Alona blogged about her collections a few weeks ago.
In a comment on her post I said that I had collections of chickens and hotel pens. As I have cleaned out my study I have found a few other small collections. There are the bookmarks, the postcards, the sougenirs, theatre programs, memorial books and other geneabumph. I have managed to keep these small collections but some books have had to go. So far I have disposed of around 800 from the house proper, there are many I can't part with that have already made the move to our new abode.
Yesterday I ventured down into my branch library in the garage (5 library bays x 6 shelves high) where my older books are stored. I made good progress tossing fiction, biographies and textbooks. I have only just started on my children's book collection from my time as a children's and then school librarian. I am going to find it difficult to part with some of my picture books.
When I woke up this morning I made a very brave decision. I have collected books by and about Agatha Christie since my teens. Whenever Mum saw a secondhand copy of an Agatha mystery she would buy it for me, I read them all - even the multiple copies. The wonderful thing about the Agathas is that I can reread them after a year so and still not identify the perpetrators. Last night I just couldn't bring myself to box up the old, dusty Agathas so I left them on their shelf with my John F Kennedy collection.
This morning I told myself that I must let go. I am so proud of myself as I have just returned from the garage where I have boxed up the Agathas ready to go to the local Rotary booksale and a new home. I hope their new owners get as much enjoyment from them as I have.
Watch out JFK you may be next.
In a comment on her post I said that I had collections of chickens and hotel pens. As I have cleaned out my study I have found a few other small collections. There are the bookmarks, the postcards, the sougenirs, theatre programs, memorial books and other geneabumph. I have managed to keep these small collections but some books have had to go. So far I have disposed of around 800 from the house proper, there are many I can't part with that have already made the move to our new abode.
Yesterday I ventured down into my branch library in the garage (5 library bays x 6 shelves high) where my older books are stored. I made good progress tossing fiction, biographies and textbooks. I have only just started on my children's book collection from my time as a children's and then school librarian. I am going to find it difficult to part with some of my picture books.
When I woke up this morning I made a very brave decision. I have collected books by and about Agatha Christie since my teens. Whenever Mum saw a secondhand copy of an Agatha mystery she would buy it for me, I read them all - even the multiple copies. The wonderful thing about the Agathas is that I can reread them after a year so and still not identify the perpetrators. Last night I just couldn't bring myself to box up the old, dusty Agathas so I left them on their shelf with my John F Kennedy collection.
This morning I told myself that I must let go. I am so proud of myself as I have just returned from the garage where I have boxed up the Agathas ready to go to the local Rotary booksale and a new home. I hope their new owners get as much enjoyment from them as I have.
Watch out JFK you may be next.
