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The Library
The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders | Stuart Kells
29 posts | 4 read | 1 reading | 23 to read
Libraries are filled with magic. From the Bodleian, the Folger and the Smithsonian to the fabled libraries of middle earth, Umberto Ecos mediaeval library labyrinth and libraries dreamed up by John Donne, Jorge Luis Borges and Carlos Ruiz Zafn, Stuart Kells explores the bookish places, real and fictitious, that continue to capture our imaginations. The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders is a fascinating and engaging exploration of libraries as places of beauty and wonder. Its a celebration of books as objects and an account of the deeply personal nature of these hallowed spaces by one of Australias leading bibliophiles. Stuart Kells is an author and book-trade historian. His 2015 book, Penguin and the Lane Brothers, won the Ashurst Business Literature Prize. An authority on rare books, he has written and published on many aspects of print culture and the book world. Stuart lives in Melbourne with his family. He is writing a book about Shakespeares library.
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Palimpsest
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Pickpick

It turns out I love this book! Yes, I wish the source notes were included, but it turns out they on on his website at least. The beginning was similar about the origin of books and paper as a few other books, but then he talks about everything from St. Gall to the Folger Shakespeare library, ruthless collectors, disasters in libraries, libraries in fiction and even pests like the bookworm. A wealth of information about historical libraries. ❤️

51 likes5 stack adds
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Palimpsest
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Okay, I actually don‘t eat while I read because I don‘t like getting gunk on my books, but I was reading this right before dinner and wanted to share the delicious Sabich sandwich my husband made. Enjoying the book so far, but because I‘ve read The Book by Hudson and The Book on the Bookshelf by Petroski, a lot of info is repeated , but I have learned some new and interesting things. Wish he had included a reference section though. So far so good.

Leftcoastzen Wow , that looks good! 3y
Tamra Drool worthy! 3y
Palimpsest @Leftcoasten and @Tamra It has become one of my favorite things to eat! I never would have thought I would like the combo of Mediterranean pickles with boiled egg and the amba sauce, but it‘s really delicious! It could be made vegan just by eliminating the egg as the rest is basically a vegetable mix and eggplant with tahini sauce. I think he got the recipe from the cookbook, Jerusalem, but he‘s tweaked a few things since the first time he made it 3y
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Come-read-with-me This looks delicious! 😛 3y
Nute I wish that I wanted to talk about the book that you are reading, but I just can‘t stop looking at the meal. It looks scrumptious!😋 3y
51 likes6 comments
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annamatopoetry
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Hey guys, for reasons, I need to catalogue all of my books (except for one, because fuck you ikea for not publishing with isbns), do you have any software or method that you prefer? That you hate? I nearly did library thing many years ago but they were paid over a very low number at that point. I don't have a ton of books - about three Billys' worth - but enough to be troublesome. #bookorganization #librarything

reading_rainbow Beautiful!🖤 4y
annamatopoetry @reading_rainbow thank you! 🥰 4y
bibliothecarivs LibraryThing is free now! I've used it since 2007 and I've been very happy with it. And their TinyCat is a cool public catalog. Here's mine: https://www.librarycat.org/lib/bibliothecarivs. 4y
Sace I love LibraryThing...granted I don't catalog my books, but I like how focused they are on cataloging. 4y
9 likes4 comments
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MamaGina
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If this weren‘t Sunday I would have immediately driven to my nearest branch to take care of this........oh, the Horror!!!🙀
#withoutwarning
#bibliophileproblems
#sillydramatic

Lovesbooks87 I never knew library cards expired until Litsy. 4y
MamaGina @Lovesbooks87 I was there a few days ago ... you‘d think when I checked out my books there would have been a notification my card was about to expire, they have a very advanced self check out system🤔 4y
Lovesbooks87 @MamaGina you would think. My library doesn‘t have expiration dates on our cards! 4y
Reggie Lol, indeed, the horror. 4y
24 likes4 comments
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Andrea313
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Can confirm. #library #guyswhoread
📷: @bookriot on Instagram

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Mitch
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Books about books 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Do you have a favourite library in a book?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jul/31/top-10-libraries-in-fiction-jrr-to...

