The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 8, February 20, 2005, Article 14

DAN GOSLING'S DREAM LIBRARY

Dan Gosling forwarded a set of inquiries on several
topics. We published the first two previously.
Here's item #3:

"Now that I have fully recovered from "my dream
vacation" as Dick Johnson described it in the Oct 3,
2004 issue of the E-Sylum I would like some input
on "my dream library".

What size is a reasonable compromise?
Is one and one half to two stories high the optimal height?
If an upper area is include should it have a walkway or be
accessed via rolling ladder?
Is it mandatory to have a fireplace and leather sitting chairs?
Is it a sin to include a TV in the room?
Should the windows only face north or be excluded?
What other amenities should be included (coffee machine,
bar, washroom, sound system)?
What were some of the significant features of the great
libraries of the past (and present)?
Should there be areas set up for computing and current
publications (newspapers and journals, etc.)?

[Great questions. Myown dream library would have two
stories as well - you can never have enough shelf space.
The office/library at Eric Newman's old numismatic museum
in St. Louis was set up this way. A spiral stair led to a
walkway around the second level. I don't know that I'd
be brave enough to have a working fireplace, and a
mantle would mean less space for books, so that's not
for me. But a comfy leather reading chair? Now you're
talking. I understand John Ford had a sink nearby where
visitors were made to wash their hands and don gloves
before touching books. I love having my library within
reach of the keyboard, so for me a computer is a must.
I'm ambivalent on the idea of a TV. I don't have one in
my office/library, but on occasion it would come in handy.
I rarely watch TV, but on nights when I do I find myself
popping over to the office every commercial break to
edit The E-Sylum. Every spare minute helps, so having
a TV would be as much a timesaver as it would be a
distraction. What do our readers think?

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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