Since we are on the subject of ebooks, I thought I’d ask the question about what you do with the books after you’ve finished reading them. A number of us have commented that you can’t exactly treat them the same way that you can a print book; for eg, sell them on, give them to charity or trade them at a secondhand store. So, what do you do?
If you are OCD like me when it comes to your ‘real’ bookshelves and hate how a hardcover or a trade paperback can interrupt the feng shui of your shelving system, than you probably adore the way ebooks can be neatly tucked away into various (Yes, various. I file via genre, author, series, etc with ebooks. It is sooo awesome. *sigh*) folders regardless of their size. 🙂
But what about the ebooks you know you won’t read again or that were DNFs? What do you do with them??
I said I don’t delete my DNFs and those ebooks I won’t reread, but I do resave/copy them to my external hard drive (my back up).
One of the reasons I do this is because, well, out of sight out of mind. *Yes, I’m a simple soul.* Knowing I have a gazillion books on my PC drives me batshit because they are just sitting there doing nothing (ie not going out into the world to be enjoyed by other people). It’s friggin depressing. It is for me at least.
The other reason why I don’t delete the ebooks is because it would feel too much like I’m throwing it out or burning a book or something. It just seems so disrespectful.
Anyway, that’s me. What about you? What do you do with the ebooks you don’t really want any more??
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
Mine get “filed” by author in a folder called “books”. Original huh? LOL I don't have a gazillion yet so there they sit. DNF sit there in the author's folder until …. No clue. One day I'll delete them I suppose but since I'm fairly new to this gig I don't have buckets and buckets of books. I keep very few hard copy books and I don't really care if they are all wacky sizes and shapes. No OCD here. 😛
I've only removed one book off my computer and it's still saved on my external drive. I didn't like the book at all, it's the only I've not finished reading, but even so I couldn't bring myself to delete it completely.
It's too much like throwing it away and I've never done that with a book. I used to give them away or even sell some but since I can't do that with ebooks they just live in my computer.
And I'm like you, lots of different folders for my books and if it's one that I didn't particularly like when I first read it it just doesn't come out of the folder again.
Lily 🙂
I've filed my ebooks by author – every ebook has its folder too, so that thanks to programs like “Folder Marker” I can mark it as a keeper (red folder) or as a DNF (black folder). Then I have an Excel file where I can see all my ebooks by publisher, year of publication, grade, type ect. as I need at the moment. Unfortunately this file is presently not up to date *sigh*.
I usually don't delete DNF ebooks, but I've done it two times: those books left me with such negative feelings that I couldn't stand to have them on my HDD, or even on a backup disk. I was really enraged, nearly foaming at the mouth. And probably had PMS. 😛
Just on principle I should try and delete a couple that I will NEVER read or open again. I wouldn't even give them to a “friend” because we'd no longer be friends. Okay, this week my task is to delete those two atrocious books and smile while I do it.
*g* Mine are just in one big folder ordered by date. The most recent bought ones being at the bottom
All of my ebooks are currently on cd's. I've been thinking, just lately, that I need to put them on a stick drive to try and consolidate them…I think I have duplicates.
I also need (desperately) to go through them and make some sort of catalog of what I have. Even I forget sometimes.
I don’t delete ebooks – ever. I’m funny that way. Whether I loved the book or hated it it stays with me. It’s probably because ebooks take up so little space. *shrugs* This is unlike my print books that get swapped with fellow bloggers or given to the library if I didn’t care for the book or it was a DNF. I just don’t have that much shelf space in my office and my hubby is unwilling to get more. Bastard! lol
*Taking a short break from the damn marking*.
I keep all my ebooks, even the ones I didn't like, the ones which, if they had been paperbacks, I would have given away to charity shop or attempted to sell on. Why? No idea.
I also have a load of free 'giveaway' ebooks which I downloaded from Tor. I've read some and some I'm not bothered about reading so why do I still have them clogging up my ereader? No idea again.
