I think I've got too many books

[TrogL]

They're in every room in the house. You can't get down the hall properly because it's lined with bookshelves. There's even books on the ceiling (don't ask how I managed that).

They're sorted and alphabetized like in a public library (no I don't use an official system). I know instantly when one's missing or out of place.

I've got a running tab at the library for overdue fines. The local bookstore clerks all know me by name and the owners invite me in the back room for coffee.

I have a life. My life is books.

[Qanisqineq]

1. I have the same problem

I haven't accumulated as many as you have, but I am well on my way. I just moved two weeks ago and I was appalled at the number of boxes of books. Books of all kinds, non-fiction and fiction. I especially seem to have a problem with biology-related textbooks.

[Stockholm]

2. You can´t have too many books...

Bibliophiles in all countries unite!!

[LastKnight]

3. no such thing. nt

[WindRavenX]

4. I hear ya

My books are my most prized pocessions I own; I only have a couple hundred, but I feel empty when I don't have piles of books around (like when I'm in a dorm and only have a few dozen of my favorites). I mean, it just doesn't feel like home without having my books..

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Hey, I have so many books that the public library calls ME . . .

A little morning hyperbole.

[LynneSin]

6. I just want to know how you have books on the ceiling

BTW, I'm probably going to be soon investing on my next bookshelf. I too am a book whore!

[Bridget Burke]

7. Half Price Books helps a bit....

This Texas based chain has stores in many states. They will buy anything--books, videos, CD's, DVD's, vinyl & software. They don't pay top dollar, but I'm not taking them the really good stuff--I'm keeping it.

Of course, when you take in stuff to sell, they make you wait while they come up with a price. Which means you're walking around the store--looking at the stock which includes lots of new stuff along with the used. By the time they give me the receipt for the cashier, I've usually found something. Rule of thumb: take in a large box of rejects, come out with something really nice--like a fine art book.

Having books in every room is great, but paths must be cleared from time to time.

[LiberalTechie1337]

8. I too enjoy a good read.

It's a sign of our superior intelect. Although I must admit that I never expected to be smarter than the President of the United States by 17.

[Squeech]

9. Me too

I've started to weed out. I'm planning on selling my house and moving to a city apartment, so obviously I can't take everything with me.

But it's hard. Some of these books have been better friends than actual flesh-and-blood people.

[BiggJawn]

10. And the problem is?

Hell, at least you're not walking on piles of them like submariners walking on canned goods in "Blind Man's Bluff"

[LWolf]

11. I don't have too many books.

My house is just too small.

I'm always looking at floor plans for the house just right for me; none of them include a library. I don't mean one of those little bedroom-sized offices, like I'm sitting in right now; I mean a real library that would hold all of my books with plenty of room for the collection to grow. My little office got so crowded that I decided to box up my books last spring so I could give it a good cleaning. I didn't box all of them, just enough to clear some space. I've got 25 boxes of books in my shed now, and I sometimes go through withdrawal, knowing that I'd have to search through that mountain of boxes for the book I'm thinking about at that moment.

Between the books in the shed and the books in the office and the professional shelves I built the shed for to begin with, and the children's collection I use at work, I've probably got 3-4,000 books. I've never inventoried them. I want a room in my house big enough to house all of those books comfortably!

My mother used to own a used book store. She still has about 9,000 or so stored in her garage. I come by it honestly.