Books Books and More Books

I have been systematically going through my book collection.  It is really hard.  I have books that I salvaged when I worked at the Emerson R Miller Branch of the Newark Public Library in Newark, Ohio...ones that were withdrawn and I saved.  I have books that I have purchased through book sales, yard sales, flea markets, and stores.  I have books given to me by friends, family and my husband.  I have books my father purchased for me at auctions when I was young.  I have books whose authors I have tried to collect everything they have ever written.  I know that for some, this weeding process is easy.  Whatever you haven't touched or read recently...toss, give away, etc.  For me it is like getting rid of members of my family.  Many of them have memories attached to them.  And...what complicates things is that I am a Librarian...so getting rid of books is painful.  I realize carrying them around is silly.  So I have started going through them and deciding which ones will stay and which ones will go.  Unfortunately some of them are also getting thrown away...the books are too damaged or torn to keep.  What is funny is that some of these books have been with me since the 80s...people would often not help me move because over 50% of my possessions were books...and now, I am saying goodbye to some of them.  It is sad, yet freeing in a way.  Also, most of my books will go to a good cause.  I am giving the best ones to the Friends of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library for their book sale in October.  Some will get added to the collection at the Library and others will be sold and that money will go towards programming, materials and items the Library may need.