Ideas for Storing Books

Books are among my most valued treasures! I believe they are part of what makes my house a home. As a senior citizen, I'd like to share with you what I have learned.

Don't store books in your bedroom. Books collect a lot of dust and sometimes mildew which is actually mold. Dust and mold aggravate allergies and sleep apnea which in turn effect the quality of your sleep. So for your health's sake, I encourage you to not use your bedroom for storage. Keep it easy to clean.

I believe floor to ceiling built-in shelving to be best for book storage. However, my family uses the inexpensive particle board shelving units. These units are practical as they can be moved. They fit nicely inside a closet for added shelving there.

When you visit garage sales, flea markets, or antique stores, look for shelves that can be used for books. My daughter uses a short unit at the end of the island in her kitchen to store her cook books. My sister uses a wooden shoe shelf as storage space on her countertop in the kitchen. My son in law put a couple of these wooden shoe racks on top of the shelf in his coat closet and made added shelves there for photo albums, etc. The good part about portable shelving is that you can take it with you when you move!

I have always liked a bookcase with doors because it helps control dust. I sometimes consider using my old, outdated china closet for book storage. Maybe you have one of those, too.

I use my childhood antique chest with three drawers for storage of my music books. I use one for piano music, one for organ music, and one for special occasion music like weddings or Christmas.

Sometimes I think of my beloved books as clutter! Pare down your collection as much as possible. Bless the lives of others with your books. I trade books at: http://www.paperbackswap.com

I look forward to reading your ideas for storage of books.

By Carol Swanson from Wyoming, PA