I know I ought to have a cull, like I do periodically with my paperbacks. The thing is they aren't actually taking up a great deal of space (unlike my tonnes of paperbacks) so I figure I'll hang onto them in case my children get into fantasy or sci-fi and then they might want to read them in the future.
OK, I admit, I hate getting rid of stuff. I'm one of those anal people who hang onto things and then I'll have a sudden purge. Now there's a mental image for you!
Be proud of me. I deleted them. Gone forever, in the book burning bonfire of my netbook trashcan. I feel cleansed.
*shaking head to remove image of Jen purging books*
You know I seriously love you guys.
Whenever anyone (ie family) patronises me or makes fun of me because of my *cough* idiosyncrasies I shall return to this post, read your comments, and then say to my naysayers “Get Stuffed!” *GRIN*
Tam: But have you emptied the trash can yet?? I started counting my ebooks once, but gave up because it was freaking me out to much. LOL.
Lily: I LOVE having all different folders for my ebooks. Unllike Tam's total lack of imagination, my main folder is proudly named 'Kris' Library'. *G*
Jitterbug: I NEED to know how to get that 'folder marker' program. Please, please, please tell me where to find it. I'm begging here.
I've only had one book that totally squicked me out. Although I didn't delete it, I transferred it my external drive asap and then ran a scan of the computer – my version of washing my eyes out with soap. BLECH!!
Ingrid: *shudder* Are you trying to give me nightmares?? Honey, you need more folders. At the very least file them under the name of the author.
We won't ever mention this again.
Tracy: I think you should go out straight away and buy yourself a flash drive. Oh wait. You did. I'm so proud. 🙂 Next step… sort 'em out!
*gasp* Your hubby won't let you have more shelves?? Divorce him now!
Jen: *still thinking of The Purging* I only keep the books I haven't read on my ereader, rereads stay on my PC and everything else goes to my external drive. I don;t even think about how little space the ebooks take up. I just want them… in order. Kris = OCD.
“I figure I'll hang onto them in case my children get into fantasy or sci-fi and then they might want to read them in the future.”
Or m/m???
Ahhh. That was refreshing. Trashcan emptied. Its so freeing. (Sure as hell now there will be something in there I think I needed.)
Tam you'll think back and say “oh I think I have that one” and then search for daaaaays to find it. 🙂
Mwahahahaha! Umm, I mean… gee, that's a bit mean to point that out after the fact, Tracy
Kris, if I want I can order by name. But at the moment date is most relevant to me. I don't have that many files in there.
To spare you nightmares I won't show a picture from my bookcase then *g*
Ooooh, that's just plain nasty.
Mine get “filed” by author in a folder called “books”.
I haven't filed them by author, but I do have a file called books 🙂 Then again, I don't have that many…yet 🙂
'Yet' being the operative word. 😉
Kris you are lucky. I have removed my bookcase from the internet *g*
+ picture
Thank the Book Goddesses!
Although I'll probably still have nightmares.
I file obsessively… and color code them. I have a macbook and as I have a stationary fetish this is a great outlet. heh.
You colour code your files, Sarah?? I WANT TO COLOUR CODE TOO!!!!! *pouts*
Hey Sissy
Jitterbug sounds just as obsessive as you (not being nasty at all J'bug, I love my Sissy OCD and all)!
Mumma
I know. Isn't it COOL!!!!
I know I'm kind of obsessive where cataloguing is concerned 😛 but I'm lazy too, so I haven't updated my master file from some time… *bad sara, bad*
I downloaded folder marker from http://www.giveawayoftheday.com months ago, but there's a basic free version at http://www.foldermarker.com/compare-versions.php. I've read there are other similar free softwares, like Folderico or iColorFolder (both work for windows xp but not vista, I don't know about Mac), but I haven't tried them. Hope it helps your OCD! 😉
*shudders* color coding???
Think I pass. My system works very well.
JItterbug: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!! *dashing off to the see colours*
*sticking head back in for a sec*
Ingrid: What system?? You don't have one!!!
*nods* that is what makes it so good
*sigh* Utterly hopeless.