Personal Libraries

[zaika]

I have no idea where this sort of a thread will go, so I picked this one. I'm happy to see it moved to the right place.
Okay...so here's the sitch. I want to revamp my personal library so that every book I own is in hardback. As of now, most of my books are paperback and falling apart and look awful on my shelf. Do you think it would be unreasonable to have this standard and rid myself of perfectly good classic novels just because they are in paperback?
Some of the paperbacks that my mom handed down to me are disinigrating every year and I don't want the same thing to happen to the books I get. I figure that hardbacks will a) keep longer and b) look nicer on my shelf. Oh, and c) prevent me from going nuts at the bookstore and buying a ton of books that I will never read. lol Moderation would be a good rule of thumb for me to hold to when in these fantasy lands called bookstores. lol
I'm curious to hear what your standards are for your own personal libraries.

[Ben]

One thought would be to buy them in hardback as you reread them. Then you don't have to cash out all at once and you can reread your favorite books.

Also, becareful about editions and translations. You might have some books in there that would be completely different depending on the translation.

If you want fancy, though, take a look at the Franklin Mint collections and things like that.

[imoldfashioned]

I prefer hardback editions too (except when it's time to move!) so I think this is a great idea. I agree with Ben that replacing the books as you read them is an economical idea, although it never fails to surprise me how cheap used hardback books can be. I get mine from local second hand shops, ebay, alibris and abebooks.

Also, be sure your bookshelves are sturdy enough to hold a whole shelf of hardbacks--I had a cheap shelf that broke under the weight once upon a time. I've had really good luck with the IKEA Billy bookcases (60 pounds per shelf).

[sweetfrancaise]

well, to provide an alternate perspective, i like paperbacks--they're easier to read, lighter to carry in my purse, and cheaper too. i only buy hardcovers when i am a huge fan of an author and i plan on getting the book signed. i suggest buying hardbacks only if it's an absolute favorite and you will reread it for years. plus, having a variety of editions and ages on a bookshelf just makes them that much more interesting!

[Starius]

I've gone through a similar thing with my own collection of books.
When I was living in a hotel outside of the mayo clinic last year, I had a paperback with me that I had bought at walmart. It served its purpose, but after I had read it (and was back home) I found a hardcover edition from barnes and noble online that was less money than what I paid for the paperback. I bought it and put that upon my shelf.

I generally try to purchase hardcover editions for the fact that they just wear better over time, but paperbacks are far better reads when you're traveling. So I expect I will always have a equal number of either kind. However, for those books that I just love and know will read again in the future, I always try to track down hardcover editions if possible. So, for some books, I have both a paperback and hardcover.

Also, on a related note, some books are just in paperback only and never had hardcover editions. In those cases, I sometimes tend to replace them with other softcover editions if I find one in better quality.

[Diamondback]

I usually prefer paperbacks myself, unless I can snipe a bargain on a hardcover--even then, I usually try to keep a spare of anything I read a lot, so I get a paperback as a "travel/spare" copy.

Besides, hardcovers die on me only a little less easily than paperbacks--remember, I'm the guy who wore out not one but three copies of Jurassic Park?

[Samsa]

It would help to know how large your library is. For instance, I have several hundred volumes, and replacing all of the soft cover books I own would require me to first win the lottery. Or at least save up lots of money.

Another thing to consider is that even hard cover books of today don't have great staying power. Ever since the move from rags as a source of paper to wood pulp (with relatively high acidic content) books aren't built to last all that long, hard cover or not.

[BJBAmerica]

I have a number of books from the Easton Press, which is a fantastic company, issuing both modern and classic books in fine leather bindings and archival paper with gold guilt ends.

They offer a number of signed, limited editions also....Here's a link to their site:

http://www.eastonpressbooks.com/leather/

[scotrace]

As an aside, those of you with Macs and lots of books (DVD's, CDS) will find the Delicious Library software (http://www.delicious-monster.com/) invaluable.

[Samsa]

As an aside, those of you with Macs and lots of books (DVD's, CDS) will find the Delicious Library software (http://www.delicious-monster.com/) invaluable.

HOW did I not know about this!?!?

It looks like it costs money, though...

[Lady Day]

I have a lot of books, most first editions, and over 200 childrens books, all hardback.

Volumes like "grimms fairy tales" collections and large collections like that, where they will publish those every few years I have a 4 inch thick volume in paperback for $12. Books like Andrew Loomis, who is out of print I have first printings that are on the 'top shelf' section of my library :)

Most 'readers', as I call em, are paperback and usually used. Also, I have 50+ refrence books from library sales/bargin book store bins just for the pictures. Those get all beat up and stuff.

LD

[Jack Scorpion]

I generally do not "collect" books -- mostly because I am vicious to books when I read them (don't let me borrow a book!). But I do horde hard to find books of favorite authors when I can, regardless of how bad a condition they are in.

If you do go through with such a grand scheme, perhaps you can list some of the softcovers you plan to shed. I myself might be interested in a few purchases and others might be as well.

[zaika]

That software has got me drooling...if only I had money and iSight. lol

I have such a hard time getting rid of books. Most of what I have, I haven't read...but they're on my list. The list is just so long and all the borrowed books are at the front and people keep lending me books...it's a mess! hehe

BJB - how dare you post that link! :D Now I have to restrain myself from buying everything on there! Such beautiful books!

I agree with you Ben...it would be good to buy them as I read them. I was thinking of doing it that way, anyway. Maybe keep an eye out for a copy at thrift stores or whatever and slowly convert it over to hardback.

Jack- that's a fabulous idea! I will do that. :)

[AlanC]

Don't forget about The Folio Society (http://www.foliosoc.co.uk/). They produce beautiful editions, although they're not cheap. Try ebay, etc. for second-hand copies.

