Book Weeding: Declutter Your Shelves

1:1 coaching to help you declutter your books and build a collection you love

“I’ve reduced my book collection by 55%”

Whether you're downsizing for a move or you've just been looking at the books on your nightstand and your overstuffed shelves, plus the books in the garage, you know it’s time to start decluttering.

But tackling the bookshelves is different from sorting through clothes or house-cleaning. It feels wrong to give books away.

I’m here to tell you: it’s ok to get rid of books.

Not all of your books – many may be precious, but each book is not meant to be kept forever.

The airport paperback you read 5 years ago? It can go.

The high school copy of The Merchant of Venice you might reread? You can find that one again.

Looking at your book collection should bring up positive feelings, not stress or guilt.

Let’s make room on those shelves for books you love.

This is for you if:

… thinking about giving away books gives you anxiety

… you’ve been meaning to declutter your books, but just can’t get started

… you’re preparing to move and making decisions about books while also making 2940 decisions about moving is stressing you out

… you’re a pro at decluttering everything but books

… you’re looking for permission to get rid of books

What we won’t during the sessions:

… throw books in the trash

… arrange your books into Bookstagram/Book-Toky picture-perfect shelves

When we work together, we’ll meet online and:

uncover what’s keeping your shelves cluttered, be it an aunt who uses you as a book-donation site, nostalgia, or a lack of time;
discuss a method to sort your books, including what we can learn from the library MUSTIE weeding system
start sorting your books together

You’ll leave with:

a plan tailored to you for tackling your collection
ideas on where to donate, recycle, or resell your giveaway books
an outline of everything covered in the call to guide and encourage your sorting

You’ll sort your first book on the call so you get the feeling of putting at least one book aside for donation.

As a bonus, you’ll get a second session to check in on your progress, alter the plan as needed, and make sure you achieve your sorting goal.

Take the task you’ve been thinking about for years and get it done.

About Me
Hello, hello!

I’m Linda, a reader, writer, former library worker, and book lover who struggles with the desire for a Beauty & the Beast-sized library and the reality of medium-sized apartments. I’ve also moved multiple times and have had to narrow down my own book collection repeatedly – it always seems to reproduce itself in between those moves. Two more books appeared on my bedside To Be Read pile while I wrote this.

Over the course of these moves, I’ve developed a few practices to keep my book collection from outgrowing my shelves. I’ve also learned to cull more carefully and started believing in book magic.

What’s book magic?
Books have a way of finding their way back to you.

Even though I donated a copy of Anne of Green Gables in a fit of adolescent decluttering, a new copy of that same illustrated Anne of Green Gables found me, as a gift from a book club friend.

When I helped another friend clear her shelves ahead of a move, I found a copy of a book I’d had on my To Be Read list for 11 years.

Call it coincidence, call it paying attention. I call it book magic: books you’ve waited for, lost, donated, returning to you, finding you, appearing in the Little Free Library.

But that can’t happen if your shelves are so full there’s no more room for new books. It can’t happen for others if the books are stuck on your shelves.

Results
I’ve helped people declutter their books over text message, in-person, and online. After our session, Madeleine started weeding her book collection and exchanged some of her giveaway books at a local used bookstore for a $75 voucher.

Here’s what she had to say:

“Even though I know I've acquired more books than I can ever read in this lifetime, I still have a hard time letting them go—especially if I haven't read them yet. Linda asked gentle questions during our weeding consultation that helped me come to a new understanding about why I’ve previously felt such crushing guilt about parting with books. I’ve reduced my book collection by 55% so far, without second-guessing my decisions. As I look at the shelves of my home library now, I feel lighter, happier, and proud of myself for deciding to release books that might be a better fit for other readers. I highly recommend booking a session with Linda before you start weeding!”

And Emily said:

“I’ve always loved collecting books, but I struggled to let go of ones I didn’t truly love. Linda’s session gave me the practical tools and reassurance I needed to finally weed my shelves without guilt. She made the process simple, supportive, and even fun! Now I have space on my shelves for new books to enjoy!”

Let’s create some book magic together.

Questions? Email me at ljgolden @ gmail dot com.

Price: $200

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