Managing Your Collection

[Andru]

So, I was re-organizing my collection over the weekend and realized I am quickly running out of room on my Marvel shelf. Currently they are housed in a 4X4 Kallax shelf from Ikea.

As of right now, I have 199 Marvel books occupying my shelf. I have told myself repeatedly that I would not get another shelf, and once it was filled up, I was done. Well, it looks like that day is coming...

While I am super proud of my collection, I do worry about it getting too big & unmanageable . I do try to sell off & donate things every so often as new books come in. But it seems like more are coming in than going out.

Does anyone else share this worry? I know some have mentioned what a pain they are to move. I've been there, and it was awful!

How many books are too many? Do you ever feel like your caught up with your collection?

Also, it ain't like this is a cheap hobby. I spend more on books than I care to admit.

I would be interested to see how many books other collectors have and if they plan on expanding or limiting their collection

[awayne83]

I go back and forth on this all the time. On one hand, I'd like to eventually have a small library thing going with classics and other favorites of mine. But as of now I'm nearing 600 books and just worry about the size if it, money i could be spending on other interests, and moving (eventually) as well. Of course there's small cuts i can (and do) make from time to time, but it seems like a losing battle with space.

[SJNeal]

I've given up on managing my collection.

I have more money than I do time - and I don't mean that as a boast - but what disposable income I do have goes to this damn expensive hobby. Unfortunately I work 50 hrs a week, and attend night classes, so the books (and unopened packages) pile up, unread. I have two 5x8 storage units full of long boxes and trades that are organized with no rhyme or reason. There are also four 2x4 Kallax shelves and two Billy's in my one-room apartment that are overflowing. I've had dreams (nightmares?) about natural disasters relieving me of my collection, which is pretty pathetic! Lol.

But I seriously digress. Good for you for attempting to maintain any semblance of order! I need to adopt a first-in-first-out system or something, but there's just too much good stuff released every week!

[Andru]

I go back and forth on this all the time. On one hand, I'd like to eventually have a small library thing going with classics and other favorites of mine. But as of now I'm nearing 600 books and just worry about the size if it, money i could be spending on other interests, and moving (eventually) as well. Of course there's small cuts i can (and do) make from time to time, but it seems like a losing battle with space.

Right now I am lucky enough to dedicate a room to my comics and toys (the office). However, I know that won’t last forever when kids come. So space will for sure be a battle then.

I've given up on managing my collection.

I have more money than I do time - and I don't mean that as a boast - but what disposable income I do have goes to this damn expensive hobby. Unfortunately I work 50 hrs a week, and attend night classes, so the books (and unopened packages) pile up, unread. I have two 5x8 storage units full of long boxes and trades that are organized with no rhyme or reason. There are also four 2x4 Kallax shelves and two Billy's in my one-room apartment that are overflowing. I've had dreams (nightmares?) about natural disasters relieving me of my collection, which is pretty pathetic! Lol.

But I seriously digress. Good for you for attempting to maintain any semblance of order! I need to adopt a first-in-first-out system or something, but there's just too much good stuff released every week!

Ah, I am such a control freak that that would drive me bonkers. I have definitely had nightmares of losing my collection to a fire or something similar. Usually the nights after I spend all day organizing or cataloguing them haha.

And yes, everytime a new batch of solicitations come out, I always find more I “need” to fill my collection.

[Bryan]

It is amazing how quickly a collection can grow and fill up those shelves to capacity. Lately I have only been buying trades/hardcovers that I really feel I need, mostly older classics. It's getting easier for me since I am not into DC Rebirth or any of the newer Marvel related books. My floppies are more manageable for me since I do not buy as many of those anymore.

[Gaastra]

My floppies and few graded books are in long boxes in a closet so no trouble there. Replaced many of them with trades. My trades have to share room with mangas, and comic strips and are next to my DVD and blu-rays. And yes I need to upgrade to taller bookcases. They all fit in one room so no trouble there however I had to closet my vhs tapes and non comic books to make room.

[Phoenixx9]

My floppies and few graded books are in long boxes in a closet so no trouble there. Replaced many of them with trades. My trades have to share room with mangas, and comic strips and are next to my DVD and blu-rays. And yes I need to upgrade to taller bookcases. They all fit in one room so no trouble there however I had to closet my vhs tapes and non comic books to make room.

VHS tapes...? Are they still good? Those things dry out and degrade over time.

[dishpan]

I ended up buying a separate bookcase where any unread volumes go, so that I can keep the "real" shelves looking nice and organized. Then when I'm in the ready to read something new, I pick it from that unread one and when I'm done I log it in the app and file it in the right spot on the proper shelf.

I still buy more than I can ever read, but as they come in the mail they go on the unread shelves (loosely categorized). This way if I feel like something in particular I can still gravitate towards one specific shelf and see what's available, like going to a bookstore or library when looking for something new to read for a certain mood.

[SJNeal]

^ ^ ^

That's actually a great idea. If I had room for one more shelf, I think I'd give your method a try.

[Gaastra]

VHS tapes...? Are they still good? Those things dry out and degrade over time.

My 1980 star wars vhs with the original version of the film works just fine.

Also I have tons of older Disney vhs and tons of 80s cartoon vhs as well. (nothing like a big box transformers vhs on your self.) I just don't have the room till I can get bigger bookcases.

[Orion]

-If you don't see yourself reading it again then sell it

-Don't buy something just to complete a set or run

-Invest in good bookshelves, not college dorm ikea stuff

[Andru]

-If you don't see yourself reading it again then sell it

-Don't buy something just to complete a set or run

-Invest in good bookshelves, not college dorm ikea stuff

I love my Ikea Kallax shelves! They look great and are very sturdy. Judging from the shelf porn thread, I would say they are a popular choice among collectors.

[Lago]

I love my Ikea Kallax shelves! They look great and are very sturdy. Judging from the shelf porn thread, I would say they are a popular choice among collectors.

Yeah, IKEA Kallax are absolutely perfect for comics (and vinyl).

This topic is interesting. I own now more than 1000 collected editions and the front side of my Kallax shelves are almost full. I need to think about, how many series I want to collect in the near future or if I try to sell something (and that is currently really hard to decide).

[Graphic Autist]

The prospect of having to move keeps my material possessions somewhat in check, so I really try and discriminate what should be purchased or not. I still wind up buying books at an alarming (for me, anyway) pace.

[Gurz]

My colletion is like the mindless expension of Roman Empire... I'm gonna get it eventually... lol