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erinreads
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Life has been NUTS lately (FYI buying a house and moving is stressful and overwhelming and I never want to do it again 😂), but it‘s finally settling down so I‘m looking forward to getting back to reading and getting back on Litsy every day! 🙌🏻 My new library and reading room is just about done and I couldn‘t be happier with how it turned out. THOSE TEAL WALLS. 😍 Anyways, hi, I‘ve missed you all and can‘t wait to see what everyone is reading!

squirrelbrain 😍😍😍 5y
MelissaSue81 It looks AMAZING!! 5y
Lcsmcat Love your library! 5y
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Oryx Stunning! 5y
mcctrish That looks like a perfect place to read and I‘ve glad you‘ve made it through 5y
wanderinglynn That looks fantastic! What a great reading spot! 👍🏻❤️ 5y
dylanisreading It‘s beautiful! 5y
tjwill 😍 5y
Lizpixie Oh I‘m so jealous! My library needs caution tape put up in the doorway🚨⚠️🚫 5y
Leftcoastzen Beautiful! 5y
TrishB Looks lovely ❤️ 5y
LibrarianRyan Love love love that color
5y
wildwoodreads Beautiful!!! 5y
Cortg Perfect! And your bookshelves look fantastic!
5y
rachelm Gorgeous!! 5y
Bookwormjillk Very nice! 5y
AlaMich I ❤️ the chair!! 5y
Ddzmini Nice 📖😋 5y
Sarah83 Looks awesome 😍 5y
JacqMac Lovely! 😍 5y
Gissy Nice and cozy reading spot! 😍I'm also in the process to looking a place to move. I started by packing the books😓a lot of work! I also hope this can be my last move!🤞 5y
Bookzombie That looks so lovely! 5y
Simona Looks like a nice and very relaxing place to be❣️ 5y
82 likes23 comments
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barbwire
Pickpick

Read this one as a class requirement for my library science degree, and enjoyed it more than mandatory reading should dictate. Kells gives a history of libraries and the printed book that flows exactly as a trip to your favorite library or bookstore should: detours down interesting rabbit holes at every turn, informational nuggets you never knew you wanted to know, and a wholly satisfied feeling once you finish. Could've replaced the textbook!

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Traci1
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I'm in a huge reading rut lately. I need something to pull me out, so I made a quick dash into the library this morning and pulled the first few that caught my eye. I didn't read the blurbs on any of them. They were chosen strictly based on cover and titles.

Which should I dive into first to pull me out of the slump?

That-Bookish-Hiker I really enjoyed The Undead Girl Gang. 5y
Eyelit I really liked Aya (and the Kiss Quotient) 5y
Bookwm85forever The Undead Girl Gang 👍🏻! 5y
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Hestapleton The Kiss Quotient was fantastic! 5y
DivineDiana Haven‘t read any of these yet, but I do like the writing of Chris Bohjalian (who is on Litsy too!). 5y
TheEllieMo I loved The Travelling Cat Chronicles! 5y
xicanti AYA and THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES are both wonderful! 5y
RainyDayReading I haven‘t read any of these, but I‘ve heard good things about Undead Girl Gang! Not sure how helpful that is though haha. 5y
xxjenadanxx I really enjoyed The Kiss Quotient. 5y
86 likes9 comments
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Judybskt
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My husband asked me to empty one of our bookcases so he could move it. So now my other 3 bookcases are full! The one on the left had been sitting empty. What?! It was a window that was converted to a bookcase when we built an addition. The one on the top right was built for us. 📖📖📖💙💙💙

MrBook Oooh! 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 5y
28 likes1 comment
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belacat
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Yes, I vote for those library levies.

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BookFreakOut
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A delightful "coupon" shared by my public library! ?

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Lizpixie
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And the great #CatalogueAndCull2018 has begun! I‘m trying to be ruthless with my culling, there‘s a few that I ummed & ahhed about but if I want to fit in all my #MountTBR books I need to make as much space as possible. Taking longer than I hoped though, just this bookcase took @Ciara_Rosey & I over 2.5hrs before she had to leave. Tackling the rest tomorrow hopefully🤞I‘m having issues with using the Goodreads app to scan, anyone have tips?