I always prefer hardcover, although there are times when I travel that I want a light weight paperback. I also often prefer an older second-hand hardcover to a modern version even from Folio or Easton. If you become serious about the actual value of books, real first editions will always outstrip a Folio Soc. or Easton volume. I buy most of my books at thrift stores these days. I used to be a regular haunter of dusty second-hand shops. Currently I have boxes and boxes of books in my basement that one day will be freed when I acquire sufficient shelf space.

Make the decision to change over your library, but as suggested, don't do it overnight. Just start making the decision to pick up well priced hardcovers when you find them. They'll come quickly, not to worry!

[Dixon Cannon]

I have quite a few books, some of which I've had upwards of forty years. I brought many of them from back east in the mid-1970's. What I've discovered after three decades in Arizona is that the dry heat and the moisture robbing air-conditioning wreaks havoc on book bindings, both hardbound and paperback. The dry air leaches all the moisture from the glues and eventually they crack and split. Any number of my books now have single, individual pages that merely lie between two covers!

I't sad, but perhaps someday I'll invest in having them all re-bound! Until then, it sure makes it easy to copy pages I need on the scanner!

Has anyone tried binding their own books? I attempted it a few years ago with the endless collection of magazine page cut-outs I had. Not to shabby actually and much nicer than a box full of odd pages.

-Dixon Cannon

[imoldfashioned]

I have a number of books from the Easton Press, which is a fantastic company, issuing both modern and classic books in fine leather bindings and archival paper with gold guilt ends.

They offer a number of signed, limited editions also....Here's a link to their site:

http://www.eastonpressbooks.com/leather/


Nice products!

This thread reminds me that I really want a nice, preferably vintage, copy of The Prisoner of Zenda. There was an early edition that had illustrations by Charles Dana Gibson that I've always lusted after particularly. Other books I should look into include Men of Iron with the Howard Pyle illustrations and Joan of Arc with the fabulous illustrations by Maurice Boutet de Monvel. I practically slept with the latter book under my pillow as a child, I loved it so much.

Any tomes you folks especially want?

[zaika]

Any tomes you folks especially want?

that's a dangerous question IOF. lol seeing as i adore children's books, i'd love to own some older copies of "Peter Pan", "The Wizard of Oz" and The Grimms Fairtyales. any children's book published pre-WWII, actually, is desirable.

[imoldfashioned]

that's a dangerous question IOF. lol seeing as i adore children's books, i'd love to own some older copies of "Peter Pan", "The Wizard of Oz" and The Grimms Fairtyales. any children's book published pre-WWII, actually, is desirable.

I love children's books too. Have you ever been to Books of Wonder in NYC? So amazing--original art and lots and lots of Oz.

Of course, ideally, I'd love the original Oz books but barring my lottery win I've always meant to buy a full set of the BOW Oz reprints. They reproduce the John R. O'Neill color plates so beautifully. As a child I wanted to be Ozma when I grew up--I completely idolized her with her Art Nouveau poppy headpiece (sigh!).

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j100/gggifford2003/ozma.jpg

[zaika]

I love children's books too. Have you ever been to Books of Wonder in NYC? So amazing--original art and lots and lots of Oz.

Of course, ideally, I'd love the original Oz books but barring my lottery win I've always meant to buy a full set of the BOW Oz reprints. They reproduce the John R. O'Neill color plates so beautifully. As a child I wanted to be Ozma when I grew up--I completely idolized her with her Art Nouveau poppy headpiece (sigh!).

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j100/gggifford2003/ozma.jpg

awwww...yes! i love Ozma and her poppies, too! so sweet. would love to recreate that on my own head. lol i have to say that i really love how they portrayed her in the movie 'return to oz.' i love the entire movie...but she was especially angelic!!
i do have a reprint of the first book from BOW! but i've never been to the store!! i haven't been to NYC since 1987! lol boy...i'm REALLY going to have to make a point to visit NYC soon.

[Joie DeVive]

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j100/gggifford2003/ozma.jpg

Oh, I would love to have any of the Oz books too. In third grade I was Ozma for Halloween. We took one of my Mom's old belts and turned it into the headdress adding red flowers on the side. Dad made the OZ symbol out of colored tape for the front. :D

Forgive my ignorance, but what is BOW?

[zaika]

Oh, I would love to have any of the Oz books too. In third grade I was Ozma for Halloween. We took one of my Mom's old belts and turned it into the headdress adding red flowers on the side. Dad made the OZ symbol out of colored tape for the front. :D

Forgive my ignorance, but what is BOW?

Books of Wonder...ImOldFashioned mentioned it above. I guess it's this shop in NYC...so, of course I HAVE to go. lol.

[Joie DeVive]

Books of Wonder...ImOldFashioned mentioned it above. I guess it's this shop in NYC...so, of course I HAVE to go. lol.

Thank you! I must have read through too fast and missed it. :eusa_doh: :o
Reprints of the Oz books? Wow! I can't get there anytime soon, but I may have to use some of my NY connections!! ;)

[Twitch]

I have a huge collection of books, so many that I can't keep them all in the house within reach. Most are war and combat military aviation related but I have a lot on ancient civilizations, archeology, early man and such.

Many of these books are hardbound and quite old. I have a lot of paperbacks simply because they were available for purchase where their hardbound counterparts were not. Most of what I get is vintage to start with so whatever I find I grab. The vast majority are from the 1940s-70s. Many were purchased new then- late 50s-70s.

These days for economy many books have a larger size but soft cover too.

I treat all my books gently and would never give any away or even lend them. None are expensive in that they are 1st editions or whatever. I value them for the reference information and knowledge they contain.

[LizzieMaine]

I'm like Twitch -- I have a large but highly specialized library, mostly in original printings, of 1920s and 1930s books dealing with broadcasting. Many of these books had very limited circulation when they were first published, intended for industry insiders and the like, so they've been hard to find, and are rarely in the best of condition. But I take them as I can get them, since I'm more concerned with the information they contain than in any speculative "collector value."

