Control Over Books and Magazines

My family loves to read, but we are finding that the books and magazines are piling up all of the time. What can we do to keep this under control and still enjoy our hobby?

Cathy C., Middletown

As a person who seeks information constantly, I share your love of books and magazines. It can be a difficult challenge to keep up with everything you want to read and catalog your favorite items to go back to later. There are many ways that you can still enjoy this hobby, save money and space.
For those of you who are constantly reading books there are many great ways to enjoy them without buying too many copies at a time that end up filling your bookcases, and beyond, in your home. First, I always recommend that you keep a “Books to Read” list somewhere in a notebook or on your computer. Gathering an ongoing list of recommended titles is a great way to prioritize what you are interested in, create a list for future gift ideas and make it easier to focus when you are setting foot into a book store or library. Much like the Walmarts and Targets of the world, a bookstore can be so distracting with new exciting titles that you walk out with a handful of books you never intended to get and completely forget why you entered there in the first place. In addition to keeping you focused, keeping a list can be a great way to remember what you are interested in when people ask you what gifts they can give you around the holidays.
If you are addicted to reading and you are not so excited about the many copies of books piling up in your house, I highly recommend keeping a constant cycle of book donations going once you are done with them. Pass the book on to a friend or donate it to the local library, Goodwill or a book swap. If you find that giving away the book is hard because you are afraid you won’t remember that you read it, simply keep a book log that lists the titles you have read and why you liked or didn’t like it.
Another great new option for book lovers are the electronic book devices such as Amazon’s Kindle. These devices allow you to download books electronically into a digital device. You are still paying for the book, but you get the data, rather than the actual copy (much like an Ipod for audio files). You can store hundreds of books on this device and read them just as easily as a hard copy. It is great for people who travel a lot as well as those who like to carry multiple books around with them.
My favorite option of all is the library. If you have not been to one in a while, I encourage you to go check out your local library and renew your membership. There are so many benefits to go to the library if you are a book lover that can both save you time and money. This is a great way to benefit from previewing thousands of titles. You can make interlibrary requests if your local library doesn’t have the title you wish to borrow. Libraries in every town take returns of books from any town, which makes it very convenient to keep on top of your items to return no matter where you are running your errands.

In addition to books, you can also take out books on tape. I am a huge fan of this because I don’t always have hours to read, but I spend hours in my car each day commuting. Getting through 2-3 books in a week under normal commuting conditions to work is not unfathomable. Whether you are interested in self-help, fiction or history there are books on tape out there for you.
Other multi-media that libraries offer include magazines, newspapers, DVDs and CDs. If your family is spending tons of money on subscriptions, or renting movies, consider a trip to the library. For absolutely no money, you can borrow DVDs from new releases to old classics for the same amount of borrowing time as at your local video store. Instead of letting your magazines make you guilty for not reading them as the sit there ominously on your coffee table, consider saving money by cancelling your subscriptions of your least favorite and reading them at the library.
Lastly, I would like to add that the library can also be a great place to keep you organized with your paperwork. Some of my clients have shared with me that going to the library to pay their bills forces them to get it done without distractions. It can also be a place to bring a laptop, find a cubby and focus on one specific project outside of your home or office. You will be unplugged from phones, kids, and the projects looming around you.
You can certainly fill your need for information without acquiring the physical books and papers. With all of the new electronic multimedia options as well as the plethora of opportunities out there for free, you can save space in your home and have a little more cash in your wallet.
Kristin Mastromarino is a professional organizer and owner of Livable Solutions Professional Organizing and The Organized Lifestyle retail store in Guilford, CT. (www.theorganizedlifestylestore.com). You can e-mail her your questions at Kristin@livablesolutions.com.