I prefer by author. I most often search a shelf by author so if the shelf is by title it is hard to look for an author.

I group books by subject first. So, mysteries, sci-fi, cookbooks, art books, gardening books, are all in separate areas. Then within each genre, for nonfiction, I group by subject. So, all Indian cookbooks together, for example.

For fiction, first by genre, and then I group loosely by alphabet, meaning, I have some shelves for last names A-E. Then F-H. Grouping by alphabet groups instead of strictly last name saves me immeasurable time finding and putting things away,  because I always know within 1 or 2 shelves where something is, but I don't have to rearrange my shelves every time i get a new book to fit things into an exact position on it.

I've got more than 7000 books in my house, so I think this is the most efficient way to find things. I can find any book i need within about 1 minute, while spending zero time rearranging books.

My books listed on PBS are all kept in a seperate area so i can find those even faster.

I was referring to you pbs shelf. When I request something and look at a member's shelf I can usually go through a lot quicker if they have their shelf in order by author.

Title.

Oh, then my other answer makes NO sense. ha ha

I look my own bookshelf sorted by Title (although I rarely look at my posted bookshelf, have no reason to).

I look at my Wish List sorted by Author, as that makes the most sense to me. because I read a lot of series and I like them to be grouped together.

I also usually look at other people's bookshelves or Wish Lists also sorted by author, because I am either looking for books by the same author to order, or to post to someone. Typically.

Charles,

i never knew it could be sorted any other way than by title. I agree with you I would like it by author when I am searching someone's shelf.

i just changed mine.

I'm probably late to the party, but you can resort members' shelves. Just click 'resort', change the sort to author and click on 'ascending' or 'descending'. The sort will change according to the author's last name.

I often search my BIR by author, but otherwise ALL lists are alphabetical by title cause I don't remember a lot of author names.

My understanding:

The way I sort my own bookshelf has nothing to do with how you will see it sorted. When you first go to anyone's bookshelf, you'll see it sorted by title. You can then adjust it with the "re-sort" menu. But if I have my shelf sorted by, say, date, and you sort it by author, it won't effect me. I'll still see mine sorted by date. And it won't effect the next person looking at it, who will first see it sorted by title.

I suppose it could work differently with different browsers, but this is my experience.

You're all way too organized for me. I sort my PBS shelf by "Here's another book I'm posting, I'll just place it on the pile on top of this other one."

My books IRL are sorted by fiction and non-fiction, then author, then title. My PBS shelf by author.

My IRL books are sorted by what fit on the shelf most effeciently, with series together.  There is one shelf for comics and one for keeper books--the rest are a jumbled mess of "just don't fall on me".

My PBS shelf is sorted whatever way I left it last.