How many books do you have cluttering your shelves that you are going to read someday? Is there a pile of books near your favorite chair waiting for you to pick one up and crack the cover? Have you converted to listening to audio books during your travels so that paper books are somewhat replaced? How much money are you spending on books that are gathering dust?

Most of us would answer those questions… loads, yes, sometime, and a lot. That is I own loads of books and want to read them, yes there is a pile of books waiting for me to get started, audio books are a regular part of my commute, and those books around my house are worth a lot of money.

A year that I left a corporate position I spent a chunk of time analyzing where my personal money was spent and a measurable percentage was spent on books. Spending nearly a thousand dollars in one year could be justified by learning for my job – it’s cheaper than going back to school. Reading is a great pleasure. And, that’s only 40 books or so – less than one per week and a cheap luxury.

However, most of the books that I bought were not terrific. Good information, yes. But once through the thing,  it was never going to be opened again. Keeping them here would start to become clutter. So I generally passed them on.  After my analysis I created my own policy for book purchase, keeping, and use. Perhaps it would help you manage a book mess so here it is:

1. Borrow books from the library. My library has a system where I can reserve it from home. I receive an email when it arrives at the branch and I dash over to pick it up. The 15 minute walk is a good way to clear my head and get a bit of exercise.  Or, I drive by when I’m out doing other things, forgo the fitness and have my books in minutes.
2. If a book from the library is terrific – buy it.
3. Use the book case in my office to limit the number of books I keep. When the shelves are full, a book must go to make room for one to stay. That’s my bookshelf pictured here.
4. Read the book in the 3 weeks that it’s on loan from the library. If you’re taking longer than that to get through it that duration is a clue that it’s not got your interest.
5. Buy books that you want to write in. You might never read it a second time but the simple act of writing and making notes in it might mean the material is more meaningful to you.
6. Do not buy on impulse. Just because the big box store has a title that appeals, don’t grab and go. Put it on your someday list and if you think about it again, buy it later.