The library community will probably ban me from all future
endeavors, but...
Organized your collection to mirror your interests.
I have organized several private library collections (church,
art, personal, ship board) and each time I have catered to the
client.
1. If you have more than 5-10 books on a subject, assuming
you have a very small library, make them into a category. Also
arrange a vertical file cabinet with the same categories. This
works for natural history (each animal or group of animals, etc)
as well as history (region, city, family, time era) and any other
category you may have. Keep in mind the exhibits and artifacts
you have as well. The library should serve to compliment, explain,
and enhance them. Therefore your categories should compliment
each other.
2. Make ample cross references. If you decide, for example, to
make your categories by geographic region, make sure you have
many cross references as to time frame or people's names.
3. Keep a card file or a spreadsheet information document for
each book, pamphlet or other item worth saving. It should have
any provenance (if donated, or of special value) as well as the
normal library bibliographic information. A local library should
help you there. There are several small library software programs
around that may be perfect for you.
4. A your collection grows, you may find that using an adaption
of Dewey Decimal may work, but remain flexible.
5. Good luck
Nancy Wynen
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL
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