A month ago I wrote a post on some of the things I’ve done to try and make the most of my collection of TTRPG books, PDFs and campaign notes. I got some great suggestions in the comments, on Twitter, and elsewhere online so I thought I’d share them here.
One technique I started with Dungeon Magazine in the DDI days: I would read an issue and if something was really good, I would add a reference to a master file of “Adventures I need to run.” That way, whenever I wanted to run something, or be inspired, I could quickly find the adventures that had made a big impression on me.
I use that technique today with pdf files. Adventures, rules, etc. I make a note of the must-use-someday in a file so I can find them later.
Andrew @Zos93
Both by game system then edition if there are multiple. If there’s space games from the same publisher are grouped together. Within each system I do Core Book(s) first, then GM Screens and rules supplements and then Scenarios.
Creighton Broadhurst, Raging Swan Press
One addition? If you have Hazel (the automation software) you could get “her” to apply various tags automatically to PDFs depending on which folder you put them.
Currently I have my books arranged in the following tiers
– active campaign tools (Strix, Tome of Beasts, Volos). These are in the bag I carry to and fro gaming.
– regular references. These are arms reach of the work space.
– latent inspiration. These are more long term storage, but at least once a month I’ll browse the titles to see if they shake loose an idea.
Edwin Bupp
For my PDF’s, I have separate files for Adventures, DM Aids, Maps, etc. Also, I rename the Adventures and put level suggestions at beginning, so, “Return To The Temple Of Elemental” would be “04 – Return …”
Always find the right level Adventure.
Kenneth K @mordrid82
Both pdfs and physical are organized by genre, then ruleset, then publisher, and then in alphabetical order.
Megan Robertson @RPGResource
Dead tree books, collected since 1977, are in haphazard stacks & assorted bookcases all over the house.
PDFs on the other hand reside in a custom HTML front end by game system, pages of the book cover which you click on to open the PDF.
I’d love to hear more suggestions on how you make the most of your TTRPG books and organise your campaign notes. Let me know in the comments!
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Richard Green | Game Designer 
I need to use the digital library techniques because my folder is an unorganized mess
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