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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 with reference to
libraries exceeding say 20；000 or 30；000
volumes； and gathering rapid accretions； has
been found to require in extreme cases； such
as those of the British Museum and the
Bodleian （on its limited site）； a change more
revolutionary in its departure from； almost
reversal of； the ancient methods； than what
has been here described。
The best description I can give of its
essential aim； so far as I have seen the
processes （which were tentative and initial）； is
this。 The masses represented by filled
bookcases are set one in front of another； and；
in order that access may be had as it is
required； they are set upon trams inserted in
the floor （which must be a strong one）； and
wheeled off and on as occasion requires。
The idea of the society of books is in a
case of this kind abandoned。 But even on this
there is something to say。 Neither all men
nor all books are equally sociable。 For my
part I find but little sociabilty in a huge wall
of Hansards； or （though a great improvement）
in the Gentleman's Magazine； in the Annual
Registers； in the Edinburgh and Quarterly
Reviews； or in the vast range of volumes
which represent pamphlets innumerable。 Yet
each of these and other like items variously
present to us the admissible； or the valuable；
or the indispensable。 Clearly these masses；
and such as these； ought to be selected first
for what I will not scruple to call interment。
It is a burial； one； however； to which the
process of cremation will never of set purpose
be applied。 The word I have used is
dreadful； but also dreadful is the thing。 To have
our dear old friends stowed away in
catacombs； or like the wine…bottles in bins： the
simile is surely lawful until the use of that
commodity shall have been prohibited by the
growing movement of the time。 But however
we may gild the case by a cheering
illustration； or by the remembrance that the
provision is one called for only by our excess of
wealth； it can hardly be contemplated with