Thoughts on our bookshelves

Rob brings up an interesting point (see comments on 4/30/09). He reminds us that perhaps digital documents don't have the staying power that print does. That is an excellent point: as he said "That Bible printed by Gutenburg is just as easy to use as it was in his day".

Perhaps this is one of those points where I merely took for granted certain expectations I have for technology soon to come. Rob is most certainly correct about the universality of books through time- but then, think of all the books that have been lost since Gutenberg's time, due to fire, water, war, toddlers, etc. True, we've also lost digital files, but I am inclined to think that thanks to the internet, data is in a million different places at once, and is very difficult to merely lose (save early save often, as I always say!). Technology has come a long way since 30 years ago, and though what we use today will certainly someday become antiquated, I doubt we'll reach that point without updating our files to whatever comes next.

The biggest problem with books is that they are physical presences: they take up space, cost money, and require very specific care and climate. And yes- computers and digital media certainly cost money to set up- but once you're there, think of all the "books" you could save on your harddrive, that take up merely digital space, rather than the space those moldy old books in your parents' basement are taking up. Or any bookshelf, really. We have to let go, eventually, of the love we feel for our shelves and our dusty volumes that we read maybe %3 regularly. And I am a huge fan of repeat readings, even!

Why do we love books? I include myself here: what is it we are hanging on to? Why do so many of us measure so much prestige in the number and titles of the books on our shelves? Are we so insecure about our own intelligence that we need them there, to remind not only our guests, but ourselves, that we are indeed educated? We love holding books, turning the pages, smelling the smell of old or new paper (I can't be the only one?). But if every book were gone tomorrow, we'd quite quickly become used to digital reading and would throw a fit whenever the next massive technological advance came around (hmmmm..... virtual litreality? Who knows.).