and no one will think of or care for any
structural ornament； if the goods are
tastefully disposed in the shop…window。 The man
who looks for society in his books will
readily perceive that； in proportion as the face of
his bookcase is occupied by ornament； he
loses that society； and conversely； the more
that face approximates to a sheet of
bookbacks； the more of that society he will enjoy。
And so it is that three great advantages come
hand in hand； and； as will be seen； reach
their maximum together： the sociability of
books； minimum of cost in providing for
them； and ease of access to them。
In order to attain these advantages； two
conditions are fundamental。 First； the shelves
must； as a rule； be fixed； secondly； the cases；
or a large part of them； should have their
side against the wall； and thus； projecting
into the room for a convenient distance； they
should be of twice the depth needed for a
single line of books； and should hold two
lines； one facing each way。 Twelve inches
is a fair and liberal depth for two rows of
octavos。 The books are thus thrown into
stalls； but stalls after the manner of a stable；
or of an old…fashioned coffee…room； not after
the manner of a bookstall； which； as times
go； is no stall at all； but simply a flat space
made by putting some scraps of boarding
together； and covering them with books。
This method of dividing the longitudinal
space by projections at right angles to it； if
not very frequently used； has long been
known。 A great example of it is to be found
in the noble library of Trinity College；
Cambridge； and is the work of Sir Christopher
Wren。 He has kept these cases down to
very moderate height； for he doubtless took
into account that great heights require long
ladders； and that the fetching and use of
these greatly add to the time consumed in
getting or in replacing a book。 On the other
hand； the upper spaces of the walls are
sacrificed； whereas in Dublin； All Souls； and
many other libraries the bookcases ascend
very high； and magnificent apartments walled
with books may in this way be constructed。
Access may be had to the upper portions by
galleries； but we cannot have stairs all round
the room； and even with one gallery of books
a room should not be more than from
sixteen to eighteen feet high if we are to act on
the principle of bringing the largest possible
number of volumes into the smallest possible
space。 I am afraid it must be admitted that
we cannot have a noble and imposing
spectacle； in a vast apartment； without sacrificing
economy and accessibility； and vice versa。
The projections should each have attached
to them what I rudely term an endpiece （for
want of a better name）； that is； a shallow
and extremely light adhering bookcase （light
by reason of the shortness of the shelves）；
which both increases the accommodation； and
makes one short side as well as the two long
ones of the parallelopiped to present simply
a face of books with the lines of shelf； like
threads； running between the rows。
The wall…spaces between the projections
ought also to be turned to account for
shallow bookcases； so far as they are not
occupied by windows。 If the width of the interval
be two feet six； about sixteen inches of this
may be given to shallow cases placed against
the wall。
Economy of space is in my view best
attained by fixed shelves。 This dictum I will
now endeavor to make good。 If the shelves
are movable； each shelf imposes a dead
weight on the structure of the bookcase；
without doing anything to support it。 Hence
it must be built with wood of considerable
mass； and the more considerable the mass
of wood the greater are both the space
occupied and the ornament needed。 When the
shelf is fixed； it contributes as a fastening to
hold the parts of the bookcase together； and
a very long experience enables me to say
that shelves of from half… to three…quarters of
an inch worked fast into uprights of from
three…quarters to a full inch will amply suffice
for all sizes of books except large and heavy
folios； which would probably require a small；
and only a small； addition of thickness。
I have recommended that as a rule the
shelves be fixed； and have given reasons for
the adoption of such a rule。 I do not know
whether it will receive the sanction of
authorities。 And I make two admissions。 First；
it requires that each person owning and
arranging a library should have a pretty
accurate general knowledge of the sizes of his
books。 Secondly； it may be expedient to
introduce here and there； by way of exception；
a single movable shelf； and this； I believe；
will be found to afford a margin sufficient to
meet occasional imperfections in the
computation of sizes。 Subject to these remarks； I
have considerable confidence in the
recommendation I have made。
I will now exhibit to my reader the
practical effect of such arrangement； in bringing
great numbers of books within easy reach。
Let each projection be three feet long； twelve
inches deep （ample for two faces of octavos）；
and nine feet high； so that the upper shelf
