Bloomsbury Review Booklover's Guide: A Collection of Tips, Techniques, Anecdotes, Controversies & Suggestions for the Home Library - Softcover

Wagner, Patricia Jean; Watson, Sherry Lynn

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0963158945 ISBN 13: 9780963158949

Publisher: Bloomsbury Review, 1996

Synopsis

Book by Wagner, Patricia Jean, Watson, Sherry Lynn

About this title

From Library Journal

Starting from the idea that "the difference between a bunch of books and a library is the difference between not knowing and knowing," poet, author, and journalist Wagner, who writes the "Practical Bookshelf" column in Bloomsbury Review, gathers between two covers everything one needs to know to transform a bunch of books into a library that works. Her book alternates between topical lists of resources and narrative sections of step-by-step, how-to information. Among the interesting and useful parts are a short and breezy section on evaluating the physical state of your books, with details on weeding, mold and pests, storage, display, and retrieval; an explanation of the how, what, when, and where of acquiring books; a discussion of the book market; and sections on cataloging, restoration, conservation, online and Internet resources, home archives, and ways to pass the love of books on to the next generation. Wagner writes in an irreverent style and presents much expert information in an enjoyable way. Her work fills a niche at the public library reference desk by providing a source aimed at the home librarian that is comprehensive, serious, and up-to-date. Recent titles worth noting in a similar vein are Jane Williams's How To Stock a Home Library Inexpensively (Blue Stocking, 1995) and Allen Ahearn's Book Collecting (Putnam, 1995), which is aimed more at the antiquarian. Recommended for most public libraries.?Paul A. D'Alessandro, Portland P.L., Me.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

This book belongs in the home of anyone who owns a bookshelf. If you've always dreamed of having all those books you've got scattered throughout the house (children's picture books, your how-to manuals, your favorite novels and those old gardening books) organized into a home library, this is the next book you should buy. Author and Bloomsbury Review Contributing Editor Patricia Wagner shows not only her love of books, but also her knowledge of how they're written, manufactured, sold and finally, read, on every page. The fact that she does it all with good humor makes this title all the more welcome, and proves that books about books need be neither boring nor stuffy. Wagner spares not any booklover's implied tender sensibilities, so prepare yourself for such details as the real fate awaiting most books after a long and serviceable life: "Librarians have been known to wrap and seal books in small packing cases, and then spirit the innocent-looking packages away to dumpsters in the dead of night." Horrors! Included are references to more than 113 books about books; 66 catalogs for books, mail order products and supplies; 57 magazines and newsletters about books; more than 70 professional and amateur book and library groups; and 16 online book resources. If you're not a booklover, this book will surely elevate your emotions toward that end; if you are already a booklover, book obsession awaits. Highly recommended. -- From Independent Publisher

About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Review
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0963158945
• ISBN 13: 9780963158949
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 312