I'm guest  posting today over at Beloved Star.  I've loved reading Nela's thoughts over the past year, and was thrilled to be included as one of her guest posters. Check out her blog, and don't forget to look at some of the other guest poster's blogs. I'm sure you'll enjoy it!


Amanda

Building Your Personal Library

After my last post, I thought it might be fun for all of us to swap some tips on how to fill bookshelves with treasures. I'll share my favorite ways if you all promise to share some of yours. :)

1. Determine what sort of books you want to collect and treasure.
    If you are looking for modern books, you'll probably look for them in different places than vintage.

2. Keep a list of books you really want. That way when you are in a bookstore and the sheer mass of titles is overwhelming, you can just look for the titles you want.

3. Train your vision to be eagle sharp. If you are already an abibliophobiac like me, you don't need any help here. Your inner instincts already send of alarm bells every time you see the spine of a book.

Places to look:

1. Yard sales.  Look under the tables, under home decor clutter in boxes, under stacks of magazines. Books put out at yards sales are generally dirt cheap and negotiable. If there are several books in a box of books, offer to take the whole box for a price you name. Often the seller will be glad for you to just haul them away.

2. Goodwill/thrift stores. Don't just assume that there are only trashy romance novels at these places. Often I have been surprised to find real treasures on their shelves. Again, these places are generally extremely cheap.

3. Flea markets. Sellers will often negotiate on price, especially if buy in volume. A tip: don't act overly excited. You've got to be a little crafty here. Flea Market Sellers are sharp business men, don't let the overalls and beard deceive you. Name your price, (reasonable of course) and then act as if it doesn't matter a pin to you if you get them. Acted excited, and they'll know you'll purchase them no matter what, and will neither lower the price and may even attempt to trick you and raise it.

4. Antique stores. My favorite and where many of mine came from. Often Antique malls are loaded with books tucked away in little corners. Some antique dealers know the worth of their books and their prices are super high. Make sure that you aren't paying more than you need to.

5. eBay. That's right. eBay is an excellent place to buy old books. Since it's an auction you can generally offer your price, and since old books aren't really going to good currently on the market, you'll get it. Make sure you factor in the shipping price when you think of how much you want to spend. This is where I got all of my first edition Elsie Dinsmore's.

6. ABE books. Great place for modern or vintage. Careful that you know whether the book you are buying is paperback/hardback.

7. Amazon. They don't always have the lowest prices, but you can often find good deals on modern books here.

8. Library sales.  Old books and good books =  no longer needed in the library. Many libraries have a shelf set to the side of books that you can buy.

9. Used book stores. Warning: if you are looking for vintage books here, be careful. Used book sellers know what they are doing, especially if a book is a first edition. The prices may be super high. However, some are negotiable, and some of the stores work on a credit system. (You bring in your unwanted books, they "buy" them, and whatever those books were worth you get in credit from the store. )


10. Friends.  Once friends know that you collect books they will be constantly asking if you want their old books. Accept them, keep what you want and send the rest away to goodwill. :)

11. Keep up with the sales at your favorite book stores. Barnes and Noble has a clearance section online. (It's our secret though, can't let too many people know or we'll never get books. :)

What are some of your favorite places to buy books?

Fine Print:  Links are clickable. I make no profit off of your purchase of anything. Unless, you are shopping through Amazon. :)  Images not mine.

Books and Boxes

Fellow bookworms, I have done the nearly impossible. I have boxed all of my books up. Enshrouded in cardboard, secured with heavy duty tape. They now stand stacked in the corner of my room. I miss them already.

I love to study bookshelves. If you would happen to invite me to your home, you would catch me surveying your shelves. You can learn a lot about someone by scanning their bookshelves. Personality traits that would probably have taken years to discover, literally jump from the pages of their books.

I've never taken the time to step back and analyze my own shelves. Not until I started to pack all my beloved treasures.

There was the collection of tiny miniature vintage books. Many of them as old as 1860-70's. Most of them created as rewards for children in Sunday School. One of them still bearing a note from the teacher, imploring "Henry to read and not forget while enjoying the stories to see the lessons inside. "

There were the tattered children's fiction books. Many with math problems worked on the flyleaf. A few with notes from Father's, Mother's and best friends.

A history of English literature, written in 1910 comes off the shelf next. Inside, in a neat feminine hand are notes, questions, and ideas for writing assignments. I don't know who G.V. was, but I believe she and I are kindred spirits.

Next I pull out a beautifully bound, Sermons by D.L.Moody. In original edition, with lovely silver leaf lettering. But it wasn't it's age, or it's innate beauty that makes me love this book. It's the bullet hole in the corner. The story behind it, I'll never know,  I can only imagine.

Classics come off one by one. Ugly books with dearly loved stories, and tea stains to show their love. There is a handful of writing help, their new covers contrasting to all the vintage books. Several of my old journals go into the box. Scraps of notepaper flutter as I open several books.

My original edition Elsie Dinsmore's are packed with care, their embossed pansies (which Finley begged the publishers to put on the books) still lovely even after their long life.

There are books on screenwriting. Books on how to grow corn and beans. Craft books, decorating books, an English/French dictionary. A brand new girls devotional books side by side with a cookbook well over 100 years old.

The last box is packed and taped shut. Every box holding the evidence of who I am, and what I love.

What do your bookshelves say about you?

Fine Print: Image not mine.

Hello!

Hello friends,

My, that looks a bit stiff.

'ello chums!   (Be sure to read that in your best British Accent)

That better?

So, life has taken a sudden and wee bit unexpected twist. My residence is about to change. Quite exciting actually. Prepare for several posts on fresh paint, moving trucks, and cardboard boxes.

Also I'm looking for work, and getting ready for college this fall. : )  Life is an awfully big adventure right now. :)

But, I'll try not to disappear anymore. Even if it is only little tidbits of moaning on how little cardboard boxes can hold.

Oh, one more thing. Whatcha think of the new look? Isn't it cute! Qui created it for me, thanks again Qui, I love it! :)  If you all are reading in a reader you've got to come check it out. :)

Oh, and there is a new blog button over there on the sidebar if you'd like to update it. :)

Oh, and there will be a book coming for this month's Abibliophobiac's Calendar.

Oh, I think I had better stop. : D

Fine Print: Images not mine. Would love to own a print of it though. Perhaps for my birthday? hint.. hint... :)