Cataloguing
Cataloguing a Home Library
Recording what you own so a shelf of a few hundred books stays findable, from index cards to a simple spreadsheet.
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Reading habits · Home libraries · Canada
A calm, organized space for the books you keep
Clear And Table collects working notes on reading routines and home library organization. The focus is practical: cataloguing systems, shelving by genre or theme, and keeping a record of what you read across the seasons.
Three working sections
Where to start
Shelving
Shelving by Genre and Theme
Arranging shelves so books are easy to return and easy to find, with notes on genre, theme, and mixed approaches.
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Reading logs
Tracking Reading Progress
Keeping a reading log that records dates, formats, and short notes without turning reading into a chore.
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These notes describe methods that work for a personal collection at home. They borrow vocabulary from public library practice in Canada, but they are written for shelves you arrange yourself, not for institutional cataloguing.
What this site covers
- Cataloguing systems. From a notebook to a spreadsheet, with fields that stay useful as a collection grows.
- Shelving choices. Genre, theme, author, or size — and how to mix them without losing track.
- Reading routines. Small, repeatable habits that fit around work and seasons.
- Progress records. A light reading log that captures dates and short notes.
A sample catalogue row
A spreadsheet row does not need many columns to be useful. A practical starting set looks like this:
Title The Stone Diaries
Author Carol Shields
Shelf Fiction / Canadian
Format Paperback
Acquired 2023-09
Status Read
Notes Lent to a friend, returned
Contact
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