Hey and tbh small apartment dust issues, I get it, mine's the same way... What I do is jam the books in there real close, like no gaps at all, and that stops a lot of dust from sneaking in. Paperbacks and hardcovers mixed? No problem, stand 'em up straight and push 'em together. I moved my shelf outta the path of the AC vent, and bam, way less dust buildup.
Cleaning wise, I grab a microfiber thingy and dust weekly, it's quick. For the books, brush from spine to edge, easy peasy. If they're glossy, damp cloth super light, dry fast. Leather? Something pH-balanced, not too much. Skip sprays, they make it worse sometimes. Yeah, that's my hack, keeps everything tidy without much fuss.
