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| A place to begin... |
In thinking more about my entry yesterday on cataloging my personal library, and in response to your comments, I think I will at least inventory the older books that I own. These would be the ones that I have bought at used books stores or found at sales and also the books that came from my family home.
I am not sure I need to have an inventory of all of the books that I have - although they are all on my bookshelves for a reason.
I tell myself that I can take baby steps and catalog five books a day or even just one. The part of the project (I don't really need another project, but there you are) that appeals to me is the chance to handle each book and find out where it was published, when it was published, and any other surprises or secrets that the book might hold - perhaps a personal inscription or a vintage bookmark or newspaper clipping tucked between its pages.
I will let you all know how the plan goes.
Let's talk book cataloging.
At times, over the years, I have entertained thoughts of creating a listing of my books. I don't have that many - not in the thousands, anyway - but there is some part of me that wants to sit down with each one of my books and record Title, Author, Publication Place and Date, Subject, Number of Pages, etc. I can see that it would entail a lot of work - but it is still a task that appeals to me. And it seems as if it would be a great project for winter.
I know there are online sites - LibraryThing, Goodreads, Shelfari - that let one keep a running inventory of one's books but somehow having to enter each book by computer seems dull. And would entail just that much more 'screen time' of which I get enough, thank you very much.
I am old school enough that I would prefer to fill out index cards (which I use all the time anyway and have a great store of) by hand and create my own library card catalog just like in the old days.
Of course, that would mean at least two cards per book - by Author and by Title - and then of course there are Subject cards if I want to go that far. Since my library is pretty varied - for instance I don't have an entire collection of books on military history or mammals to catalog - I most likely don't really need a Subject file. Or maybe just a partial one for books on writing or books of essays.
Once I got the card catalog completed, I could use that information to easily set up an online catalog as well. If so inclined.
I know that old library card catalog drawers can be found for sale sometimes. Those would be a lovely addition to my home. Maybe I should get those first and use them as an incentive to fill the drawers.
And now, what about you? Do you have your library cataloged? Online? On cards? Or do you simply use your bookshelves as your catalog as I have for so many years?
