Library Resources

This page is a resource for all hoping to get started in cataloguing their personal library. My hope is that you can walk away from here with some direction and resources to begin with your home bookshelves. 

 

Should I catalogue my books?

 

Cataloguing books is helpful for several reasons but might not be something you need to do personally. Here are a couple reasons I think it could be good.

 

As your library grows, you will begin to have more books than you can efficiently sift through. Doing a research project among your own books will reveal how accessible they are. If you have upwards of 500 volumes or so, having an objective and organized system to them is very helpful. Additionally, if you want to allow others to access your library (something that will likely happen if you pastor a church), knowing where things are at a moment's notice can prevent lots of digging. Also, if you lend out books to people on a regular basis, having a way to keep track of them is crucial to preventing lost books.

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What system should I use?

 

Although there are multiple ways to catalog books, I will share what I use and what works for me. The dewey decimal classification (DDC) is my system of choice, mainly because of its mixture of objective organization and customizability. Although there is a fully objective dewey decimal system out there, you are free to use it however you like and to whatever extent you like.

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The main classifications in the DDC are in three digits before the decimal point. The first number is a general classification by broad category. For example, the 000s are generalities, the 100s are philosophy and psychology, the 200s are religion, and so forth. As a pastor or Christian academic, the majority of your books will likely fall in the 200s. Past that, the second digit divides things further: the 200s are general religion, the 230s are theology, the 260s are broadly ecclesiology, and so on. Finally, the third digit provides a more specific classification: 230 is general theology, 231 is Theology Proper, 232 is Christology, and so forth. 

 

Past the decimal point, the official DDC volumes do specify things further, but it gets more complex. A book on the decimal system will educate you on building the proper numbers for each book. 

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The Library of Congress is the other most widely used system to my knowledge, although I am not too familiar with it an will leave it up to you if you'd like to research that more!

 

How to Catalog and My System & Tools

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There are two basic elements needed to have a solid working system for a home library catalog: a database and good, readable book labels.

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For my database, I use an online resource called LibraryThing. You can find my personal library here. It is fully searchable, you can scan new titles in using an app on your phone, and you can even connect with other users. If you prefer something offline, you can use a spreadsheet like I did when I began. It works just as well—my father in law has somewhere around six thousand books catalogued in a spreadsheet. Here is an example (mind the incorrect decimal numbers) of how one could look:

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For labels, I use a Dymo Labelwriter 550, and it works quite well. It plugs in to your computer, and you download the DymoConnect software to make the labels for it. It uses a burn technology to write on the labels so that it never runs out of ink, making it low maintenance. *Be sure, though, that you buy Dymo brand labels.* I purchased 6000 labels that said they worked with the printer, and they didn't, because they were not made by Dymo. Nothing else will work. I use the 3 & 1/2" by 1 & 1/8" size, and those are long enough to fit over any hefty Bible dictionary or systematic theology that might come across your shelf. The only downside is that the labels fade over time if put under a piece of tape or a label cover. 

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In terms of label formatting, it is up to you. Aside from putting your catalogue number on the top, anything is pragmatic as long as it helps you navigate the shelf. For example, here is my formatting:

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This system can be completely yours. Just make it readable easy to use for others you may have using your library.

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For label spacing, I try to keep it simple. All my labels are placed just another label's width above the bottom of the spine. That way, as long as I use the same labels, all my labels will be uniform. Here is a snapshot of one of the shelves and a single book:

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I hope these pointers help get you rolling on your own library project. Feel free to take this and do whatever you want with it. Some people prefer labels inside the covers, some like to make different pieces of the label different font sizes, etc. Play around and see what works for you. 

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If you have any questions, feel free to reach out on the contact page. 

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In Christ,

Jacob Martin