When an opportunity to acquire an exciting collection presents itself, something's gotta give. In this case, it was the bookcase holding dictionaries, word books, and books on writing. Sorry, dictionaries (we are keeping some of you), but, with so many people relying on software and the Internet to look up definitions and spelling, Civil War books must take precedence, especially in a case that faces people as they enter the "stacks." Dictionaries that are staying have moved to the bottom row of the language section (foreign languages on higher shelves), while books on writing are in a small bookcase in front of my desk.
Unfortunately, this has left our collection of small ("pocket") paperback classics temporarily homeless, but never fear -- we shall find a place for them soon, as they are a must-have category for students and other serious readers.
But now -- the big excitement! After a day and a half of steady work, with helper Bruce pitching in today, my rearranged Civil War (general, battles, generals, soldiers, etc.) and President Lincoln section fills two cases and spans an aisle:
There are still empty boxes to put away and boxes of de-acquisitioned materials to move out to a vehicle, but a picture being worth 1,000 words, I'm not going to go on and on about that. Anyway, counting the Monday that David and I moved all the books and all the work since, I'm pretty exhausted and looking forward to this afternoon's drawing class.
Do please notice, however, that we have an event planned for the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend:
Leelanau photographer Ken Scott will be here signing the new book,
Ice Caves of Leelanau, which will make an artistic and startling response to the summer question, "What's it like here in the winter?"
3 comments:
I recognize a number of your civil
war books from my own collection,
but you have me beat by a long shot! I have about 30. One of the more unusual ones is 'Soldier Boy's Letters; Kermit Cooke. A collection of letters his great grandfather, Chauncey, to his parents on a farm in Buffalo County, WI. When young Chauncey
returned, he went to college at
what became UW-Eau Claire (where I went) and spent a summer canoeing up the Chippewa River
(been there, done that). Basically
a niche type CW book out of Rainbow Press in Independence, WI
(perhaps personally published?).
I picked up a copy for $15 at the
Eau Claire Carson Park museum, with a note from the author inside. Our high school mascot
was 'Old Abe', the civil war eagle that went to war with the
Wisconsin 8th Infantry. Probably
where the civil war interest was sparked early on. I am sure there
are books in your stack I would buy and hopefully, some 'affectionado' will stop in
there and be a delighted customer.
Congratulations on a big project completed! The Memorial Day weekends event sounds much more fun than rearranging and culling books.
Personally, I'm not big on battles and generals' campaign strategies, but diaries, letters, and stories of ordinary people during that time, in or out of the military, I always find fascinating. But you're right, BB, I'll have something for just about every CW historian of "buff."
Actually, Dawn, culling and rearranging books and shelving new acquisitions is very satisfying work. Hands are tired at the end of the day (as are feet, from standing), but the results are visible and encouraging. Events are always fun as soon as they begin--it's beforehand that anxiety can build up.
The season is coming!!!
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