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I am an enthusiastic collector of books about getting organized. I like to have things running smoothly at all times. (Don't get me wrong: things do NOT usually run smoothly, but I would like them to...) Some people have written me asking for suggestions on getting organized in specific areas. With that in mind, I figured that there were lots of others out there who would appreciate this information.

This listing from my "library" is in no particular order (actually, I'm just reading the titles as they are placed on the shelf), and I have tried to keep on the subject of household organization. I have other titles that are helpful in organizing other areas, such as home businesses (my favorite authors here would be Paul and Sarah Edwards), but that would be a whole new column...

• Stephanie Culp: How to Get Organized When You Don't Have the Time==paperback, 1986. Stephanie tells us to "Run your life instead of letting it run you."
  
  
• Sandra Felton: The Messies Manual (the procrastinator's guide to good housekeeping)==paperback, 1984
  
  
• Deniece Schofield: Confessions of an Organized Housewife=paper- back,1981. (Deniece is one of my favorites)
  
  
• Ronni Eisenberg: Organize Yourself==hardback, 1986 (Ronni lists 27 ways to stop procrastinating)
  
  
• Katherine Schlaerth, MD: Raising a Large Family (managing your finances, budgeting time, and successful nurturing for anyone with three or more children)==paperback, 1991
  
  
• Emilie Barnes: The Creative Home Organizer==paperback, 1988. Emilie is another favorite of mine, she writes from a Christian perspective.
  
  
• Lucy Hedrick: Five Days to an Organized Life (the fast, easy and permanent system for getting things done...and doing things better)==paperback, 1990. I found this book at Goodwill...not only did I get another book for my collection, I got it cheap, too!
  
  
• Pam Young & Peggy Jones: Sidetracked Home Executives (from pig- pen to paradise)==paperback, 1977. You've seen these two on TV. Their book was one of the first on getting organized (with a lot of humor!): it's almost a classic.
  
  
• Emilie Barnes (again): Survival for Busy Women (establishing efficient home management)==paperback, 1993. Like I said before, she is one of my favorite authors.
  
  
• Deniece Schofield (another favorite): Confessions of a Happily Organized Family (hundreds of practical no-nag ways to have a neat house, happy kids, and calm parents--all at the same time)==paperback, 1984. Deniece has a whole series of "Confessions" books.
  
  
• Stephanie Winston: Getting Organized==paperback, 1978. This was one of the first books I got...you can see how long I've been trying to get organized!

Those are just the ones I keep together where I can reach them. I have some others around on other bookshelves (or still stored in boxes from our move three years ago)and once in a while I run across some of them when I'm searching for some other volume...Probably most of them are out of print by now, but you might be able to pick some up at your local thrift store, yard sales, etc. And remember, your local library is free!

Have fun searching, and reading, and organizing!
Have a good day! --Rae

Rae is the mother of nine (and grandmother of two) in central Nebraska. She says her house runs smoothly due to "organized chaos, and lots of lists! Anyone wishing to drop her a line is welcome to at rae@kdsi.net

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