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the_alternate_ending_library“It‘s really elitist to say there‘s a right way to enjoy books,” she says. “They are my books. I paid for them.” Despite today‘s custom of shelving books with the spine out, there‘s no correct way to store a book, says Henry Petroski, a professor at Duke University who wrote a book on the subject.7y
the_alternate_ending_library“There are always many ways to do just about everything.” For centuries, books were stored every which way, except the way they are now, according to Mr. Petroski‘s “The Book on the Bookshelf.” Before the 16th century, spines had no printed titles and were considered the least presentable part of a book.7y
the_alternate_ending_libraryEarly librarians often knew the location of books without relying on titles (or modern aids like computers). Sometimes the exposed pages, known as the fore edge, had text or embellishments, including extravagantly painted scenes from the book.7y
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the_alternate_ending_libraryProof of this can be found in early Renaissance depictions of scholars such as St. Jerome, who arranged his books haphazardly or with the pages facing out. It was also true in some medieval libraries, such as the Chained Library at the Hereford Cathedral in England.7y
the_alternate_ending_libraryThe books at Hereford are shelved with the fore edges out to avoid tangling chains attached to the book—an effective, if ancient, security system. The TV series “Game of Thrones” mimics the custom at the library at the Citadel. Our home library has both.... ✌🏼 ~@the_alternate_ending_library7y
DebbieGrilloMy bookshelves look so much like yours I did a double-take.7y
Despite today‘s custom of shelving books with the spine out, there‘s no correct way to store a book, says Henry Petroski, a professor at Duke University who wrote a book on the subject. 7y
For centuries, books were stored every which way, except the way they are now, according to Mr. Petroski‘s “The Book on the Bookshelf.” Before the 16th century, spines had no printed titles and were considered the least presentable part of a book. 7y
Our home library has both.... ✌🏼
~ @the_alternate_ending_library 7y