Sunday Salon: Keeping track
I spotted an open invite recently to complete a survey about book blogging and it highlighted something that had already begun to concern me – I don’t keep track of where my books come from.
I would guess that the majority (or at least a large proportion) of my books were given to me as presents but if the giver didn’t write a note on the inside cover (which they rarely do), I have no record of this and when I come to read the book a year or more later I have invariably forgotten whose kind present it was. This is sad both in terms of me being able to show full appreciation and in terms of the lost memory.
So I have decided to tackle this in two ways. One, all new books added to the TBR shelves get a little note written in them about where they came from. And all my reviews this year will include a mention of the source of the book.
If I can, that is. Where I have happened to blog about book buying I should have a reminder of when I bought books for myself, so with a little bit of memory power more recent additions should be easy to identify, but what about those books that have sat unread for four, five or more years? I’ll have to get delving through all the old photographs of birthdays and Christmases to see what I can deduce!
Do you keep note of where your books came from? Do you write anything in the books themselves? What about when you’re the one giving books as presents?
I don’t keep track of where I got my books from either. Although a majority probably comes from the library. This is an interesting concept.
I did that survey too. I opened my excel spread sheet and had all the information I needed!
Often I remember where I got a book, but in any case, I add it to the book’s entry in Shelfari (a kind of Goodreads). When I read a book I enter that information plus a whole load more. I only started the spread sheet last year, but I find it really useful (if you like statistical information about your book habits, that is!).
In 2010, I started logging in my purchases and review books on pages at my Curl up and Read blog.
In my Mailbox Monday posts, I enter where I got the book.
But those languishing on my shelves for a longer period of time are not noted anywhere! Most of those, however, were pre-blogging, and therefore books I purchased.
I do love keeping track…good luck with your plan.
Here’s MY SUNDAY SALON POST
I always write notes in books I give as presents! I wish everyone did when they gave me a present, so if they forget I remind them. 😉 (Shameless, I am.)
I don’t track where I get my books from, but since the vast majority of my reading is from the library, I don’t actually acquire many books to keep. I probably have 300-400ish books on my shelves right now (from when I used to acquire books regularly!) and for some reason I just know where they all come from.
Hillary A number of books I remember reading and have been disappointed to discover I don’t own them but actually borrowed them from the library.
Judith I do keep a spreadsheet but hadn’t included data on where the books come from. Foolish!
Laurel-Rain Yes, it’s those older ones that will be harder to track.
Eva I shall totally force my lovely gift-givers to write in the books they give me in future.
I tend to remember where a book came from quite well but I still track the info in a spreadsheet and on each review on my blog for clarity. I guess I just love stats all year round!