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Construction of your personal library?

sugarz

sugarz

New Member
How has everyone constructed their personal library. What type of shelving do you use? Is there a best wood for the job (untreated? hard? soft?) Do you have a room specifically for your library, or do you use a common area? How do you maintain it: dust, wear, tear, etc.?

Should books be stored lying flat for longevity (bookstores do this)? What about magazines collections? Did you build or buy your bookcases? (I would love to have 10 foot cases with a rolling ladder like in the movies, but I would probably fall off the ladder!)

Tell me your opinions and help me construct my library at home. I am willing to renovate for this project, it is that important to me. So many books just lying around in random places right now!
 
My library is a mess. I have one large, cheap bookcase that is overflowing, 2 smaller bookcases in the same state, books in boxes in our closets, and in piles on the floor. My parents just remodeled their house and they had built-in bookcases made in the family room and in the small office upstairs. If I were to build my dream library, I would probably just buy a series of identical, high-quality bookcases, and just line them up against the wall. I would then buy two comfortable chairs and put them in the center with some perfect reading lights. Of course, there would also have to be a fireplace.;)
 
I completely agree about the fireplace, and I luckily have such a room. My books are also in closets and piled on the floor. Unfortunately, recently some that were piled under a window got soaking wet and now are ruined. I was so upset and swore that I was going to properly store my books from now on. So that is the story behind this madness of mine to create the best home library I possibly can.

I hadn't even taken into account seating and lighting. Makes sense to think about those things too though.
 
I have shelves / bookcases on virtually every wall. No real method to the madness, just books everywhere. I have thousands and can't be too picky where I put them. They go where ever there's room.
To put them all in one place, one room, I'd need a pretty huge room.
Love the idea of having a proper library one day, floor to ceiling bookcases, comfy recliners and reading lights.
My comics are stored in boxes (to keep them nice and flat) in special covers that protect them and prevent the paper from degrading.

I haven't given much thought to what wood should be used for bookcases. Right now I'm not fussy. I think something like cedar would deter insects and other nasties – cedar closets are popular for clothes for this very reason. Any type of hardwood would be nice though imo, I'm not clued up as to whether there is a perfect wood for bookcases. I'd have to ask a carpenter. ; )
 
I had a quick Google search to see if there was a recommended material for book shelves and one site said smooth metal. Obviously from an aesthetic view that is not the way to go, so I'd just go for a wood that looks good in the environment you choose. :p

Having my own personal library is one of my goals for the future, and I would love to have the option to have it custom built! That way you could make sure that the shelves are not only spaced perfectly for the types of books you choose to place there, but they can be the depth you want so that you you make sure that the depth is right for your type of shelf usage. By this I mean if you want to double stack your books or place ornaments infront of them it would be deeper, and shallow if you want to just have one row of books and save space (althought you have to take into consideration all sizes of books that comprise your library). ;)

If I had the choice I would take a whole room just for the purpose, although a desk may be added with or without computer to make it seem more like a "study" than a "library". A nice comfy chair (or perhaps two-seater sofa for extreme lounging) is necessary for leisurely reading in a nice peaceful atmosphere (hence not using a common area too). As for care, I think it depends on how quickly dust gathers in the particular room. Whenever dust becomes visible on my shelves I usually just give a quick dust around the books, but I think around every two to three months all the books should be taken down from the shelves so a proper dust can be carried out. And at that I'm going to stop being nerdy and let you read about other nerdy suggestions:

http://www.loc.gov/preserv/care/books.html
http://www.tcpl.lib.in.us/tech/bookcare.htm (looks extremely extensive and has lots of pictures!)
http://www.conservationregister.com/booksbibles.asp?id=4

Enjoy! And I hope there will be pictures when this library of yours is completed! :eek:
 
Cedar does seem to make sense. One of the articles tartan_skirt linked to also mentioned lining shelves with conservation board. Acid free seems to be the thing.

And tartan - I think we are all a little nerdy here - but in a good way! It makes life interesting! Normal is definately boring.
 
*sighs...* A real library has been my dream for ages! Right now I just have one bookcase, a tall one though, but not nearly big enough to hold all my books. Its overflowing, there are books on top, and I've tried to place books in cool piles every other shelf. I can't get into my hopechest as books are on it, books are on my night-table, my wardrobe, and in all of the drawers that are under my bed. Not the best way I know...I try the best I can though. I clean my bookshelf and anywhere else I have books (wardrobe etc.) at least once a week, and make sure dust isn't collecting on my books by flipping through them. (picky, I know :p ) My dream library? Uniformed books shelves around all the walls. Thick, soft rug...the coziest chair ever in one corner with a libraryish lamp and a closed in smally type table beside it, that contains? A coffee maker, coffee, latte, all kinds of tea, a kettle, my favorite types of mugs, and a jug of water. A table in the center of the room with a light hanging over it from the ceiling, one of those old-looking types...table would be mostly for writing. I don't know if I would have a fireplace, as fire and books scare me to death :p and heat damages books. But that is my style.
 
I just have one bookcase with 6 shelves. I have so many different things in it though (sheet music, plays, DVDs, old yearbooks, photo albums etc), so it is really not enough room. I guess as I get more books, I will transfer the books that I want to keep, but aren't my favorites to some shelf in my closet. But it's a dream of mine to have a whole room for a library! There just isn't enough space in my room now, but someday maybe!
 
jcsoblonde said:
Thick, soft rug... A coffee maker, coffee, latte, all kinds of tea, a kettle, my favorite types of mugs, and a jug of water.
Click to expand...
That sounds like my cup of tea too... Only would dust from the rug and humidity from all this coffee/tea stuff deteriorate the books? Not over night of course but... gradually?
 
hmmm never thought about that...but of course I would clean the rug...and keep the tea and coffee as far away from the shelves as possible :p
 
And, the rug would probably capture the dust, and keep it off the books, as opposed to us kicking it up from a hardwood floor when we come in. Not to sure about the coffee pot. Maybe with a dehumidifier, it would be okay.
 
I'm living in a tiny basement flat at the moment, so I don't have much room for books. Hence, I've been borrowing rather than buying, for the most part. When hubby and I move (and hopefully it will be quite soon), we already have plans for how to organise our books (well, my books - he isn't a reader), CDs, DVDs, and games. We'd like to have one room set aside just for that purpose, preferably in several large bookshelfs that cover the whole wall (or walls). I can't wait! :D
 
My setup is a little odd - I have eight "bookshelves" one of which is a entertainment center with a small book shelf where the tv is supposed to go. They line my walls along with a desk a bed a file cabinet and a clothes box unfortunately I ran out of bookshelves and just places to put my books so I am going to have to stop buying books until I get a new shelf. I'll post pictures eventually.
 
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There are 1082 books there.
 
you guys actually read all the books you have or u jsut collecting? i would have dedicate a lifetime to reading to be able to go through the collection you guys are talking about ....

i can only go though about two centimeres of book a week :)
 
Actually, I intend to read them

I really do intend to read all of my books but it will take a while. As of now I have 1125 books, of which I've read about 70, mostly the reason I haven't read more is because I don't have some of the books I want to read.
 
what?

What the hell are you talking about you either phrased that improperly or you misread my statement.

Did you mean: "Why would you buy them if you don't intend to read them?"?

Or did you simply misread?

Or you meant "why don't I buy the ones I like"

The reason for that would be is because all my friends read and make suggestions then i read those.
 
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