Last week, I posted about my love of reading. Based on that post, you might think my bookshelves would be overflowing, but I have some strategies that keep the books from taking over my space.

• Read on a Kindle or other device.

            This is the easiest way to cut down on physical book clutter. (Bonus: you can borrow
            e-books from the library!)

• Use the library.

            The only caveat with this is that you need to stay on top of due dates and make sure
            to return all the books. Designate a special tote bag for library books so you’ll have a
            handy way to carry them back and forth as well as a physical reminder to return the
            books. Nowadays, libraries give you a printed receipt of the books you’ve checked
            out. Keep that in the bag so you can check the list and make sure you’re returning
            all the books you borrowed.

• Have an exit plan.

            Only a select few books should remain in your permanent collection. These should
            be books that you truly love, books that you’ll read again, books that you want to
            pass down to your children (be selective!), books that are particularly beautiful
            (beloved art books), and books that you use (reference books such as cookbooks
            that you actually cook from). Other books, once read, should be considered
            consumed and ready to pass along to another reader. Stash books to be donated in
            a paper bag by your door and make a note of a handy donation center (like Savers,
            Salvation Army, Goodwill, or your local library) that is on your daily route. When the
            bag is full, bring it out to your car and to the donation center. If you prefer sharing
            books with friends, pass the book along as soon as you have finished it. Another fun
            way to redistribute books is through a Little Free Library. Find one in your
            neighborhood or start your own.

Shelves of books can look warm and inviting in a home, but over-filled shelves and piles and stacks of books all over the place are just clutter. Books only have value when they are read*, so keep them circulating by passing them along to others who will read them!
 
*Pick up Roger Duvoisin’s wonderful children’s book Petunia for a gloriously silly way to learn this lesson!

Following up last week’s blog entry, here’s a second vintage image that I found in London that I thought would interest my readers. Of course, as a Professional Organizer, it got my attention because it’s a question I frequently ask my clients to consider.
 
Can I do without it?
 
There are always tempting things we can buy and there are always tons of reasons to keep excess things we already have. This simple question is a good one for figuring out how valuable an item is to you and whether or not you really want to make a place for it in your home. After all, bringing something home from a store and giving it a place in your house means that you are committed to caring for it, cleaning it, using it, storing it, and looking at it for quite a long time.
 
Is it worth it?
 
Can you do with out it?
 
For one month, try asking yourself this question (when you’re in a store and when you’re looking around your house) and see how many times you can say, “Yes, I can do without it.” At the end of the month, maybe you’ll find yourself with a smaller credit card bill from things you didn’t buy and a big bag of things you now can do without and want to donate.