My #1 source of books has been the library, and my #1 preference is to hold a book (hard or soft cover) in my hands when I read. I also buy books, but mostly paperback. I do have a collection of both hard and soft cover classics, favourite novels, reference books (gardening, travel and cooking) and some picture/‘art’ books. During the pandemic, I started downloading e-books from the library onto my iPad - but that is not my favourite way to read books. DH buys and reads books, but doesn’t use the library as much or read e-books. He buys more books than I do.

We have a wall of shelving in a home office that DH uses for his books, and a built in shelving unit that I use for my books. Now that my piano has been donated, the music room has become the reading room. There are piles of books and some magazines on two different tables, and in a basket. There are also books and magazines on various tables in the living room/family room, rec room, and bedroom (as well as a shelf in the kitchen.)

Once a year DH and I do a book cull, and bring those books to a second hand store that grants credit (so we can buy more (used)books) or we donate to the library for the fundraiser book sale. Occasionally we use neighbourhood ‘little libraries’ and will add a book when we’ve taken one.

I don’t feel like I need to own or store a large quantity of books when there is a great local library that will do it for me but there are some that I re-read often enough that I want to keep them close at hand - thus the collection.

What is your approach to reading and managing books?