Andre Norton Forum

Re: Book Storage

: Think of every nook and cranny as a potential book-storage area. If you can get any soda : flats or tray boxes, several feet of books can be conveniently stored under sofas and beds.

Blanket-and-sweater boxes can work well for this: one company (Sterilite, for those who want to know) makes a 28-quart storage box, dimensions 22-1/4" (56.5cm) long by 16" (40.64cm) wide by 6" (15.25cm) deep. This box will hold two rows of standard size paperbacks, 25-35 books per row depending on their thickness.

Just for drill, I moved my Andre Norton paperbacks into them to see how they would fit: a nearly complete set (there are about a dozen books I don't have in that format) fits in two boxes, and it only took four to hold all my different editions. Andre is back on the shelves now with added breathing space between Anne McCaffrey and H. Beam Piper; some of the "lesser lights" are now under the bed. (And you can get four to six under a queen bed.)

Another type of box that works very well is the "comic saver" cardboard box that you can get at or through any half-way decent comic-book store. They come in several different widths, for "current" or "golden-age" comics and for magazines, and in two lengths, 15" and 30".

The "current" comic boxes are just right for regular paperbacks (or videotapes), and you can get two rows in -- but remember to put a piece of stiff cardboard in as a separator to keep the rows from trying to slide together. The boxes are made from acid-free paperboard, which makes them technically suitable for archival storage -- but I wouldn't want to risk it with my Nortons (or McCaffreys, for that matter).

: If you're desperate, consider double-rowing your books. Most shelves on conventional : units are deep enough for this; just try to make sure that one hardback isn't in front of : another, or one of them will protrude. If you're *really* desperate, you can even : double-row up-and-down, but, as this is exceedingly inconvenient, it's not really : recommended.

Another thing you can do with this, especially if you can't adjust the shelves or do not have enough shelves to really cram the space, is to cut pieces of 1x6 or 2x6 lumber that you can lay in against the back of the shelf. Sand and seal them first to avoid splinters and similar problems, of course.

Then the first row of paperbacks -- and many smaller hardcovers -- goes on the lumber, with the second row on the remaining shelf in front. The books in back can be seen over the tops of those in front, and you have a bit more room to get at them. Please note, however, that this will not work if your existing shelves are closer together than 9 inches vertical separation or less than 10 inches front-to-back.

: [Have you considered the bottom of your closet? Most people hang their clothes from the : rack, leaving 2'-3' at the bottom almost unused. This space might be good for albums or : books you don't get to as often. I'd recommend keeping them in boxes and putting a list : of what's in the box on the side facing outwards.

This is another place where the Sterilite boxes work really well -- they have slightly frosted transparent sides, allowing you to put the list inside and read it through the box, and they are designed to stack together stably.

And before anyone asks -- I do not work for Sterilite, it is just the only brand (of several I use) that I haven't removed and thrown away all the labels from.

Respectfully,

Michael B. Caffrey Stellae Nostrae Sunt!