How to move your library?

[jwithnell]

I'd love to know tips for moving a library. We've been pitching duplicates and books we don't want to revisit.

What's daunting to me is we are not likely to be in our new house for at least a year. I'm ranking the rest of our possessions in boxes numbered 1 to 5 so that 1s will be moved into temporary housing while 5s get stashed into the back of storage.

What have y'all done?

Thanks!

 

[Andres]

I can tell you diaper boxes are excellent for transporting books.

 

[Joshua]

Tongue-in-cheek

 

[SolaScriptura]

Since you describe that it will be about a year (or more!)... if your books are going to be in storage that whole time, make sure that you ensure your books are stored in a climate controlled environment.

 

[DanSSwing]

Place paper or something between any leather-bound books or they'll stick together.

 

[philomath]

I think your idea of ranking the rest of your posessions is excellent and will translate well to a library of books. I followed a similar idea when moving for school (granted, it was less than 100 miles away). I did not have as many physical books then as I do now, but here's my plan for the next time I move:

1. If a physical book I have can be put on my Kindle for free (project gutenberg, monergism), i'd likely put them in storage unless it is the type of book that I use often or for reference.

2. I'd bring the books I'm currently reading or that I (realistically) plan to read in the next 2-3 months with me. If there are any in the "maybe I'll get to it after..." category, I'd stick those in storage.

3. Making a list of the books you have and organizing it in terms of genre/topic can help you decide on what should go to storage.

4. Organize the boxes of books by genre/topic. I'd write the titles of books on the outside of each box as well. Either that or number the boxes and have a corresponding list for each. This will make it less of a headache to find books you need.

 

[jwithnell]

Thanks y'all! I figured this would be a topic dear to many on this forum. After posting initially it occurred to me I should list all my titles. I might get to that with my more academic works.

@Joshua OK, you lost me on that one.

 

[CathH]

I can tell you diaper boxes are excellent for transporting books.

Can confirm!

Boxes that were made for wine bottles too - strong, but small enough that you can still lift them when full of books. Lots of small boxes is better than fewer that weigh a ton. We picked up loads of boxes from the supermarket and garden centres (the staff were super helpful if you got there at a quiet time as they otherwise just crush them).

Pack the books either stacked in a pile or standing as they would on a shelf, but don't be tempted to put more on top of ones standing upright as it will damage them. If there is empty space at the sides or (especially) top of a box, stuff it with newspaper so that the books don't move around inside and it's safe to stack the boxes without the lower ones getting bashed.

If you don't have time for a proper inventory, at least have a sheet of paper on the side of each box to remind you roughly what's in it. Along the same lines, keep what was together on your shelves approximately together in the boxes, also to help reorient yourself when unpacking!

When we moved, we took a long time packing up before we moved and I can say that the books took far longer and needed much more care than anything else in the house!

 

[Venator Veritatis]

If I was in charge of numbering the boxes then all my theological library would be marked 1....

Last time I moved I got small heavy duty moving boxes from home depot. All the same size. Easy to stack and not overload, which is a major problem if you have medium to big boxes.

 

[jhcampbell]

How to move your library? You ask.

Pack it tightly and neatly in many boxes with bubble wrap, go to USPS, and ship them all to me.

 

[Edward]

Small boxes. They get heavy fast. Liquor boxes are good. The problem with wine and liquor boxes is the stores tend to cut the tops off these days instead of opening them so they can be reused. I've got a J&B Scotch Box that's still usable after 50 years or so.

Alternative are book boxes (1 cubic foot) from u-Haul. Their small boxes in comparison (and most small boxes you'll find) are 1.5 cu. ft. Remember a back injury is going to cost more than a few extra boxes. Pack the boxes full if you are going to stack them.

You might consider hitting up Harbor Freight for a hand truck if you don't have one available.
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We've been pitching duplicates and books we don't want to revisit.

Nooo. Don't you have a Half Priced Books or an independent near you?

 

[Ed Walsh]

What have y'all done

Does having a 9,000 resourse Logos library count? ;-)

 

[ZackF]

I don’t like running around tracking boxes down. I just buy them at Uhaul, Home Depot or wherever. Most will take unused ones back if they still are in the original flat state.

 

[jwithnell]

Now you're making my Brian proud. He occasionally looks up from his compuyer and rolls his eyes as I walk by with boxes for my books.

 

[LightBringer]

I have a massive library. I moved three years ago and I am still getting it sorted out. Two rooms are dedicated to the library. It's even spilling out onto the little rotating shelf in the living room. That is how massive it is.

 

[Jerusalem Blade]

Anticipating my decease, we got a good shipping company we've used before, and had them box and mark them for the 3 destinations we were going to give them to (pastors and churches in other countries). 48 boxes all told (including 7 boxes to a research library of John Calvin Centre our senior pastor has here in our country). All this after we had already thinned our the library before moving to our present country. My wife has her own smaller collections of important books – as she teaches women's Bible studies for a group from other churches; these we kept.

It would have been too much for my wife to deal with. I have no books now save some Bibles and concordance's +, and whatever digital books I have. In my condition I could not only not lift a box, but even my best Bible was just too heavy.