MemberCatLibn45

When I was a child, the first word from my mouth (after "Mama" and "Dada") was "Book!". I was destined from an extreme early age.

The principle thought I've always had about *my* library: Collection of reference books. I live a short walk from the university library where I worked before retirement. In my early days of employment, the library was not always open 24/7 as it is now (fall/spring school year; summer: close at 9). I had the thought: "What if I wake in the middle of the night with a question I must answer, and have to rely on my own resources?"

As a result, much of my collection are books available to me for reference. But they are not all read. People come into my apartment: "Have you read all these books?" My usual response: "No, these are the books I must read before the end of the week. The rest are on campus in the main library."

Sometimes my love of books, and the purchase thereof, borders on mania. As Desiderius Erasmus once noted: "When I get a little money I buy books. Afterwards I buy food and clothing". I understand the impulse. Purchase of books waffles from purchase of a few, to everything in sight. Duplicates abound: I also like bookstores. That I'm also polymathic (I deal with several intellectual interests easily) and abibliophobic (a dread social phobia: I get restless when I have nothing to read) does not particularly help my situation.