Booking Through Thursday: Size Matters

It's time for another 'Booking Through Thursday!' I can't believe how quick this week has gone by. Lots to be done, still, but a break from reading for a meme never hurt!

What’s the largest your personal library has ever been? What’s the greatest number of books you’ve ever owned at one time? (Estimates are fine.)

Is your collection NOW the biggest it’s ever been? Or have you down-sized?
What’s the fewest number of books you’ve ever owned (not counting your pre-reading years)?

I'd say that through my early reading years I had... problems giving away books. Really, I'd buy them, be gifted them, find them, etc... and whether I read them or not they sat on my shelf for years. There are times I completely forgot about a title and only came across it when picking up my shelves. This was a serious problem as I was always, and still am, strapped for space. My library, at the largest, probably ranged from 250-300 books.

I have since down-sized. After a while I learned not to by every book that I could find or thought sounded interesting. I use the library more, and I've learned to part with a lot of titles. I do a lot of donating/gifting, so it's become easier not to have my library swell. At present I probably have 100-150 books, only around 50-75 I absolutely will NOT part with.

As far as the fewest number of books, I'd say that when I moved and had to narrow down my library I had around 50 or more books, 100 pushing it. These were my most prized books, however, and I would never leave them behind.

I think I'm still good about keeping my library under check. I've learned to use the library a lot more and get rid of books that never interested me or I have no intention of reading. I can feel myself getting bitten by 'the bug,' however. Recently I've found myself wanting to purchase books that I've read and loved and want my own copy of. I'm still trying to keep this in check, but no promises!

What about you all? Tell me about that library of yours! Apparently, size really does matter!