My own book has only been published in hardcover -- and they use archival paper stock, so it'll at least outlive me!

[AlanC]

Speaking of children's books, pardon my shilling for the Folio Society, but they have a membership offer right now featuring some of their children's reprints (http://www.foliosoc.co.uk/offers/details.php?OfferCode=6ZA4). I have three of those four from them, and they do a fantastic job with those. The original color illustrations are fantastic.

[carter]

I have hundreds of books in stacks and boxes and on shelves. One piece of advice. Control your habit. Don't keep every book you've ever read. Keep the ones you'll read again or mean to pass down or need for your occupation or reference.
When we remodeled the house, I had floor to ceiling book cases installed in the dressing room and the Master bedroom as well as my daughter's bedroom. A year later, we need more bookshelves.
I bought reprints of The Hardy Boys and the Nancy Drew books for my kids. I figure they may want them for their kids if they're ever fortunate enough to have children just like themselves. :rolleyes:
I also bought 1st Editions in hardcover of all the Brian Jacques Redwall novels. I like to read them as much as the kids do.
I have 1st editions of most (perhaps all) the Hemingway titles and some of his contemporaries. I'm only a completist with Hemingway however.
Easton Press does excellent facsimile editions in slipcases that are exact rproductions of the original 1st editions. These are under their First Edition Library imprint.While not in the stratosphere, these will appreciate in value over time.
There are very nice signed and numbered limited editions published by the Armchair Detective Library, if you're a fan of this sort of novel. I collect the Ed McBain titles in this imprint.
As observed, resellers and second hand stores are great places to locate hardcover volumes. Dashiell started a thread in the OL about this. It' worth reading.
Two of the best on-line sites for books are AbeBooks.com and biblio.com. I usually look at the prices of volumes I'm considering from other sites on one or both of these. They are often cheaper than Amazon or Ebay sellers. The freight charges are almost always lower on these sites than on OFAS. (This is how many Ebay merchants gig their customers for additional dollars.)
Barnes & Noble has a pretty good line-up of resellers as well.


Also:

1. Keep the dust jackets on your books. They will protect the volumes and books are more valuable with original dust jackets intact. Brodart (vinyl) covers over dust jackets help a great deal. This is the single best thing you can do to preserve your books and the most often ignored.

2. Environmental conditions will affect your books. Some mentions have been made of this. Too hot and dry or too damp and moist are extremes that affect printed material. Sunlight will cause fading. Climate makes a difference.

Reading is one of life's great pleasures. Make sure to create an enjoyable space for this pursuit. :)

[twobarbreak]

My Library contains anything and everything to do with the history of American Jazz music and dance, also including entertainment both on stage and in film.
I also collect phone books from the major cities pre-1950.

[Viola]

I was thinking it'd be easier to make new covers for a lot of my books then to try and find them in hardcover, especially a lot of the newer non-fiction books that were never sold in hardback to begin with.

I don't think it would add much to their durability, but they'd look nicer on the shelves.

[dhermann1]

I read Ozma of Oz when I was about 12 and loved it. I never saw "Return to Oz", but I always thought they should have had Liza Minnelli play Ozma. She's a bit long in the tooth for it now.
I have several hundred books, a lot more that I haven't read that that I have. I've been accumulating a lot of stuff on the mid 20th century for several years, especially England. So I have bios of people like Churchill, Eden, MacMillan, Duff Cooper, Harold Nicolson, etc., etc., etc. When I go to used bookstores I always look for the old looking bindings. I also have quite a few old books from the 19th century that my mother accumulated (I say accumulated rather than collect because it's such a random process). The oldest ones going back as far as 1840. I have a lot of books that need better care than they're getting. This is on top of the thousands of old family letters and photographs. Anyone want to volunteer to be my own personal curator? There might be a PhD thesis in it!
Here's a small sample. You'll notice the 1940 Webster's Universal Dictionary Unabridged. I found it thrown out!
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s268/dhermann1/Bookcase.jpg

[imoldfashioned]

Thank you! I must have read through too fast and missed it. :eusa_doh: :o
Reprints of the Oz books? Wow! I can't get there anytime soon, but I may have to use some of my NY connections!! ;)

Sorry about the acronym use--I didn't mean to confuse you. You can purchase the Books of Wonder Oz reprints online for $24.99 each. Beautiful quality! http://www.booksofwonder.com/products.asp?dept=80

That is so great that you dressed as Ozma--any pictures?

[K.D. Lightner]

I have a collection of "keeper" books, those I read and re-read and cherish. Not a whole lot of them, but they are always with me no matter where I go. And I have had some of them for many years. Also, a few collectible children's books that I acquired.

Once, a friend of mine visited me when I lived in San Diego. She told me, "you have more books than anyone I know." I told her that was sad to hear because, at that point in my life, I had given up 95% of all the books I'd ever acquired. I also told her she ought to befriend some people who live in NYC, she'd find that my library was quite small.

So, I recycle most books, get money out of them when I can, give them to friends when I know they'd enjoy them, try not to buy too many books.

Hardcovers are nice, but only in extreme collectibles; otherwise, they are too heavy and take up too much room. I've moved around too, too much to collect many hardcover books.

karol

[Madalene Laurae]

I have all of my book packed up because I am moving soon. I have decided I have to stop buying them until I have a house. It is a hassle moving them around every two to three years. I have more heavy boxes of books than anything else! I have an assortment of hard and paper, mostly paper for the price. The books I usually buy are by my favorite authors or books I know I want to underline quotes in.

Powells.com is a great used book place. Whenever I visit Portland I have to go to the block-wide store downtown. It is like the Walmart of books (without being evil) it is my version of heaven.

[John in Covina]

I have a mix of hard cover and soft cover books. I like the idea of good versions with a hard cover for a permanent library, and would love to go hard cover all the way but find it doesn't consume me, it is a Lotto dream.

