Good Question: How to Repurpose Old Card Catalogs?

Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first. Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: green@apartmenttherapy.com

Dear Re-nest,

I work at a university library, and (as it seems like is always the case in information services) we are updating several different areas of the library. Our card catalogs have been out of actual use for a long while, but there are still dozens of them kicking around the building, some up to twenty feet long. Any ideas on what could be done with them? We hate to just throw them out as some of them are really beautiful solid pieces of woodwork. We've thought about giving them away to staff but no one really knows what they would do with them when they got them home. If there's some way we could re-purpose them, even if it required some serious alterations, we would love to have the small ones to give as donor gifts or perhaps something made from the big ones for a fundraiser auction. There doesn't seem to be an antiques/collectibles market for these, but it seems like such a function oriented piece that we should be able to find a function for it! All the drawers are fully removable and all the slots have bottoms, so theoretically the drawers could be removed to create cubbies. But what does one put in 2-3 foot long cubby that's about 5.5 inches wide and 3.5 inches tall?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Leah

Leah, we actually DO think there's a market for card catalogs — quite a large one in fact! Anytime they show up on our Scavenger Craigslist/Ebay finds on our other Apartment Therapy cities, they sell out like hot cakes! Card catalogs make a great statement in a room. Leave them as is or paint them. Use them to hold craft/sewing supplies, jewelry, kitchen utensils, socks/tights, even wine bottles! Check out these posts for some more ideas on what to do with card catalogs:

• Inspiration: Using An Old Card Catalog as A Bar
• Bits & Bobbin's card catalog organizer
• Look! Card Catalog Bookshelf and Display

Any other ideas?

Comments (13)

I have been looking for a card catalog. I want to use it as a workbench and as a tool chest. Let me know if you have one, I will take it off your hands.

store all your recipes!

We have one from my mom's library that we just to store stuff in our living room. When I got it, at least a dozen people asked where they could get one.

Here it is in action: http://embritadesign.blogspot.com/2009/04/finally-put-my-hammer-to-use.html

I'm with BigIRF. I have always wanted one of these. Leah, where is your library? I think the AT readers would happily take any of your extras and give them loving homes!

Our library is in Washington, DC, but the majority of our card catalogs are on the larger end--20 feet--so not exactly living-room size. But I will pass along the suggestion that we sell them to someone who can make much better use of them than we can!

have you talked to the art department? they seem ideal for storing rolls of paper, large paintbrushes, pencils, tools, etc.

Our local bike co-op uses card catalogs for storing bike parts.

The actress Morgan Fairchild uses an old card catalog cabinet to store her vast amount of jewelry. She labels the drawers by stone, color, metal, and et cetera.

I have seen individual drawers for sale in antique stores, and I have a friend who uses one as her address "book." One index card per name. I use the same system, but with an oversized recipe file box.

My sister is a scrapbooker, and she would pay lotsa $$$ to get her hands on this.

Thanks for your awesome suggestions everyone! I will pass them along.

get a cabinetry person to convert the small drawers into wider drawers, without altering the exterior look, but making the interior more functional?

My library has several card catalogs for sale cheaply at $100 each. But you have to pick up in Decatur, IL or pay for shipping yourself. Solid oakr card catalogs with 45 drawers - 5 across and 9 down. They are 53-1/2" high (on 12" legs), 36" across, and 19-1/2" front to back. Email me for pictures.
Decatur, IL is about 180 miles south of Chicago, about 150 miles east of St. Louis or 150 west of Indy.

oops my email is sale-uf2fp-1199790534@craigslist.org