The Bookworm Nest

 

Bookworms, bookworms every where and what a wonderful breed we are.  I know there are hundreds of thousands of you out there who will agree that there is no greater pleasure than being transported into the fictional world of a wonderful read whether it be in the form of hard cover or paperback.

What is it they say, "One man's trash is another man's treasure?"  I wonder if they thought that when they were writing on clay tablets in Mesopotamia, papyrus scrolls in Egypt and Greece,or on bone, shells, wood and silk in China around the second century BC.  We've been writing our thoughts, entertaining the masses and recording history for a very long time.  I'm certain Johannes Gutenberg never realized what he started when he invented the printing press in 1440.  The very first book ever printed was the Gutenberg Bible and even though it did not make a best sellers list, it certainly was the magnificent beginning of needing capital to buy one and a market for distribution.

Me ... well I'm not as old as dirt but I've been reading, since I was old enough to hold a "Golden Book" in my hand and could do so aloud all by myself.  So, I thought it would be fun to devote this article to what many of us enjoy most and also collected some rather unique hubs for the holding of our most prized possessions.  What does your book shelf look like?  Do you work in visual interest with unique bookends, decorative objects, and framed artwork tucked between your collections? 

Do you shelve a category or two of books horizontally in stacks?  Do you personalize your books with embossed stamps or labels?  Because books are treasures to many of us, it's important to remember that they need tender loving care like so many of our other cherished items.  Try not to expose your collections to excessive daylight or heat, such as hot air registers or fireplaces.  Don't lean books at an angle as it can weaken the spine and binding.

 You can prevent warping by shelving same height books together and it's best to not push books to the back of the shelf.  This restricts the airflow.  Try to keep them at least 1 inch from the back.

Avoid storing them in basements, garages and attics where temperature and humidity fluctuate quite frequently.

And if anything, enjoy them for the simple pleasure they offer and when you are weary of them, do not toss them but share them, trade them, donate them to your local library.