Ebay is a good source some times for hard to find stuff you just have to wait.

My mantra for a lot of dreams is "First things is to hit the lotto and then I'd..."

Build the stately Erickson Manor with Library office study conference room furnished with all the great stuff I want.

[imoldfashioned]

Your first editions sound wonderful Carter!


Keep the dust jackets on your books.

(hangs head in shame) I'm really bad about this--I usually strip the dust jacket off immediately because they drive me nuts sliding around when I'm trying to read the book. Me, with a Library degree! Ain't it awful Maude?

Question for everyone; Do you write in your books?

I usually sign my name with the date of purchase and any other pertinent information on one of the first pages. If someone gives me a book I really like it if they write a dedication so I can remember the occaision as well. It may decrease the market value of the book but it increases the sentimental value for me.

I rarely write within the text of a book, although there are two exceptions I can think of off the top of my head.

[Diamondback]

I usually liberally annotate my references via Post-It myself.

[MrNewportCustom]

(hangs head in shame) I'm really bad about this--I usually strip the dust jacket off immediately because they drive me nuts sliding around when I'm trying to read the book. Me, with a Library degree! Ain't it awful Maude?

Question for everyone; Do you write in your books?

I just slide the dust jacket off and place it nearby whenever I'm reading.

Write in a book? No, never. If I want to remember when I bought it, I tuck the receipt inside the book. (If I really abuse the ATM/check card, I'll place the receipt inside the book I feel is most important.)

I never loan my favorite books, because I'm always afraid they'll get the Jack Scorpion treatment. :p On the other hand, if it's one I didn't care much for, and someone asks about it (or I accidentally bought a duplicate), I may just give it to them.

Ah, yes! Post-Its! I've done that to many a Kinky Friedman book, so that I may go back and dig out humorous quotes.


Lee
_________________________

"Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house." - Henry Ward Beecher

[Diamondback]

I have been known to write in some volumes, also--back in my "railhead" days, I had a book with every "lightweight" railcar built in North America listed, and was annotating it with builder's plan and lot numbers and cross-references to other books with floorplans and elevations.

[MrNewportCustom]

. . . And I think we all agree.

"Old books that have ceased to be of service
should no more be abandoned than should old friends
who have ceased to give pleasure." - Sir Peregrine Worsthorne


Lee

[LizzieMaine]

I *used* to write in books quite a bit -- in fact, I got in trouble in high school for writing extensive marginal notes in my history books, pointing out what I considered to be errors or weak arguments by the authors. I got out of the habit, though, when I grew up and realized that I didn't, in fact, know it all.

What I do, though, is to use anything at hand as a bookmark -- and then forget that it's there. Some of the oddities that I've come across when pulling random volumes off the shelf include light bills, emery boards, playing cards, fabric scraps, hairpins, ticket stubs, film leader trimmings, and a McDonald's french fry bag.

[Harp]

My downtown bachelor crash pad became a book depository-again-a typical
condition with me, but since I was in federal law enforcement, and
seldom there anyway, it didn't matter much; until the building went condo.:eek:
And since I'm a peripatetic sort, and just needed book space, I decided
not to buy my unit, so I gave my books away to the Chicago Public Library
(where my bar tab had been unsettled, and the statute of limitations hadn't
kicked in yet), and they yanked my library card!:eek: But they took all my
books. But now I have my library card back, :eusa_clap And I've just bought
a book on 16th C Metaphysical Poets...and the cycle begins. :o

[zaika]

What I do, though, is to use anything at hand as a bookmark -- and then forget that it's there. Some of the oddities that I've come across when pulling random volumes off the shelf include light bills, emery boards, playing cards, fabric scraps, hairpins, ticket stubs, film leader trimmings, and a McDonald's french fry bag.

HA! i do the same things.

[John in Covina]

DId wind up with books on some subjects that weren't of interest to me any more and took them to a used book store. They selected a couple and then told me the Covina Library took in books. I brought the rest there. The guy said I could leave them with him and the library would look them over, if in good condition and relative they may go on the self, if not they were placed in with their booksale fund raising books.

Seemed better than a thirft store end,

[Starius]

When reading new books, I usually use the sales receipt as a bookmark.
For older books, I use old lottery tickets. They may not always pay off, but I'm going to get my money's worth out of them!

[BegintheBeguine]

DId wind up with books on some subjects that weren't of interest to me any more and took them to a used book store. They selected a couple and then told me the Covina Library took in books. I brought the rest there. The guy said I could leave them with him and the library would look them over, if in good condition and relative they may go on the shelf, if not they were placed in with their booksale fund raising books.

Seemed better than a thirft store end,
Good for you, John. Some of the best books I process for my branch library's collection came from donations. Sometimes the lazy librarians just stick all donations in the book sale but I fish out the gems that should be made available to borrow by our patrons instead of sold for a quarter. :eek:

[Twitch]

A word of warning to anyone needing to store books or magazine collections for an extended period- make sure you bug proof them. Termites will go for paper over wood!:eusa_doh:

[imoldfashioned]

...so I gave my books away to the Chicago Public Library
(where my bar tab had been unsettled, and the statute of limitations hadn't
kicked in yet), and they yanked my library card!:eek: But they took all my
books. But now I have my library card back, :eusa_clap And I've just bought
a book on 16th C Metaphysical Poets...and the cycle begins. :o

Oh, library fines! The bane of my existence. I'm constantly late getting my books back and have been since I got my first card. In college, to avoid the fines, I'd just take books and return them without checking them out. The year I graduated they put in a security system at the library; I feel directly responsible.

I've applied for a job through the Boston Public Library and one of the benefits is a special employee card with no fines. I'm more excited about the possibility of that than the vacation or health care benefits!

[imoldfashioned]

What I do, though, is to use anything at hand as a bookmark -- ...a McDonald's french fry bag.

There's a childhood memory, they haven't used bags in years, have they? I never use bookmarks, somehow I always remember what page I left off.

