Bookless Library

[Bison]

This just really makes me sad.  Even though I use an e-reader a lot these days, I don't really like the notion that we are relegating all of our knowledge to 101010101010101 formats.

SAN ANTONIO — Texas has seen the future of the public library, and it looks a lot like an Apple Store: Rows of glossy iMacs beckon. iPads mounted on a tangerine-colored bar invite readers. And hundreds of other tablets stand ready for checkout to anyone with a borrowing card.

http://nypost.com/2014/01/04/introducing-the-first-bookless-public-library/

[BanzaiCat]

It's the way of the future. Give it a few more generations and physical books will be an oddity and curiosity, collected like comic books and shown off on shelves along with collections of "action figures."

[Gusington]

You'll have to rip my ink and paper books from my cold dead hands.

[BanzaiCat]

Oh, I wholeheartedly agree - don't get me wrong. There's something about a nice big library of well-organized books (as long as they're in alphabetical order within size ranges with the largest to the left and higher and smallest to the right and lower).

When you have a ton of books on an e-device, a lot of them disappear into the deepest reaches of the list and I forget I have them. Whereas with a library of actual books, they're all displayed there to see. I much prefer that.

[Martok]

This just really makes me sad.  Even though I use an e-reader a lot these days, I don't really like the notion that we are relegating all of our knowledge to 101010101010101 formats.

I was dismayed to read that article as well.  Abandoning physical books (seemingly) so readily doesn't strike me as the best course of action. 

You'll have to rip my ink and paper books from my cold dead hands.

A massive +1 to that statement! 

[Gusington]

Cat you described how I arrange my library to a tee. It's like you're IN MY MIND...

[undercovergeek]

Cat you described how I arrange my library to a tee. It's like you're IN MY MIND...

surely by genre and author and then by size

[LongBlade]

Cat you described how I arrange my library to a tee. It's like you're IN MY MIND...

surely by genre and author and then by size

Mine is sorted by historic period (history books making up the vast majority of my collection).

WWII is sorted by theater - ETO, PTO, North Africa, Naval. Then I have a medieval section, ancient history, Asian history, special operations, espionage, et al. I also have a reference section for English and foreign languages (German, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, and French).

Organizing by size and author is too OCD for me.

[GDS_Starfury]

mine is sorted similar to LB's but I do try and keep them sized properly.

[LongBlade]

mine is sorted similar to LB's but I do try and keep them sized properly.

I do have a side section for the few oversized books that don't fit on normal shelves.

[GDS_Starfury]

those I lay flat on the bottom shelf.  my biggest contributors are Janes books.
why cant they make those things normal size?

[Gusington]

That's what she said.

LB how do your cookbooks fall into the equation?

[Bison]

I use the pile and box method.   You all suffer from OCD.

[Greybriar]

I bought a tablet to read .pdf PC game manuals and that's the closest I've gotten to reading e-books. I tried reading electronic books but I just don't like them.

[Gusington]

I definitely have OCD. I toy with getting a digital reader but I really enjoy a real book.