When I attended a party thrown by Joel Spolsky at his apartment, I got to browse through his library. Joel’s library was somewhat bigger and better organized than mine, but with a significant overlap: on almost every shelf I encountered at least several books that I already had or had in my wishlist.
Keeping a large library is something that I feel a little guilty about. Living space is precious and books take up a lot of it. One of my livejournal friends told me that he does not keep more than a small bookshelf of books at home (although he reads more than I do). Once he’s done with a book he either sells it at Half Price Books or gives it to a friend or acquaintance.
So why do I keep all the books? Besides the obvious vanity: look how sophisticated and edjumacated I am, there are other, more subtle reasons. When I was little, my father had an even bigger library. It was a great: exploring hundreds of books right at home was a great joy. My bed was located right under a huge bookshelf – if I wanted some bedtime reading all I had to do was to stretch my hand.
Joel put it best that evening: he feels that if somebody would read all the books that he has read, that person would start thinking similarly. A library is a sort of a mind dump, a memex chain. It becomes a part of who you are. Giving my library up would be extremely difficult for me. Call it the collector’s instinct, a fetish – it does not matter. Some poor people just are attached to physical books.
One of the reasons I got a job at TV Guide was because at the time it purchased two most promising eBook companies, NuvoMedia and Softbook. It thought that the electronic revolution would finally happen and we’d be reading from small electronic tablets, like on Star Trek. I do love paper books, but the promise of instant gratification and the library in a chip that was promised to us so long ago was even more tempting.
Sadly, the two companies were deprived of resources and smothered. I still think that the tablet reader is in our near future, and the Sony eInk tablet is a step in the right direction, although I am so displeased with Sony for a number of reasons (about which I’ll rant some other time) that I refuse to buy any of their products. In any case, my former co-worker Martin Eberhard, the founder of NuvoMedia (maker of the more successful and practical RocketBook) is now building awesome electric cars. I really wish I had a chance to interact with him at TVG — I share his fascination with Tesla and world changing technologies.
Since the ebook revolution is not coming any time soon, I finally decided to do something about keeping my books organized and joined LibraryThing. LibraryThing is a great online tool that allows you to create a catalog of your books by either typing in an ISBN number or book title. The interface is super usable. To make cataloging even faster I dug out my good ‘ol CueCat that I “declawed” back in the day. Seeing how crappy it was, I broke down and bought a real usb laser barcode scanner off eBay. It works like a charm – there’s a rotating laser inside and everything. Indeed, you get what you pay for.
I simply scan the barcode (if there’s one) or type in the title, add a tag that contains a shelf number – and that’s it. Now if I need to find a book I can simply search for it and find out which shelf it’s on. I don’t really need a more exact location. So far I’ve entered about 250 books. This covers the kitchen, bathroom and a couple of shelves in the living room. Altogether I have 2 Ikea Billys in the living room, 2 in one bedroom and 3 in another. In my estimation there should be at least 2000 books in my library, although a friend of mine thinks that it’s more like 1000. We’ll see who’s right once I’ll finish the catalog. My friend estimated (conservatively) that I spent about $5 per book, so my books must have cost me $5-10K. I feel kind of like Carrie from Sex and the City who had about $40K worth of Blahniks in her closet.
