All the Pratchetts together. Then other fantasy culminating with Le Guin so it can transition to SF but keep all the Le Guins together.

    Then all the SF apart from Banks.

    Then misc.

    Finally a Banks shelf with non SF alongside the Culture.

    And elsewhere a grimdark shelf because it didn’t fit with the rest.

    Non fiction below that.

  • folgersfrenchroast@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    at my last apartment I did it by color, but could never find anything haha. At my new apartment, it’s by genre! That’s been SUPER useful. I’ve got my sci fi, russian lit, biographical, horror, mystery, short stories, social/cultural commentary & criticism, plays, fantasy, poetry, books about writing, language learning books, and about a million shelves for nongenre fiction (which is probably the least useful part, considering alphabatizing lol)