[MrNewportCustom]

I generally use paper for bookmarks; except, of course, a couple metal ones I've purchased - one of which I haven't seen in months.

I often use old photos that I took years ago. I even made a bookmark, once, from a 35mm contact strip of my favorite model and good friend, Cari.

Sometimes, I'll find a bok I haven't picked up in a while and find a bookmark in it. That's my clue I hadn't finished it. In such a case, I'll go back to the beginning of the chapter it's in and finish the book.


Lee

[Josephine]

I keep reading the title to this as "Personal Liberties". lol :p

[AlanC]

For bookmarks I use either a paper one from whatever bookstore happened to stick one in my books or very often I use airline ticket stubs, which are a very good size for a bookmark.

Please don't anyone use paperclips. I don't know how many old rusty paperclips I've taken off of of bent stained pages. :eusa_doh:

[MrNewportCustom]

I keep reading the title to this as "Personal Liberties". lol :p

I consider my personal library as a collection of personal liberties. :)


Lee

[John in Covina]

I like to use a piece of ribbon as a bookmark or a post-it note.

[Jack Scorpion]

My bookmarks used to be series of bus passes, movie tickets or subway tickets. These days, in the post-WhoFramedRogerRabbit LA, I usually settle for receipts (unless I am lucky enough to still have the bookstore's personalized novelty bookmark).

[Viola]

I just memorize the chapter break or page number, no bookmarks for me.

[Feng_Li]

Paperback for fiction, hardcover for reference. If I wear out a novel, it means I need to get the hardback edition. I'm pretty gentle with my books, though, so this doesn't happen too often. The only novel I remember completely wearing out is Watership Down, which spent a lot of time in my backpack as a schoolboy.

Cookbooks should be hardcover, and should never actually enter the kitchen. When I use a recipe I photocopy or transcribe it.

[Samsa]

I just memorize the chapter break or page number, no bookmarks for me.

I do the same thing, but invariably forget which page/chapter I left at. One would think that after years of doing this I would start using a bookmark, but no.

[HadleyH]

Cookbooks should be hardcover, and should never actually enter the kitchen. When I use a recipe I photocopy or transcribe it.



Lordee you take well care of those cookbooks lol one could be able to make a soup out of mine, that's how bad it is!

Concerning personal libraries, I have AND keep both; paperbacks and hardcovers. My books come mainly from second hand shops, also there are some titles very difficult to obtain that i've only been able to get in paperback form. I wouldn't get rid of them for the world.
And really,at the end of the day, a book is a book is a book. ;)

[Feng_Li]

Well, I've been known to use a cookbook for bedside reading, so I'm a little more motivated to keep them clean...:o

[MrNewportCustom]

I just memorize the chapter break or page number, no bookmarks for me.

I can do that, but only because I usually read a full chapter before putting a book down. But at about chapter six or seven I begin to lose my place, so I get a bookmark.


Lee

[dhermann1]

Anybody use bookplates? Quite a number of the books I inherited from my mother have various bookplates in them that she got here and there, plus I have a few other interesting ones. I'll post a few some time. I think our own Lady Day could create great book plates.
I found a number of good links on the the topic, but this one seems particularly cool. Page takes a LONG time to load, but it's worth it.
http://bookplatejunkie.blogspot.com/

[carter]

Originally posted by MrNewportCustom
. . . And I think we all agree.

"Old books that have ceased to be of service
should no more be abandoned than should old friends
who have ceased to give pleasure." - Sir Peregrine Worsthorne

Lee, Thanks for posting this. It reminded me of something.

When I worked in the Corporate sector, I kept a small library of paperbacks in my office for lending. Whenever someone was travelling and wanted to borrow a book, it was theirs for the asking. I don't know that they were all reurned but it really didn't matter. At least someone was reading them.

[zaika]

that website was great!
i love book plates! but i'm such a nerd that the only bookplates i've actually picked up were Star Wars related. [huh] it would be great to get some nostalgic ones.

[zaika]

. . . And I think we all agree.

"Old books that have ceased to be of service
should no more be abandoned than should old friends
who have ceased to give pleasure." - Sir Peregrine Worsthorne


Lee


geez...make me feel bad!! lol

[Ecuador Jim]

That software has got me drooling...if only I had money and iSight. lol

I have such a hard time getting rid of books. Most of what I have, I haven't read...but they're on my list. The list is just so long and all the borrowed books are at the front and people keep lending me books...it's a mess! hehe

BJB - how dare you post that link! :D Now I have to restrain myself from buying everything on there! Such beautiful books!

I agree with you Ben...it would be good to buy them as I read them. I was thinking of doing it that way, anyway. Maybe keep an eye out for a copy at thrift stores or whatever and slowly convert it over to hardback.

Jack- that's a fabulous idea! I will do that. :)

Ask for gift certificates to Powell's Books!

[zaika]

Ask for gift certificates to Powell's Books!

haha! i should. i'm so close to one of the powell's...it's very dangerous. a gift cert would do juuuuuust fine. ;)

[imoldfashioned]

I love bookplates (great site!) but I know I'd be too lazy to use them. I would love to see what Lady Day could design though.

[Diamondback]

a gift cert would do juuuuuust fine. ;)
And she's even easy to buy Christmas presents for! I think I'm in love, or at least have a serious crush...;)lol

Of course, you'd have to give your admirers some idea where to send those gift-certificates...

Oh, BTW, there's a big difference between passing a book you no longer use on to someone who will use it and "abandonment".

[zaika]

And she's even easy to buy Christmas presents for! I think I'm in love, or at least have a serious crush...;)lol

Of course, you'd have to give your admirers some idea where to send those gift-certificates...

