Posted by Chris on July 09, 1998 at 11:52:44:
In Reply to: Re: File Setup posted by Chris on July 09, 1998 at 11:40:30:
That's a big job, I'd say start with "banker's boxes". Begin filing first by year into the boxes. You may find the real old stuff doesnt deserve getting its own category and time, and if you ever need it, most likely it will be the year you have to hunt for first. After you've done them by year, then you only have to do a box at a time. Do the most recent first. Since you already have looked at them, you have an idea of what files you have. Again, boxes, with temporary stickers to label them and then add new categories as you go along. You may find at the end, you can combine some, delete some, or use different more appropriate names when someone else writes in with some ideas. Hopefully, that big black garbage bag will be your biggest file :)
The key is that you need something that can be put away when not being worked on. Also, use a great big piece of tagboard (an oversized bookmarker) to mark where you are when you quit, so you can pick up the project again easily. You may even want to have a brainstorm list of categories as you go, and then refine it at the end, alphabetize it, and then make labels. And of course, at the end of the year, pull it all out and use one of those boxes again, label the year and categories on the outside and put it away.
I would suggest calling a professional charitable organization in your community, and ask to go look at their systems, I'm sure they'd have lots of pointers. Also a trip to your local "Staples" or office supply warehouse has lots of ideas, worth spending a day there. Goodluck!!!