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Hello All,

I am in the process of painting my study and so I have taken out all of my books. This also enables me to put them all back in the right way. I have never had a system of organization (accept keeping the ones I use the most near by) for my books. What do you do? Alphabetical by authors, by book, by topic, other?

Thanks in advance for your input!

I organize by topic only. History (Church and secular), Theology (Systematic, then by focus), but the topics are not in alphabetic order, I put the ones I'm most interested in and use on a regular basis on my desk and use bookends, everything else....to the stacks...it works for me.

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MikeC1956
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I also organize by topic and sub-topic, e.g. commentaries (sets, OT volumes, NT volumes), language reference works (Hebrew, Greek), theology (biblical, systematic, specific topics), counseling (marriage, parenting, sex, abuse, etc.). But my printed library is relatively small (around 800 volumes). Larger libraries may be better served by a numbering system. The Dewey Decimal system is common, but I think I would prefer the library classification and filing system for biblical and theological studies that Rodney Decker, Assoc. Professor of New Testament at Baptist Bible Seminary (Clarks Summit, PA), has developed.

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I use Librarything to classify them and normally DDC or Bliss to catalogue them.

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I throw things on the shelf in random piles.

If there's something I like, I spend the time to find it. And then it resides on my desk somewhere unless it ends up on a pile on the floor or somewhere else.

I wouldn't really recommend it as a system.

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Marv
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I tried doing it that way, but my wife wouldn't let me.

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That's a wonderful "system" Marv . Actually I arrange mine in much the way Mike and Gideon have mentioned. I have various sections among the many shelves (I'm not sure how many volumes I'm up to now...somewhere ove 1500 I believe): Theology (which is broken down into many sub-categories and even for some it is into particular authors that I own a lot of their writings), Commentaries, Biblical Studies, Pastoral Studies, Religious Studies, Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Islamics, Cults, Counselling, Biographies, etc. These are all categorized (typically) according to their specific focus and I've also placed various sections on my shelves (both in my home office and in my church office) that are useful for the specific things I do in each place right by my desk. I also have some stacks here and there that are those that I am currently reading on a weekly/monthly basis and use for quick reference (these sit on the desk, by the bed, by my sitting chair, by the couch, on the counter, by the computer, you get the point ). I particularly keep my commentaries and Biblical Studies resources right by my desk at church for studying as these are accessed very often. I also utilize the theological volumes often in reference to my sermon work and pastoral work (not to mention moderating here at the forum).

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Thank you for your responses! I have decided to follow the method suggested by Marv - I figure that is where I will end up eventually anyways, why fight it???

Actually, I decided to divide into categories: Commentaries (In order of books - Gen thru Rev and then by authors last name), Counselling, Bibles, Discipleship/Evangelism, Theologoy, etc. I then placed in alphabetical order according to authors last name.

We will see how long it last...Thanks again and may the Lord bless each of you this Thanksgiving!

I have two main bookshelfs in my office

One is dedicated to commentaries which are arranged by order of the books. So Genesis, Exodus, etc... There is no organization within each book

The other bookshelf is for everything else and is arranged by topics. (Counseling, Evangelism, Theology, Etc...)

Then on my desk I keep 4 or 5 books I am currently reading through in one pile, and I also have a stack of the commentaries for the book of the bible I am currently preaching through(Hebrews currently)

It is not a perfect system but it works for me.