Problem with odd-sized books

[Ulfgeir]

Found a somewhat irritating and in my opinion sub-optimal design of certain books regarding their format. In this case it is the setting-books for the John Carter rpg from Modiphius. The problem is that they are in a Landscape-mode, not the standard Portrait-mode. I did not think much of it when I got the core book, and the campaign book, as they are in a slipcase, and could thus be stored properly in a bookshelf.

The 3 setting-books did not come with a slipcase, so they caused this little problem: If stored so I can se the back, they extend outside the confines of my "Billy"-bookcase from Ikea (which I have a feeling is a rather common bookcase due to being relatively cheap, and sturdy enough for books, and adjustable height between shelves). If stored with their backs up (or down), then you can't see which book is which.

I am not saying that having books in Landscape-mode, or books of odd sizes (like artbooks that are oversized) is always wrong, but they do cause certain problems. How do you guys handle it?

 

[CarlZog]

I backed the pdfs of John Carter, and they fit pretty perfectly on my laptop screen!
Seriously though, I had honestly wondered when I got them whether the design was a concession to the electronic format.

I'm not a fan of landscape print books, only because pages don't flip as easily when bound on the short edge, but I don't see any real issues associated with the shelving. They don't weigh enough that the overhang is going to damage the edge, nor are they sticking out enough to really be an obstacle -- unless your case is in a really tight space.

If it really bothers you, you could make or buy a slipcase for them.

 

[Ulfgeir]

I'm not a fan of landscape print books, only because pages don't flip as easily when bound on the short edge, but I don't see any real issues associated with the shelving. They don't weigh enough that the overhang is going to damage the edge, nor are they sticking out enough to really be an obstacle -- unless your case is in a really tight space.

If it really bothers you, you could make or buy a slipcase for them.

Yes, it is in a tight space, but not so tight that it is a problem as such. It is more a case of aesthetics. I don't know if they use this format for all their games or just this one.

 

[GreyLord]

I don't have this problem typically. I went expensive though and have a bunch of metal library shelves. The biggest reason I did this was not due to varied sizes of books but because my RPG books were making my older wooden shelves sag a little. Getting a bunch of these metal shelves cost a LOT of money but was worth it due to not having to worry about the sag in the middle of the shelf.

I suppose a second point of advantage now that I am reading this thread is that I don't have to worry about odd book sizes either.

I suppose (not sure what the Ikea bookshelves appear like) that you could place it on the top of the shelf instead. Thus they could life flat or in a different profile on top of the shelf rather than in the shelf itself.

 

[billd91]

The Star Wars Saga Edition books are a little weird too. I just make sure they're grouped together and at the end of the shelf rather than the middle, maybe consider putting them on the highest shelf as well. Then at least the impact of them jutting out is somewhat contained and you're less likely to knock into them.

 

[Umbran]

Yeah. I figure it is an artistic choice - "Hey, all the other books are in portrait, we'll stand out if we are in landscape!!" But, in the end, they don't so much stand out as stick out...

I don't know that there's much to be done, other than to group the ones who stick out together, choosing their location based on where they won't be in the way sticking out of the shelf.

 

[Beleriphon]

The Star Wars Saga Edition books are a little weird too. I just make sure they're grouped together and at the end of the shelf rather than the middle, maybe consider putting them on the highest shelf as well. Then at least the impact of them jutting out is somewhat contained and you're less likely to knock into them.

They're also 9 x 9 books, so while a weird format they aren't as bad as an 9 x 11 book turned on its side.

 

[dragoner]

I don't like it when they don't fit the bookcase, it's one of those things that make a net negative for the purchase.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

As a former librarian, odd-sized books like this were such a bane. We also had the luxury of a oversized section for filing truly monstrous volumes.

At home I've got two sets of gaming shelves, with different dimensions. The one section is entirely open at the top, so if nowhere else, a book will fit there.

 

[Tun Kai Poh]

It's a pain for organizing on the shelf, but a pleasure to read.

As a collector of Battletech Technical Manuals, I'm no stranger to landscape format...