Oh, BTW, there's a big difference between passing a book you no longer use on to someone who will use it and "abandonment".

lol! i'm easily satisfied, i guess. don't give me crap, give me gift certificates to a bookstore. lol.
passing them on...that's a good idea! i've opened my library to friends, but i don't think they care for what i have. oh well. [huh]



I would love to see what Lady Day could design though.

me too! i'm sure she would do something fabulous.

[MrNewportCustom]

geez...make me feel bad!! lol

:p

It just means to not forget either. :)

See my new thread (http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?p=407769#post407769), inspired by this one, Zaika. :)


Lee

[Flivver]

I've been accumulating books since I was a child...they'll push me out of the house yet!

Like several others here, my library is pretty specialized. It consists mostly of books on the history of the auto industry, radio industry and movie industry. I also collect magazines on those subjects.

I don't like to write in books and tend to use business cards as bookmarks.

My dream has always been to have one of those huge libraries you see in movies...multi-level with the upper story in mezzanine style, overlooking the main floor. Alas, that will never happen...but it's nice to dream!

[poetman]

I have no idea where this sort of a thread will go, so I picked this one. I'm happy to see it moved to the right place.
Okay...so here's the sitch. I want to revamp my personal library so that every book I own is in hardback. As of now, most of my books are paperback and falling apart and look awful on my shelf. Do you think it would be unreasonable to have this standard and rid myself of perfectly good classic novels just because they are in paperback?
Some of the paperbacks that my mom handed down to me are disinigrating every year and I don't want the same thing to happen to the books I get. I figure that hardbacks will a) keep longer and b) look nicer on my shelf. Oh, and c) prevent me from going nuts at the bookstore and buying a ton of books that I will never read. lol Moderation would be a good rule of thumb for me to hold to when in these fantasy lands called bookstores. lol
I'm curious to hear what your standards are for your own personal libraries.

It's interesting you should bring this up. I did this a whie back. I buy most of my books used: they are less expensive, and it is much easier to find hardcover copies. I read a lot of poetry, particularly collected works, so I pick up poetry in whatever binding is readily availalbe.

For fiction, I purchase everything hardback. I brought some old paperbacks to used bookstores, and slowly purchased hardcovers for the same reasons you site. To me, paperback are a joke; any reader knows, the bindings come apart, the covers tear. It doesn't even make sense. The only paperbacks I purchase are the books that are not really classic for my tastes. Again, I order most of my books online, as they are much cheaper and easier to find in hardcover.

For non-fiction, it depends on what is available, and on how classic the book is for me. I tend to settle on paperbacks if the book is slim--the larger the book the more necessary the hardcover becomes.


Just make sure you never choose a book because of the binding rather than the edition or translator.
Good luck and enjoy!

[dhermann1]

There are two basic classifications of books to get rid of: stuff that has quickly become obsolete, like all those books on DOS and MS Office 97, Lotus 1-2-3, etc., and real books. I recently had a goodly pile of real books that I wanted to get rid of. I was given the great suggestion of donating them to a hospital. I sent about 5 shopping bags full of good reading books to a local hospital and they were delighted to get them.

[Brian Sheridan]

Bookmarks: nothing works better for me than the "blow cards" that fall out of the magazines to which I subscribe.

Library Fines: I happily pay them knowing the library will use it (hopefully) to buy more books. Plus if I am a few days late on a book, it is still cheaper for me to pay the fine than to have purchased the book.

Below is a pic of my personal library. I need another bookcase! Also, I have changed the lamp to a vintage one.

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w297/BrianSheridan/library.jpg

[Kishtu]

... you cross a librarian with a bookworm?

Well, it's sort of like this. When I left my ex, I took a bed, three bags of clothes, three cats in a crate.... and twelve boxes of books. (I didn't even have a coat to wear - but heck, I had lots to read!)

I now live with Conan the Librarian.

I don't think there is a single room in our house where books do not take up a good 20% of the space, and that includes the bathroom. Hardback or paperback, don't bother me none.... torn covers, missing covers, I don't care, as long as none of the pages are missing!

[MAGNAVERDE]

I really like the looks of Brian Sheridan's library, but unfortunately, I don't have an unbroken wall space big enough to keep all my books--mostly architecture & interior design books--together in one spot. The real problem with art-type books, though, is that their coated paper makes them a lot heavier than other books. Most commercially-available bookcases aren't strong enough to hold them without bowing, and if there are antique versions strong enough for the job, well, I can't afford them.

I solved the problem by using metal shelves--the heavy-duty kind meant to hold engine parts--to whose fronts I attach antique door frames & whose sides I cover with the separated leaves of bifold panel doors that I faux-grain to match the old wood. Here's one such cobbled-together set in my old apartment, with the top of a Renaissance Revival-style dresser on top.http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a286/MAGNAVERDE/Desk--MagnaverdeBookRoom.jpg

[LizzieMaine]

Anyone here use LibraryThing to catalog their books? A while back someone tried to get a group of Loungers going there, but I haven't heard anything more about it lately.

At any rate, here is my LibraryThing link --
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/lizziemaine

Post yours if you've got one!

[Samsa]

I started to catalog mine, but would have to pay money to catalog all of my books, so stopped.

[zaika]

i started... but i realized that i don't have as many books as i thought i did!

http://www.librarything.com/profile/annikaraaen

[Twitch]

Since I write to produce articles long ago I created a bibliography as a separate file in Word. Any time I get a new book I add it in its proper alphabetical place. Then I just cut and paste the volumes I reference at the end. I have no facility to show locations like a library and don't need or want to.

[Brian Sheridan]

I really like the looks of Brian Sheridan's library, but unfortunately, I don't have an unbroken wall space big enough to keep all my books--mostly architecture & interior design books--together in one spot. The real problem with art-type books, though, is that their coated paper makes them a lot heavier than other books.http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a286/MAGNAVERDE/Desk--MagnaverdeBookRoom.jpg

Thanks for the compliment and I totally agree with the art type books. I have them either stacked on top of the case or in another case in another part of the room.

