Anonymous wrote:I don't condone the practice, but the service you are looking for is called "Books by the Foot".

http://www.booksbythefoot.com/

Okay, I have to admit the book lover in me loved that site. Porn for nerds. BUT, I have the opposite problem with books. . .WAY to many. Just discovered a bunch of cool bookends which means even less space.

Thanks for weighing in again, OP! Didn't mean to sound dismissive, but I think the idea of having to find books is a foreign one to many of us with the opposite problem.

One of the few things I miss about my former house was the built-in bookshelves on one wall of a bedroom and the built-in china cabinets in the dining room that I instead filled with books. I have books in pretty much every room of my house except for the bathrooms!

Second Story Books in Rockville. Incredible.

OP: thanks for the ideas!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have too many bookshelves and not enough books. Where do I find cheap used books to fill those shelves?

Seriously?

OP, don't let these posters discourage you.

When I first started living on my own, I had a lot of bookshelves but not enough books to fill them so trust me, I know exactly just where you are coming from.

What I did was go to my local library and purchase used books in good condition for about fifty cents more or less. And thrift shops.

Then as I built up my own personal library over time, I could discard some of the books I purchased for "show."

So I get it.

Second Story Books is a fabulous store and has a nice mix of newish used books and antique books. You need to ask to have a staff me member take you to the rare book room. Great store and I'm sure you can find some great books that will both look nice and that you would be interested in reading.

Also- pictures are a great way to fill up a couple of shelves. I also keep all my toddler DS's toys in matching baskets on a bookshelf. That could be a good way to use the shelves as storage. You could even keep the baskets empty for now and fill as needed.

I have tons of books I trying to get rid of, you can come get them. We just finally had to get rid of some when they started stacking up two to a shelf.

Not enough books, I can't imagine this...

OP here. I didn't mean to sound like how I came off. I am an academic and work for a university. I have a lot of textbooks and manuals that won't look "pretty" in the built-in bookshelves. The shelves are narrow as well so they won't fit them standing up. I have tried stacking them in different variations but I honestly have so many that I'm at a loss. The room looks empty. I have already placed all my knick knacks from around the world even though I was trying to move away from that since the space is modern. I live in Rockville.

I don't condone the practice, but the service you are looking for is called "Books by the Foot".

http://www.booksbythefoot.com/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the reverse problem.

Oh, me, too! I have books jammed into the shelves I have and could easily fill quite a few more bookcases. I wish I could afford to have a whole room lined with floor to ceiling bookcases!

+1

Anonymous wrote:I have the reverse problem.

Oh, me, too! I have books jammed into the shelves I have and could easily fill quite a few more bookcases. I wish I could afford to have a whole room lined with floor to ceiling bookcases!

I have the reverse problem.

Anonymous wrote:I have too many bookshelves and not enough books. Where do I find cheap used books to fill those shelves?

Seriously?

Don't just fill them with random books. The point of having an extensive library isn't to impress people with your pretend well-read-ness, it's to actually have books you have read and plan to read.

Right now, bookends are your best friend. You can fill a shelf half-full and use a book-end. You can use the shelves to display things like vases, small prints, seashells, things you've collected on trips, etc. (I like Eastern Market and other farmer's markets for small prints and photos by local artists.)

And if you still want more books, library book sales are a great way to stock up. Go on the last day of the sale at the Central library in Ballston - I think it's the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend. They do set prices on bags of books.

I have too many bookshelves and not enough books. Where do I find cheap used books to fill those shelves?