Books on the move

June 11, 2008 11:56 PM

I need help finding crates for books or some type of portable bookshelf.

I have a lot of books that I prefer to keep with me, as opposed to in storage somewhere. Many of them are reference books or novels I like to read several times a year. I'm a college student right now, so I find myself moving at least once a year, if not 2 or 3 times. So instead of packing up all my books into 3 or 4 boxes, lugging them around or mailing them (expensive...) and then unpacking them, I was wondering if there was an easier solution. I'd like a container that would let me put the books in so that the spine shows up out of the top. The container would have handles, be made of a strong plastic or metal, and be stackable. Ideally they would be sealable so that when I move I can just close a lid on all of them and take them away.

The best solution I can come up with would be milk crates, but the dimensions on those aren't quite right. I'd like something a bit wider and not as deep. Also, they wouldn't mail very well if I had to do that, because of all the holes. So if anyone has any suggestions, I'd very much appreciate them. Thanks in advance!

posted by sepsis to travel & transportation (9 comments total)

I drew up plans for (but never got around to building) something like that out of wood.

Four long, narrow crates that stack tongue-and-groove style on their sides and have slots that let you slide in a thin plywood "lid" when they're on the move. Add some rope handles and have a friend help you lug them.

Do you know anyone who might want to bang out such a thing for you?
posted by codswallop at 12:06 AM on June 12, 2008

The Container Store, if you have one near you, will serve all your plastic needs -- these people have everything. Went to their site, then storage and then 'totes' and maybe there is something there that might work for you.

http://www.containerstore.com/browse/index.jhtml?CATID=71235&howMany=999&viewAll=true
posted by dancestoblue at 12:23 AM on June 12, 2008

I usually drop by a few local gorcery stores or supermarkets and just ask if they got some empty Banana Cartons left over - sometimes they just give them to you and they really are the best in stability and weight when packed with books.
posted by DukeDrake at 12:50 AM on June 12, 2008

The Rubbermaid site has some good ideas here and here. No handles, unfortunately. To spare your back (and your joints) the stress, I recommend investing in a dolly from Home Depot.

When I was in college, I saved all my boxes from Amazon (I mostly ordered books, so they were all more or less the same size), folded the top flaps in, cut holes and strung in rope to form handles. It was very cheap, the downside being that since there was no lid, my books were more prone to getting dented or smashed in a lopsided way.
posted by invisible ink at 2:53 AM on June 12, 2008

On gizmodo the other day: PLoP! Collapsible, Recyclable Bookshelves Perfect For Students, Greens.
posted by shothotbot at 4:20 AM on June 12, 2008 [2 favorites]

I'll have to second the banana carton idea, I had a friend who had most of his collection stored in them and it served him well through several moves. Most stores are more than happy to give them to you if you ask them for them.
posted by inthe80s at 4:30 AM on June 12, 2008

Since you asked for metal, there might be something useful from a military surplus store. The Fat 50, German or 81 mm ammo cans on that page might work for you.
posted by HE Amb. T. S. L. DuVal at 6:58 AM on June 12, 2008

Tomato boxes are also high-quality. Some of them have internal cardboard gussets that make them unsuitable for the task. Others have a wax coating (to prevent tomato juice from turning the box into a soggy mess) but since they are nearly indestructible they are hard to break down (for recycling) so stores are often eager to get rid of them.
posted by KevCed at 8:07 AM on June 12, 2008

I had good luck in a previous apartment with wine crates. They don't really have a "cover" per se but they look good, are sturdy, and stack as any box would. Wine shops generally don't give them away, but I was able to buy them for 5 bucks apiece from a friendly owner.
posted by gyusan at 10:22 AM on June 12, 2008