Organizing your book collection can be an overwhelming thought. You might conjure images of stacks of books, dust, and gut-wrenching decisions. Many readers feel that their book collections represent who they are as a person. They represent their thoughts, feelings, ideas and can even serve as icons for the timeline of your life. Add to that the sheer volume and weight our book collections add up to and it’s easy to see why so many people shy away from refining their book collections to just the very best.

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The solution might just be to create your own personal Hall of Fame. Imagine such a hall were to be built in your honor. If you were to choose the books that made the biggest impact in your life, that tell the story of who you are, which books would those be? Just thinking about the books that might make such a collection probably sparks joy.

That is exactly the feeling we want to apply to your personal library and the process of curating it. We want to minimize your collection to books that, when you peer into your shelves, you feel instant joy and even a sense of kinship.

So how do we do that?

The first step is to warm your refining skills up by tackling your wardrobe. This is a crucial first step because your clothes help you practice the process which includes understanding which items bring you joy.

When you’re done there, you start with your books using a familiar process that you’ve built some experience with. You’ll gather all books, then you’ll touch each and every book in order to decide which to keep. Finally, you’ll discard or donate the items that have fulfilled their purpose. Last, but not least, design and create your own Hall of Fame! Here are a few do’s and dont’s that will help you as you create your Hall of Fame.

Do: Gather all books. Although books can be concentrated on bookshelves, it’s normal to find them in mini collections throughout the home. In order to do this correctly, we are going to gather every book from every place in the home. Doing this allows us to harness the “Power of the Pile.” The “KonMari Mountain” is a term KonMari consultants use that explains how eye-opening gathering every single like-item into one pile can be. It allows you to see just how much of an abundance you have of a single type of item. That abundance will enable you to be more discerning when deciding what to keep. Additionally, it will make it easier to let things go when you see just how much you have.

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Do: Be okay with having less. If you’re a book lover, you might feel that letting go of books is like letting go of a part of yourself. What’s fun about creating the Hall of Fame is you’re keeping the best of you, organized and on display. You’ll easily be able to see your favorites or grab a book as you head to bed or out of town. That’s opposed to being overwhelmed by too many choices or unable to find your favorites. With a Hall of Fame, you’ve gathered the very best and made it readily available. In that case, less is certainly better.

Do: Read & read often. Studies show that the rate in which Americans are reading for personal interest continues to decline. A new recent poll found that 27 percent of Americans had not read a book in the last year, up from 17 percent who said the same in 2011. Research supports that reading is good for your health. Research conducted at Northcentral University showed reading can improve your memory and concentration. Reading also helps you relieve stress and sleep better. Once you’re done curating your Hall of Fame, be sure to enjoy your choices and improve your health!

Do: Thank the books before sending them on a journey. As you place books in your donate or discount pile, you might consider thanking them. Some books you might thank for what they’ve taught you, for the memories they’ve given you or simply for decorating your bookshelf. It may seem like a silly exercise but it’s actually a practice in gratitude that will help you stay positive throughout the process.

Don’t: Read the books as you sort. You might be tempted to thumb through your favorites as you go through them. Don’t give in to that desire. Instead, choose to focus until you finish and resolve to pick up a favorite when you’re done.

Don’t: Make decisions for others. Your books are yours to sort through, but leave the books that belong to others for their own Hall of Fame creation.

Don’t: Keep books you haven’t read. You may be tempted to keep a book with the thought, “I’ll read it someday.” The truth is, that day will most likely never come. If you don’t read a book when you buy it, or soon after, you will most likely never read it. Make a deal with yourself, if you do decide someday to read it, pick it up at the library or borrow it.

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Organize your books by creating your personal Hall of Fame