[carter]

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w297/BrianSheridan/library.jpg

Not only do I like the library, Brian, I especially like the big comfy chair and the big fella (is that a fella?) lying on the rug! :)

[Joie DeVive]

That is so great that you dressed as Ozma--any pictures?

Actually there are, and they're pretty cute, but alas, they are in a box in the back of Mom's closet, so I won't be posting them any time soon. :(

And thanks for the information on Books of Wonder! :)

[zaika]

i'm surprised that while moving pictures and radio have their own special rooms...books don't. they're kind of lumped here and there. didn't people read in the golden era? [huh]
where is the most suitable place to post discussions about books? in the OB? the Golden Era room? there should be a room just for book worms...we can call it...*ominous music* 'The Library.' :p
i've been starting out on this journey to read more (because i'm suffering from brain rot)...and i have this fabulous book published in 1946 called "Have You Read 100 Great Books?" in it there are dozens of lists put together by academics, authors, university literature departments. i'm following one of the lists of 100 great English novels, starting with Dickens' "Pickwick Papers." i'll be starting the book this weekend as my friend sabotaged my plans this week by lending me "Gone to Soldiers" by Marge Piercy. i can't put the darn thing down.
maybe i should start a new thread?? *sigh*

[imoldfashioned]

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w297/BrianSheridan/library.jpg[/QUOTE]

Sigh. I covet that chair.

[imoldfashioned]

Actually there are, and they're pretty cute, but alas, they are in a box in the back of Mom's closet, so I won't be posting them any time soon. :(

And thanks for the information on Books of Wonder! :)

(snaps fingers ruefully) Shoot! But I'm not surprised, the back of Mom's closet is where all of my old Halloween pictures are too. I was going to start a thread on Halloween costumes of Loungers as kids but I have nothing to contribute so it seems a bit cheezy. Maybe I still will though, closer to the holiday.

Glad the info on Books of Wonder was helpful. I'm going to NYC next week and I'm going to try and stick my head in there--I'll take a couple snaps if they'll let me. It's a cool store.

[V.C. Brunswick]

Anyone here use LibraryThing to catalog their books? A while back someone tried to get a group of Loungers going there, but I haven't heard anything more about it lately.

At any rate, here is my LibraryThing link --
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/lizziemaine

Post yours if you've got one!

Thanks for recommending librarything.com. I came across it while going through the archives as it were and signed up. So far here's my personal library. It's largely military history and aviation but it's got a few other things as well:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/victorbrunswick

[Chainsaw]

If it's just for looks, you can purchase hardcover, and leather bound books by the foot. Check around.

[Flat Foot Floey]

Oh books! I love them. I have mainly Art-, Children- and Design Books so I can't always choose between hardcover an softcover.
I had a bookbinding course at the university. But it takes time and patience to make a hardcover for one single book... I colund't do it for the whole library

[Feraud]

What I do, though, is to use anything at hand as a bookmark -- and then forget that it's there. Some of the oddities that I've come across when pulling random volumes off the shelf include light bills, emery boards, playing cards, fabric scraps, hairpins, ticket stubs, film leader trimmings, and a McDonald's french fry bag.

Another one here who uses anything at hand as a bookmark.
Receipts, to-do lists, movie stubs, torn out newspaper articles, those feathers they stick in fedoras, etc.


My wife and I maintain individual libraries at home. She is the fiction gal and I the non-fiction guy. Over the years our catalogs have evolved based on the need for space and interest.
I am happy to say we both still have healthy bookshelves.

It is good to know there are still people out there who browse bookstores and get excited over the inscribed flyleaves (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/weekinreview/30khoury.html?ref=books). We've tried to instill a love of reading and learning in our son.

[JimWagner]

I have way too many books, despite mercilessly weeding them out. At last count still well over 1000 in my house.

Now I try to only buy for my Kindle. And keep weeding the bookshelves.

[ClassicMan1966]

I'm building up a collection of James Bond and Tarzan books. Most are in paperback, but I do have a few in hardcover. Have all of the Ian Fleming novels except for Goldfinger, Dr. No, and Thunderball. Almost halfway done on my Tarzan collection.

[MisterCairo]

To reply to the original question posed by someone I believe doesn't even post here anymore, I too prefer hardcover, first editions where possible, and use book store sales and seconds bins, ebay, kijiji, and so on, to get hardcovers of volumes I bought originally in paperback.

Another good way to give books surplus to requirements a good home (in addition to hospital and goodwill-type donations) is the "give it away and track it around the world" option of www.bookcrossing.com:

You can "release" your books and (hopefully!) keep track of where they end up!

[Decodence]

PART of the home library. Much more in my office/museum.

http://www.wazny.com/images2/books/library/DSCN8206%20(Large).JPG
http://www.wazny.com/images2/books/library/DSCN8210%20(Large).JPG
http://www.wazny.com/images2/books/library/DSCN8211%20(Large).JPG

[RetroPat]

Decodence, love your Easton Press collection. Very beautiful books.

[Decodence]

Decodence, love your Easton Press collection. Very beautiful books.
They are just as beautiful inside. Make for some very good reads.

[WH1]

This was my project for the last 2 weekends. I built it out of 3/4" oak plywood with solid oak trim and shelves. It measures 72" wide x 12" deep x 84" tall. I had been wanting to put one in my office for several years so I was very pleased with the result.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t36/wh1fedora/NewBookcase010.jpg


The Zenith console is a 1940 model 8S563 I was fortunate to get recently and the lamp is an original that I cleaned up and rewired after getting it at an auction for $3.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t36/wh1fedora/NewBookcase012.jpg

[Harp]

Nice work.
And that Zenith is gorgeous. :eusa_clap

[Dexter'sDame]

Because my bookshelves are in the living room on a prominent wall, I prefer hardcovers and have been slowly converting my library over to them. The only exceptions are books that are not available in hardcover (which are kept in a small bookshelf in the hall), or "traveling" books I read and give away quickly.