Pingback: mission fitness
Pingback: best supplements for muscle gain
Pingback: pre workout supplements
Pingback: best supplement for muscle gain
Pingback: webcam chat
Pingback: womens boots
Pingback: website
Pingback: buy fans
Pingback: investment properties
Pingback: linkwheels
Pingback: Wedding photographers in Miami
Pingback: i hate my job
Pingback: take fish oil supplements
Pingback: money online
Pingback: Squidoo lenses
Pingback: Blog darmowe filmy porno
Pingback: Calculators
Pingback: NYC Hotels
Pingback: Scott Tucker Payday Loans
Pingback: Okna Gniezno
Pingback: Scott Tucker Racing
Pingback: Okna Gniezno
Pingback: how do I blog
Pingback: seo link monster
Pingback: Scott Tucker Payday Loans
Pingback: Renegade Millionaire System
Pingback: How to Lose Weight In Your Stomach
Pingback: clearwater homes site
Pingback: finance insurance industry rss feeds
Pingback: REO Real Estate Owned
Pingback: Scott Tucker CBS
Pingback: Scott Tucker Leawood
Pingback: spinach health benefits
Pingback: football speed
Pingback: kriskris
Pingback: Euro
Pingback: File Hosting
Pingback: Hockey News
Pingback: Hundefutter test
Pingback: Titten Sex
Pingback: Proactol Review
Pingback: cuccioli pastore Tedesco
Pingback: NJATC
Pingback: Air Conditioning Repairs
Pingback: track phone calls
Pingback: learn more about seo
Pingback: goals galore
Pingback: psd2html
Pingback: Scott Tucker Racing
Pingback: Scott tucker
Pingback: jss tripler scam
Pingback: Curtain Tracks
Pingback: Kinky Curly curling custard
Pingback: DUI Albuquerque
Pingback: Fast SEO Results
Pingback: how to get a diet program
Pingback: Atlanta parking
Pingback: best psoriasis treatment
Pingback: denver seo
Pingback: remedies for plaque psoriasis
Pingback: Tietoa kaikille
Pingback: shop design
Pingback: auto usage laval
Pingback: pain doctor
Pingback: hack windows 7 login password
Pingback: Boise Chiropractor
Pingback: Free PSD Templete
Pingback: petite clothing
Pingback: discount golf clubs
Pingback: Ink esale Testimonials
Pingback: ways to make money online
Pingback: best reason refills
Pingback: Scott Tucker Payday Loans
Pingback: Scott Tucker CBS
Pingback: Scott Tucker CBS
Pingback: resort panama
Pingback: learn more
Pingback: bed bugs extermination new york
Pingback: solar eliptical gym
Pingback: bridal shower favors
Pingback: pikavippi ilman luottotietoja
Pingback: my homepage
Pingback: How to Settle Credit Card Debt
Pingback: tucson spinal decompression
Pingback: easy video squeeze system
Pingback: fried pork chops
Pingback: generic cialis
Pingback: Best Home Treadmill
Pingback: good running shoes
Pingback: dog flea allergy
Pingback: Jamba Juice Coupons
Pingback: Quiznos Coupons
Pingback: Best way to lose belly fat
Pingback: online casino uk
Pingback: woodhaven fence company
Pingback: scott tucker payday loans
Pingback: Matthew Roszak
Pingback: chucvuive
Pingback: boat canopy
Pingback: via
Pingback: get paid to
Pingback: removals in south yorkshire
Pingback: san diego escort
Pingback: Olympics
Pingback: nc unemployment eligibility
Pingback: maternity belly band
Pingback: hair loss treatment
Pingback: 31 day fat loss cure review
Pingback: muscle gaining secrets review
Pingback: How to fix your xbox
Pingback: buy cheese online
Pingback: internet marketer
Pingback: hydrogen generators for cars
Pingback: MANGA COMMUNITY
Pingback: That's it
Pingback: handwriting analysis
Pingback: Injury Lawyers
Pingback: Buy Cheap Drum Sets
Pingback: Pond Vacuums
Pingback: cash advance usa
Pingback: Tongkat Ali
Pingback: How to Quit Smoking
Pingback: used lexus
Pingback: Local Search San Diego
Pingback: Mathieu De Ruyck
Pingback: Mathieu De Ruyck
Pingback: 2013 honda cars reviews
Pingback: best blogs
Pingback: weight loss program
Pingback: Blocked Drains Sydney
Pingback: learn more
Pingback: webcam sex
Pingback: suchmaschinen optimierung
Pingback: Scott Tucker Racing
Pingback: Scott Tucker CBS
Pingback: Scott Tucker
Pingback: Rims
Pingback: maior blog de moda da alemanha
Pingback: depression statistics
Pingback: Jenny and Ashley
Pingback: website for sale
Pingback: army reserve pay
Pingback: free traffic
Pingback: virtual compound microscope
Pingback: Exercises To Burn Belly Fat
