Booked Solid: Some Readers' Cherished Collections Have Nowhere to Grow

The Washington Post ^ | March 23, 2006 | Annie Groer

[FreedomCalls]

Repost to add Malacoda to the ping.

Super Size Version here:

http://www.jenskleemann.de/wissen/bildung/media/0/04/carl_spitzweg_021.jpg

424 kb.

[linda_22003]

That's not sad at all! One of my retirement plans is finally getting my library into one specifically-planned room. I fantasize about its future design the way most people fantasize about - well, whatever they fantasize about.

[Physicist]

One of my retirement plans is finally getting my library into one specifically-planned room. I fantasize about its future design the way most people fantasize about - well, whatever they fantasize about.

My fantasy is based on the library at the Lutheran Seminary in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA, where I've gone to do genealogical research. The building is of stone, like a cathedral. There are enormous windows that go from the roof almost to the ground. The interior is essentially a cavernous space within which the floors and bookshelves are an integrated steel structure, with the floor tiles made of glass to let the light through from one floor to the next. There are also fluorescent lights, but for a multi-story library, the amount of natural light is extraordinary.

It also has an impressive, circular, stone atrium where they put choice texts and historical documents on display. Furthermore, the staff is enormously knowledgeable and eager to help.

[MamaB]

Isn't he a great writer? I use to email him before he died,

[linda_22003]

My plans are a little simpler than that, with about four thousand volumes to house - shelves all around the room to a height of five feet or so (since I don't like being up on ladders), then another four feet of empty space above to house our growing collection of World War I posters, gallery-style.

A fireplace with a large stone hearth would showcase the pride of the collection, which was done by Joseph Pennell for a Liberty Loan campaign:

http://www.english.emory.edu/LostPoets/Liberty-note.html

[perfect stranger]

"And as much as "Martha" urged *me* to de-bone something, anything, I resisted!"

And good on you. Those bones impart a deeper flavor to the cooked meat. As well as come in very handy to make a broth.

[Quilla]

I finally took some library photos this morning and darn if the camera strap isn't in most of them. Here is one that shows a single wall of our library (pardon the mess):

[Centurion2000]

If you were asking about spoken I would have recommended Rosetta Stone's Latin program, unfortunately written and reading is not quite on their agenda.

[Serb5150]

Oh wow... it's just gorgeous. I feel like I could spend the rest of my life in this room. Unfortunately I have to live vicariously through the local library.

There's something about being surrounded by books that makes me so darned happy. I hope to have a room like this one of these days. Thank you so much for the photo, it's put me in the mood for a book and some coffee.

[grey_whiskers]

If you were asking about spoken I would have recommended Rosetta Stone's Latin program, unfortunately written and reading is not quite on their agenda.

Fimus! ...but thanks anyway.

Full Disclosure: I hope the online translator got that right...