Our Personal Libraries
- Thread starter Bartleby
- Start date
Stevie B
Current Member
So how many books are in your library? Although there's the general idea that bigger is better, in some things, anyway, I also think that when any collection becomes too big, it can seem obsessive.
My collection size has stayed pretty steady over the last few years (roughly 900+ books) because I don't want to add any more bookshelves to my house. When I get a new book, that means something has to come off a shelf to make room for it. Unfortunately, that process is becoming more difficult because I really like the books in my collection.
I'm curious how many books are in your collections. Also, what steps, if any, do you take to ensure your collection doesn't grow out control.
My collection size has stayed pretty steady over the last few years (roughly 900+ books) because I don't want to add any more bookshelves to my house. When I get a new book, that means something has to come off a shelf to make room for it. Unfortunately, that process is becoming more difficult because I really like the books in my collection.
I'm curious how many books are in your collections. Also, what steps, if any, do you take to ensure your collection doesn't grow out control.
Leseratte
Well-known member
Well, the last time I counted my books, that was about twenty years ago. I was then the happy possessor of let´s say 800 books and I knew exactly on which place of the shelf it was. And what is more: I had read almost all of them. After that I moved twice and things went slowly out of control. Books arrived and went, my shelfs were still thematic, but it isn´t so easy to locate a book when you don´t remember title and author any more. And meanwhile someone invented the e-books. So all I can affirm with certainty is that they are still a lot and no, I haven´t read all of them. On the contrary: I have arrived at a stage, when a book you haven´t read for some time becomes a new book again. What can be considered a gain.
Liam
Administrator
Which books would you personally include in the final count?
In my case, I usually exclude those books (mainly academic ones) that I know I'm holding onto only temporarily: I need them for my current thesis work, and will be getting rid of them (i.e. giving them away to other students in my department who might need them) after I graduate.
Do you include dictionaries/encyclopedias?
Do you include children's books?
Do you include booklet-sized paperbacks (it was once fashionable to publish stand-alone little essays, 30 to 60 pages, in booklet form).
Do you include cute little bibelots (of which I have a lot!), like a palm-sized Twelve Days of Christmas, or something?
Questions, questions.
In my case, I usually exclude those books (mainly academic ones) that I know I'm holding onto only temporarily: I need them for my current thesis work, and will be getting rid of them (i.e. giving them away to other students in my department who might need them) after I graduate.
Do you include dictionaries/encyclopedias?
Do you include children's books?
Do you include booklet-sized paperbacks (it was once fashionable to publish stand-alone little essays, 30 to 60 pages, in booklet form).
Do you include cute little bibelots (of which I have a lot!), like a palm-sized Twelve Days of Christmas, or something?
Questions, questions.
Stevie B
Current Member
Offhand, I'd say you make the call, unless you want me to consult my lawyer for further guidance. ?
Corswandt
FAFO
In the big "floor to ceiling" bookshelf it's a historical atlas from my late teens.
In the other much smaller bookshelf of the living room, it's
Ben Jackson
Well-known member
How much did you purchase this shelf? It's a very beautiful.
alik-vit
Reader
I'm not sure about its aesthetic quality, but it's neutral, which is important, because it's situated in the bedroom. And when you have bookshelves in the bedroom, all what you can do - hide it, if you can't hide it, .... you know)
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Leseratte
Well-known member
Liked specially the glass cases, where you can keep your protegees against dust.
alik-vit
Reader
Maybe this series can be interesting for you, folks. Its name is "The laureates of the Nobel Prize in literature". It was published in Russia in 1990s. The inaugural idea was to devote one volume to each laureate. But financial default of 1998 was а heavy blow for the project, that so last volumes were shared omnibus of two (or even three) laureates and there were published two anthologies: Poets and Playwrights. Still, it's very impressive achievement of our publishing industry: 52 volumes in good hardcovers and with good translations. Most part of volumes have Nobel speech/lecture as an addendum. It covers the time from 1901 to 1997. Unfortunately, some volumes were never published: Theodor Mommsen, Rudolf Eucken, Roger Martin du Gard and Camilo Jose Sela. I began to read and collect these volumes, when I was 15-16 years old and it was my first real experience in "serious" reading. From that time I into this stuff))))
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Leseratte
Well-known member
I am very shortsighted, so I couldn´t identifie most of the books (I love doing that). But, even so, I spotted a huge volume with "Bob Dylan" on it.
Leseratte
Well-known member
And what about Daisy?
Stevie B
Current Member
Those are some meaty paws that look like they could do some damage. How is her temperament?
Liam
Administrator
She's VERY sweet! No so-called "tortie-tude" AT ALL!
Stevie B
Current Member
She's VERY sweet! No so-called "tortie-tude" AT ALL!
Relieved to know that she doesn't have a cattitude problem.
