I am also trying to make my book collection a bit less large. Some things I used to decide whether or not I'd keep a book: -Does it contain old, outdated information? (for reference books, for example old computer books that aren't useful anymore, like Access 95 or Java 1.1) -Will I re-read it? If I'm not sure whether or not a book is re-readable, I read it again. This summer I've also started writing reviews for most of the books I read and it's a good way to decide if I like the book enough or not, because when writing a review I start to think more thoroughly about the book. I also included a "rereadability" field in my reviews. -Is the book a translation and do I want the original version (if it's in a language I can read)? If so, I remove the translation from my bookcase and put the original version on my wishlist. When I want to re-read the translation anytime soon OR I'm not interested in the original version, I leave it in my bookcase. -When the information in that book is already in other books you have (or easily findable on the internet) and it's not an exceptionally good reference book or outdated, I remove it. -When it's a duplicate book and you're not using it for lending it out to people, I remove it as well.
However, I have more trouble cleaning out my clothes, because I think "but maybe I'll wear it sometime again...".
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branchandroot
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Date: 2011-08-08 08:33 am (UTC)Some things I used to decide whether or not I'd keep a book:
-Does it contain old, outdated information? (for reference books, for example old computer books that aren't useful anymore, like Access 95 or Java 1.1)
-Will I re-read it? If I'm not sure whether or not a book is re-readable, I read it again. This summer I've also started writing reviews for most of the books I read and it's a good way to decide if I like the book enough or not, because when writing a review I start to think more thoroughly about the book. I also included a "rereadability" field in my reviews.
-Is the book a translation and do I want the original version (if it's in a language I can read)? If so, I remove the translation from my bookcase and put the original version on my wishlist. When I want to re-read the translation anytime soon OR I'm not interested in the original version, I leave it in my bookcase.
-When the information in that book is already in other books you have (or easily findable on the internet) and it's not an exceptionally good reference book or outdated, I remove it.
-When it's a duplicate book and you're not using it for lending it out to people, I remove it as well.
However, I have more trouble cleaning out my clothes, because I think "but maybe I'll wear it sometime again...".