CarolynM Good luck with the culling. I always set out with the intention of being ruthless, but never seem to carry it through😬 5y
Lizpixie Thanks @CarolynM I‘ve been really good so far, there‘s 12 books already in the donate pile just from one bookcase so I‘m hoping the trend continues!🤞 5y
60 likes2 comments
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ReviewsMayVary
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Was planning to read this tonight. But i have a book due back to the library tomorrow... so i gotta read that one instead. Blub.

9 likes1 stack add
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Sarah83
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We had breakfast in the dining room this morning. I finally made it to tidy up the table and so I had this gorgeous view... 😊🤗😍

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KirstieE
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Do you ever just sit back and admire your collection? Like damn , y'all make me so happy 😭👏🏻

...or is it just me ? 😂 #bookwormthings #shelfie

britt_brooke 😍😍😍 6y
booksensation 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️ 6y
Regi_C Love those shelves! Where are they from??? 6y
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Avanders Nice decorating! 6y
pppooraikul You should be proud. Those shelves are amazing! 👏🏼 6y
Ddzmini Yes yes and then I think how can anyone not love books 😳📚🤗 6y
KirstieE @Regi_C I got them from IKEA ! @pppooraikul @Avanders thank you 🤗❤️ 6y
BooknerdsLife Beautiful shelf! 😍😍 5y
KirstieE @BooknerdsLife thank you !! ❤️ 5y
68 likes9 comments
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Ross
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ONFG SO GOOD!

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scripturient
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❤️❤️❤️ #litsyloveslibraries

i.z.booknook Gorgeous! 😍 6y
Sarah83 Where is it? 6y
scripturient @Sarah83 I took the picture off the internet. This is Gladstones Library, the residential one. 😊❤️ 6y
Sarah83 So wonderful 6y
94 likes4 comments
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Ruthiella
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Chrissyreadit ❤️👏👏👏❤️ 6y
Parvez True 6y
Centique Amen! 6y
Linsy 🙌 6y
27 likes4 comments
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Kindredanne
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Checked this out from my library today & so excited to read it!! 📚 #lovethelibrary

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MrBook
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This is Fishkill's library from the side. The Blodgett Memorial Library easily blends in along the main residential street and this residential side road. Loved it!

#LitsyLovesLibraries

Leftcoastzen So lovely!❤️ 6y
128 likes1 comment
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MrBook
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So, who wants to see more pics from @BookBabe 's & my impeccable day yesterday ????????!

This is the first of 2 pictures of the Fishkill library we stumbled upon a block from where we had our amazing lunch yesterday (there was a small sign right across the street saying "Library -->" ?) . It's in an older house, which is both endearing and fun!

From the front...

#LitsyLovesLibraries

Zelma Very pretty. 6y
britt_brooke So lovely! 6y
Leftcoastzen When I was a little kid I used to go to an old library that was a converted house. The floor boards all creaked and I loved that. 6y
tammysue Fun and unconventional 🙌🏻🙌🏻 6y
139 likes4 comments
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ssravp
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Mehso-so

Pretty uneven in my opinion. Some really great parts but not enough to keep me engaged.

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Sarahreadstoomuch
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Well hey there good lookin‘. Aren‘t you a beauty on our new books shelf?

32 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Libby1
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When your Librarian actually tags you for memes on Facebook. ❤️📚❤️

#LitsyLovesLibraries

stargazerblue49 😂😂😂 6y
EvieBee 10 Things I Hate About You! 6y
Bradleygirl Aw man too real 6y
101 likes1 stack add3 comments
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scripturient
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This is what looking for books at the university library felt like today. 😂

julesG Doesn't it always? 6y
137 likes1 comment
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scripturient
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❤️👍🏻

Eggs Absolutely! 6y
105 likes1 comment
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UwannaPublishme
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Gotta give a shout-out to the adorable Carpinteria Library I recently discovered on my vacation. Located just a few miles east of Santa Barbara, this quaint library has a gorgeous garden area for reading, the friendliest staff and quite a history-as the very first county branch library in the state of California. 😍🙌🏻 And get this: The Friends of the Carpinteria Library have a giant used bookstore right next to it! #litsyloveslibraries

imabusybee So glad to see Library book sales up north 7y
UwannaPublishme @imabusybee Usually the Friends have a little nook in the library to sell books. But this one had an entire building! 6y
40 likes2 comments