As a renter, I too am a fan of Ikea Billy bookcases, because they're durable and are available in so many sizes and configurations. I've left them plain but have seen people do amazing things with them by adding molding. If I owned the place I'd probably do this too.

A favorite flyleaf inscription in my library is in a 1936 copy of Gone With the Wind There was something sweet about it that made me buy the book: "To our good friend Shep From Therese. December 25- 1936."

[Gilboa]

I LOVE books! When I lived nearer to London I spent days and days in the hidden away 2nd hand book stores (in between visits to conveniently placed pubs).

All my books are factual: Clothing History, General History, Design of all kind, Music, Referrence ... etc etc ...

Only exception: graphic novels (which I do love) and also comics.


Most of my books are hardbacks (due to age) but it can be rather painful when falling asleep on your back while reading: as soon as one nods off: 'bang' :eek: It wakes me up every time :eusa_doh:

[MikeBravo]

As a renter, I too am a fan of Ikea Billy bookcases, because they're durable and are available in so many sizes and configurations. I've left them plain but have seen people do amazing things with them by adding molding. If I owned the place I'd probably do this too.


apparently a few years Ikea took the Billy of their list. There were so many complaints that they had to put it back on again

[Dexter'sDame]

apparently a few years Ikea took the Billy of their list. There were so many complaints that they had to put it back on again

I'll bet! Those who have them tend to be devoted fans. I originally bought mine because I was trying to recreate Coco Chanel's wall of books without Coco's budget and kept seeing them in interior design editorials.

Bonus no one tells you about having a wall of books: they're fantastic insulation, in terms of both sound and temperature.

[~Kate~]

I prefer hardcover books but I have a lot of paperbacks. I find paperbacks are much easier to carry around which is important since I do most of my reading when I am on the go (either between classes or on the bus/train). My bag is heavy enough with all the textbooks I have to carry around! Most of my "ugly" looking paperbacks are hidden on my bookcases though. I either place a piece of artwork or a hardcover book (cover facing outwards) in front. It disguises them very nicely and I think it makes my bookcases look more interesting :)

[splatt]

I have a mixture of hardcovers and paperbacks but my biggest problem is that for a few of the authors and books i collect, such as the Peter Corris "Cliff Hardy (http://www.petercorris.net/cliffhardy.html)" series, Eric Ambler (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Ambler) and the Agatha Christie "Hercule Poirot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercule_Poirot_in_literature)" books i refuse to have anything but 1st editions (unless i can't find one after months of looking)...which can certainly get pricey on some of the older books :eusa_doh:

[martinsantos]

Love books! My parents made a huge library (around 15.000) in last 50 years, and I think I'm doing the same way... (in my parents's home the books invaded all rooms, except the bathroom and kitchen).

Usually I can't choose about paperback or not. Usually I buy 2nd hand books. When I have the chance to choose, I get the paperback, as they are cheaper.

[Isis]

My darling and I had 6 Billy-bookshelves each when we decided to move in together. We had the enormous luch to find a lovely apartment in a house built in 1954. It's in 2 stories and the only room upstairs is the living room. It's enormous, 8 meters long, but the ceiling is tilted, so it's 5 metres high in the middle of the room, but only 1.8 metres at the sides. The only room where we can have our books is the living room, but a Billy is too high to fit in. Our solution was to have a bookshelf built along the whole of one wall, and amazingly all our books fitted! It's in several sections and two of them have the shelves closer together for the paperbacks.

I prefer to buy hardbacks, especially books that I think I will re-read. If a paperback get's worn out, we re-place it with a hardback.

[DNO]

I just found this thread.

I’m a lifelong avid reader and as a result I have books upon books upon books. Lots of military history, Canadian art, cookbooks and tons of fiction.

I’ve always preferred paperbacks for my fiction. They’re easier to hold, easier to shove in a pocket or bag and inexpensive enough to treat roughly. But…I also reread books frequently and paperbacks lack durability. So a few years ago, I started replacing my frequently reread favorites with hardcover versions. I’ve continued to do this to the point that three months ago I ventured into my basement and filled 50 boxes with paperbacks that ended up at Goodwill.

It has become a hunt. Since retiring, I’ve been haunting the local thrift stores and I can’t tell you how many first editions, even signed first editions, I’ve found, and at much lower prices than one would have to pay for a current paperback. Great sport, and to find some of the lesser known books, like William Manchester’s “Goodbye Darkness”, or Kenneth Roberts’ “Northwest Passage", is a real thrill.

For bookmarks, I’ll use anything handy. People have given me little brass book darts and nice bookmarks…and I’m sure they’re around here somewhere.

As for writing in books…no. Not even my name. I figure that it’s not my work…so I leave it alone. When I write my own book, I’ll annotate it as much as I want.

Great thread.

[potemkin_city_limits]

I read a lot of books on my Kobo digital book reader then I seek out either the hardcover or the trade paperback version of a book to put on my shelf afterwards.

I dont find there is anything wrong with owning paperback copies of books though. I cant really see how they would deteriorate that much faster than a hardcover copy of a book.

[DNO]

I read a lot of books on my Kobo digital book reader then I seek out either the hardcover or the trade paperback version of a book to put on my shelf afterwards.

I dont find there is anything wrong with owning paperback copies of books though. I cant really see how they would deteriorate that much faster than a hardcover copy of a book.

There's nothing wrong with paperbacks...I prefer their smaller size. However, they are produced with cheaper paper and much less durable bindings than hardcovers. As I said in my other post, if I find that I re-read a particular book (and I do that a lot), I'll seek out a hardcover version. For a book lover like myself, thrift stores are a blessing.

And welcome to the Fedora Lounge, Potemkin+. Nice to see another Torontonian hanging about.

[Derek Cavin]

Love books! My parents made a huge library (around 15.000)...
Wow that is amazing.