My vision of the Private Library goes something like this: the members retain ownership of their respective collections, but they are housed together in a building held by the non-profit Library foundation. Each collection is catalogued and organized according the owner's taste. Each member has full access to all member's collections. The building itself is central to the idea--it is, ideally, an older building with character, renovated and fireproofed and climate controlled. The membership fees are mainly toward the building acquisition/upkeep. The library also does some community outreach--bringing students and others into the library to be educated about book-collecting and care (this part of the idea is still vague). This idea enables bibliophiles to indulge their passion without straining their homes' ability to support the weight of books; protects the books from fire, theft, etc.; allows the user to visit his own collections at any time as well as to enjoy those of others. There would be an affiliated system of these libraries; any member could visit any of the other libraries. This is necessary to allow for mobility--one's books would generally stay at the library which one originally joined, and when one relocates or travels, one visits the library nearest to one's new location.-- JacquesDemien, Jul 05 2003 Hmmm. How would these "Libraries" insure the books? I have a second edition illustrated copy of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' that I would never part with to a borrower.
Ostensibly, this whole idea is to split the difference between storing a million books and getting your books back from borrowers. (The part about reading other people's books is already quite baked in library form.) Ok, but what about the vast array of LOTR Tolkein books you are likely to find on the shelves. Wouldn't repeats cause problems for the library?-- k_sra, Jul 05 2003 Love it. Often thought of creating my own mini library if someone would donate the space. I have way to many books (see BookCrossing - IBuy2ManyBooks) but can't justify getting rid of them completely.
Your idea makes it practical. Multiple collections. Multiple semi-select users. Of course, I'm in with the idea of using a older building with character. The obvious answer to the question of 1st editions is have a special collection not for borrowing section or just don't donate those. A suggestion for the part you said was the vague part of the idea - the care of the collection - use library science/archivist students. Make it part of their degree to offer 3-6 months help each. A practical practicum. Finally, a solution to a_passmoore's sadly very true observation about homeless people (libraries, buses and malls take the brunt of eau de the government is screwing the homeless so the homeless screw your sinuses, etc). Public showers and Smell-o-Meters (see my recent idea post).-- thecat, Jul 05 2003 have you a dictionary in there? I need to look up the spelling of verbal die, diah, diarri, diarrhoea...-- po, Jul 05 2003 k_sra: Good points. Each Library member would retain control over her/his own collections. Perhaps the extremely rare/valuable collections would be handled differently. But keep in mind that this is a "persons of like mind" idea--so who is going to molest your collection? I don't see repeats as a problem, because ultimately the Library is a collection of collections--not a single collection like most public versions.
a_passmore: This is a private libary. Not to be unfeeling, but the homeless--moreover, the public--are not welcome. The building is secured except to members. Besides, most [progressive] metro areas are [re]gentrifying their downtowns, where the nice old buildings are likely to be.
thecat: I'll take any extra books off your hands. Just send 'em over. :) Thanks for your other comments. I guess if I had read them before responding, I should not have had to write so much.
po: Sorry, I'm prolix when I'm tired.-- JacquesDemien, Jul 05 2003 I've often thought of this sort of arrangement myself! My gardening group does a similar thing. Each member has handed out a list of all gardening books which they own and we swap the books around. The books always end up being returned to the owners. We have yet to have a problem. As far as rare books go - just keep them at home. If anyone would like to see a rare selection they may arrange it with the owner.-- karogo, Jul 06 2003 yes, bliss - Exactly!
JD, nice 1st idea. I'm just a little perverse, in that my books are MINE.
whoops! 2nd idea.-- po, Jul 06 2003 Thank you JacquesD... comments like that are very satisfying for all the shit and abuse the bully pulpit puppetters hurl when I call them on their mean-spirited &/or self-serving &/or smart-ass &/or money-grubbing &/or cynical comments.
;) aside, unless you too already have too many books , join Bookcrossing and when I am working and caught up on bills I will spring for a mailed bc'ing drop. I'll e- you a list and you would just have to e- a preference.
love & kisses (to JacquesDemian) ... thecat.-- thecat, Jul 06 2003 The Dewey number for woolly monkeys is 599.858. Fact.-- my face your, Jul 07 2003 Harold,
Any person who should dare to add his collection to the Library, and fail to provide an explanation of his system of classification, would be accosted betwixt his unruly stacks and given a good reprimanding.-- JacquesDemien, Jul 09 2003 Harold: Clearly.-- JacquesDemien, Jul 09 2003 random, halfbakery