In the "Curriculum Fairs" thread, someone said:

"book inventory list (we own over 2000 books, and I take a list of books that we own so that I don't buy a book that we already have)"

which got me thinking. How do you keep track of what books you already own? We have TONS of books (I have no idea how many) and I have them pretty well organized so I know where to find a particular book "if" we own it. But I haven't found a good way to keep track of what we own. All the literature/fiction books are in the kids' bedrooms. Most of it is in our youngest daughter's bedroom, alphabetically by title in two bookcases. The other three kids keep the sets or books that they especially like in their rooms. The school books are in the family room in three large bookcases, separated by subject, but within the subject there's no particular order (all the science books are in one bookcase, but the only order within that is by size or whatever looks good). I am always going to book sales and bringing home books we already own because there's no way I can remember all of them. So what's your solution?
Lori

I made a list in Excel. I print out a new list before I go to convention each year. Until that time, I just add new book titles to the back of my latest printout.

There are software programs that are inexpensive. I haven't tried any, though. Here are links to a couple of them:

http://www.readerware.com

http://www.collectorz.com/book/

http://www.download.com/MediaMan/3000-2131_4-10313292.html

I hope the links come out okay. I don't see how to cut/paste here.

Het ladies - brain storm! How about we have our kids make alphabetized lists of our "holdings?"
Blessings,
Christine

Good idea, Christine! I haven't done that, but I have had them help me alphabetize the books on the shelves. Typing up the list could be great practice for them!
Lori

what a great idea!! thank you so much.

I've always dreamed about having a card for each book, having the cards organized and having the books organized.
Am I living in a dream world?
Christine

I too have a TON of books, mainly children's. I have some plastic crates, and I write a genre on each one, "historical fiction", "animals", "plants", "number concepts", etc. or a particular time period such as "medieval". I then write the genre on the side of the book or across the front. I can find what I want fairly easily. It comes in handy when I am reading a book with a child and know that I have another book that relates or that can be used to extend learning. The only problem? Oversized books! These have to be sort of stacked next to the crate!

Cheryl

Hi cg,
I love the crates idea! And you can find them at the dollar store or Target.
Great idea!
Christine