Shortly after we moved in I became a teacher. In came books relating to teaching preschool, Spanish as a second language, intro to music. James began to bring in works that related to his field, as well as seismology, the ecology and hikes that are unique to our area and the ever present books that are in the science fiction and fantasy genres.
You get the picture. We have a lot of books.
In fact we've collected so many books that it was time to "decommission" some of them. So this last weekend we sorted through old editions, things we don't read any more, books that would be great for libraries, subjects that might be interesting to others because of their aged quaintness. Books that some young person on a tight budget might buy at a price that would feel like a real deal. Books that we've read and that should be doing more than sitting on our shelves. 
The result is lots more room for the books in the back room to move up front. It feels a little odd to have the shelves looking a bit empty, but I know that we'll adjust. Makes me smile to think that somewhere someone will pick up one of the donated books and will add it to a shelf that is hungry for books.
Wow. Your gorgeous, empty shelves make my heart pop a little. We have a lot of books, too, still in boxes in the garage after living here six and a half years. We need more shelves! Either that or we need to go through our boxes and see what we've been living without.
ReplyDeleteIt's a hard thing to do. We've been meaning to do this for years. Giving up the books, and that's what it felt like, was like giving up bits of our lives. It's a bit like closing chapters in our lives. The balance to that choice was thinking that was some young person "out there" who might want to explore something in the books.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I had a chance to really clean the cabinet glass. It was so clean and the book covers almost had a twinkle factor to them.
ReplyDeleteRoberta, we have the same problem. I like your idea.
ReplyDeleteGreat. Perhaps there'll be more good books for young folks to buy at a cost they can afford.
ReplyDeleteIf I were very rich, I'd have a library in my house. One with books, floor to ceiling on all four walls, and huge -- soft but not too soft -- chairs, and a faithful dog asleep at my feet. Oh, and a working fireplace. Wait, wait -- also, a silver tray with an assortment of single malt scotch and Kentucky bourbon.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be grand to have a library? Long as we're fantasizing, mine would have a wrought iron spiral staircase. The cherry on top would be someone who would come in and dust the books regularly. I'll exchange that for the silver tray and scotch or bourbon. I prefer red wine. Of course there'd be a dog in the picture.
ReplyDeleteYou probably both saw this. A little drool on the computer screen can't hurt.
ReplyDeleteI did. But the pragmatic side of me could only think of all the dusting. Although there was a staircase that had me ready to order cases of Murphy's soap and Howard's oil.
ReplyDeleteOk, you can have your spiral staircase, I want one of those wooden ladders that slides from shelf to shelf.
ReplyDeleteDEAL. I hope that we can visit each other's libraries to have a chance to glide and slide.
ReplyDelete