Acquiring New Books

I have my own ways of acquiring and shelving my own books.  I do a fair amount of research before I buy anything.  Most of the books I own I have read before I ever bought them.  I can not STAND the thought of having 'junk' on my shelves.

 

First, I spend upwards of an hour perusing the contents of each book.  I read chunks, I familiarize myself with the table of contents, I get a good feel for the content of the book.



 

Next, I write (in pencil) the date and occasion of when I obtained my book.  In this case, I received these 2 books on January 19, 2014 (Looks like I messed up the date--I'll change that!)  on my first visit to the Free Reformed Church in Monarch where we went to hear Dr. David Murray preach.

 

Then I officially make the book mine by placing my own stamp on the front page--top, right hand corner.



 



 

See?  Every book of mine bears the mark.

 



Then the book gets shelved until I can get to it--usually within the next 2 days.  It may look intimidating but... 

....I know where to find my books.  I've made a personal connection to each one.  Right here...snug with the others.  I KNOW what's in my library.  I've read my library.  I love my library.