Pingback: Waschmaschine trockner
Pingback: fish oil benefits
Pingback: Ahh Bra
Pingback: Marketing Consultant London
Pingback: Kompositfonster
Pingback: Okna Poznan
Pingback: Okna PCV Gniezno
Pingback: Okna Gniezno
Pingback: Hudora Roller
Pingback: Okna Poznan
Pingback: cam live
Pingback: Pvc Nya
Pingback: joe rocket ballistic
Pingback: Ahmed Bilis
Pingback: Online Logon
Pingback: www.searscard.com
Pingback: bağlama büyüsü
Pingback: Scrapebox VPS Server
Pingback: Server
Pingback: white bunk beds
Pingback: VPS
Pingback: http://www.casquesansfil.org/
Pingback: flyttefirma
Pingback: machine a biere
Pingback: mobile cell tower
Pingback: http://www.glaciereelectrique.fr/
Pingback: Gold And Silver Buyers
Pingback: Silver Bullion Price
Pingback: swimming pool slides
Pingback: http://www.camescopehd.net/
Pingback: http://www.epilateurelectrique.net/
Pingback: no no hair removal
Pingback: Sex show
Pingback: no no hair removal
Pingback: http://www.whiteceramicwatches.net/
Pingback: My Blog
Pingback: rasoir electrique
Pingback: http://www.montregps.org/
Pingback: http://www.friteusesanshuile.net/
Pingback: http://www.minilavevaisselle.fr/
Pingback: http://www.disquedurinterne.net/
Pingback: call these people
Pingback: best online tires
Pingback: http://www.piscineautoportante.net/
Pingback: click here
Pingback: My Blog
Pingback: My Blog
Pingback: Web Design Astatula Florida
Pingback: sacoche homme
Pingback: drawing tutorials prices
Pingback: Recommended Reading
Pingback: Performer 5 in stores
Pingback: buy scrapebox list
Pingback: best mobile marketing agency
Pingback: "orthodontist
Pingback: casque bluetooth
Pingback: Bruxism Treatment
Pingback: assembling jobs description
Pingback: Android Questions,Hints
Pingback: 2 player games for wii
Yes, but while clothing is an *expense*, books are an *investment*.
Sigh. I have given up 1.5 Billys of books for our last move. It was quite difficult, and occasionally I still feel pangs of nostalgia for my selected best-of star trek novels. Now-a-days I read books on my palm or get them in the library.
BTW, what good reads have you had lately?
I am rereading a whole bunch of Pratchett (again); and next up is Ian Banks (we raided NYPL and Cornell (via Columbia) libraries and have a stack of them.)
My partner Sam has forced me to scale down my library. I went from 5 bookshelves to 1. I gave away most of my books by the simple expedient of leaving them outside on my stoop. People pick them up if they want them and I feel good knowing that someone is going to read them.
The only problem was when I put a whole box out and someone just grabbed the whole thing…
I keep planning on using bookmooch and bookcrossing to give away books, but my barrier to entry has always been the data entry. I don’t want more “things”: no room for even a laser scanner, but I’d love it if my cameraphone could process the barcode…
you’re lucky to have barcodes on (most of?) your books.
Sony Reader, despite all its shortcomings (the UI is horrible), is the closest thing to what I want an ideal book reading device to be. It’s nearly perfect for fiction (I am talking mostly about EInk technology). And it’s okay for most non-fiction. Large illustrations, color graphs, wide tables, etc. don’t look their best on the EInk screen. But my biggest grip is with people, not the Reader. I wish more authors who tend to write long articles had “plain” or “printable” view on their websites. Or at least included full articles in their RSS feeds! It would make extracting and formatting text for the Reader so much easier.
As for collecting books — it’s just a bunch of dead trees with dust on them. Get over it! :)
I recently acquired a brand new X41 tablet for $500 on ebay. It is the bomb. I still have my Rocket Ebook, but the X41 does it all better. Maybe I am misguided, but i think the tablet PC thing has a real future.
Wow … I love Library Thing. Thanks for the mention, no idea how I missed that site. Bought a lifetime account and have started entering books (in no particular order)!
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/laurelo
Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?