Monday, March 13, 2023

On "Home" Libraries -- March 13, 2023

I have / have had / had a huge library over the years but we simply ran out of room. I have given away a lot of books and packed away a lot more in storage. 

I have a new "library" paradigm.

My old "library" paradigm: keep all books that I've acquired on bookshelves so they are all readily available and readily seen by others.

New paradigm: keep minimum number of books on bookshelves.

Reasoning:
  • I don't need a library; there are many libraries available (public libraries, virtual libraries, Amazon, Powell Books in Portland, OR); I can find any book I want -- with some exceptions
  • in the big scheme of things, I generally go back and re-read only a few books, and I generally know which books I will be re-reading; those I keep on bookshelves;
  • with so little time to read each day, and so little time left in life (at age 72, this year), I want to keep only the new books (currently reading, and will read) on the bookshelves
  • after watching a few talking heads on television, I have an additional thought on "home" libraries but will keep those thoughts to myself: I don't want to offend anyone. 
I have started something new.  I'm putting together small libraries of books that I think are important for our grandchildren to read; some of those libraries will be virtual (lists) while other libraries will be kept on the bookshelves, grouped together; these small libraries will be limited to a handful of books.

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