Starting a living library
Today marked the start of a residency project at OlioHouse. The goal? To create a space for a collection of books to live and breath.
Chris and Dave, founders of Think Olio, and I had been talking about the books I’d acquired whilst resident alien in the U.S, specifically their need for a home now I’m returning to the motherland. As ever, talk became thought, and thought fermented into an idea and the idea became a proposal for a ‘living library’. But, what does that mean?
I’ll be working that out over the course of a week, in conversation with Chris and Dave and a glittering list of supporters. Residency Day One looked like this…
Arrived in Wassaic around midday to a warm welcome, coffee, company and round table planning of the week. Headed to the attic space to see the books stacked from their delivery a few weeks prior and to measure up for bookcases. Sketched out a possible bookcase combo to frame the window and house all the books with wiggle room for a growing collection. Started the process of sorting. Took an epic trip to the store, purchased bookcases, and commenced assembly, finishing around 2am with four bookcases ready to receive!
Great progress on the reading room side of the project, but the concept is also under development this week. I’ll write an essay about the library rationale by the end of the week (which might not be called a library by then) as well as an invitation to engage. Fortunately, I have the most darling space in the attic to sit down and think.
Questions that came up today:
- How will the books be organised and shelved?
- Is the collection be open for additional acquisitions?
- Will we allow borrowing, or will this be a non-circulation library?
- What shall we call the collection, the concept and the room?
Signing out for the night, nestled in a corner of the attic, looking out over a good day’s work.