can be reached by the aid of a wooden stool
of two steps not more than twenty inches
high； and portable without the least effort in
a single hand。 I will suppose the wall space
available to be eight feet； and the projections；
three in number； with end pieces need only
jut out three feet five； while narrow strips of
bookcase will run up the wall between the
projections。 Under these conditions； the
bookcases thus described will carry above
2；000 octavo volumes。
And a library forty feet long and twenty
feet broad； amply lighted； having some
portion of the centre fitted with very low
bookcases suited to serve for some of the uses of
tables； will receive on the floor from 18；000
to 20；000 volumes of all sizes； without losing
the appearance of a room or assuming that
of a warehouse； and while leaving portions
of space available near the windows for
purposes of study。 If a gallery be added； there
will be accommodation for a further number
of five thousand； and the room need be no
more than sixteen feet high。 But a gallery
is not suitable for works above the octavo
size； on account of inconvenience in carriage
to and fro。
It has been admitted that in order to
secure the vital purpose of compression with
fixed shelving； the rule of arrangement
according to subjects must be traversed
partially by division into sizes。 This division；
however； need not； as to the bulk of the
library； be more than threefold。 The main
part would be for octavos。 This is becoming
more and more the classical or normal size；
so that nowadays the octavo edition is
professionally called the library edition。 Then
there should be deeper cases for quarto and
folio； and shallower for books below octavo；
each appropriately divided into shelves。
If the economy of time by compression is
great； so is the economy of cost。 I think it
reasonable to take the charge of provision for
books in a gentleman's house； and in the
ordinary manner； at a shilling a volume。
This may vary either way； but it moderately
represents； I think； my own experience； in
London residences； of the charge of fitting
up with bookcases； which； if of any
considerable size； are often unsuitable for removal。
The cost of the method which I have adopted
later in life； and have here endeavored to
explain； need not exceed one penny per
volume。 Each bookcase when filled represents；
unless in exceptional cases； nearly a solid
mass。 The intervals are so small that； as a
rule； they admit a very small portion of dust。
If they are at a tolerable distance from the
fireplace； if carpeting be avoided except as to
small movable carpets easily removed for
beating； and if sweeping be discreetly
conducted； dust may； at any rate in the country；
be made to approach to a quantite negligeab1e。
It is a great matter； in addition to other
advantages； to avoid the endless trouble and
the miscarriages of movable shelves； the
looseness； and the tightness； the weary arms；
the aching fingers； and the broken
fingernails。 But it will be fairly asked what is to
be done； when the shelves are fixed； with
volumes too large to go into them？ I admit
that the dilemma； when it occurs； is
formidable。 I admit also that no book ought to be
squeezed or even coaxed into its place： they
should move easily both in and out。 And I
repeat here that the plan I have
recommended requires a pretty exact knowledge by
measurement of the sizes of books and the
proportions in which the several sizes will
demand accommodation。 The shelf…spacing
must be reckoned beforehand； with a good
deal of care and no little time。 But I can
say from experience that by moderate care
and use this knowledge can be attained； and
that the resulting difficulties； when measured
against the aggregate of convenience； are
really insignificant。 It will be noticed that
my remarks are on minute details； and that
they savor more of serious handiwork in the
placing of books than of lordly survey and
direction。 But what man who really loves
his books delegates to any other human
being； as long as there is breath in his body；
the office of inducting them into their homes？
And now as to results。 It is something to
say that in this way 10；000 volumes can be
placed within a room of quite ordinary size；
all visible； all within easy reach； and without
destroying the character of the apartment as
a room。 But； on the strength of a case with
which I am acquainted； I will even be a little
more particular。 I take as before a room of
forty feet in length and twenty in breadth；
thoroughly lighted by four windows on each
side； as high as you please； but with only
about nine feet of height taken for the
bookcases： inasmuch as all heavy ladders； all
adminicula requiring more than one hand to
carry with care； are forsworn。 And there is
no gallery。 In the manner I have described；
there may be placed on the floor of such a
room； without converting it from a room into
a warehouse； bookcases capable of receiving；
in round numbers； 20；000 volumes。
The state of the case； however； considered
as a whole； and especially wi