Reading Room and Lending Library

Why a Library?

Despite our high-tech and virtual nature at sfComplex, printed books are still very important to us.

 You.  Us. Everyone.  

We propose to *loan* a subset of our very large collection of books to the sfComplex to be used as a seed to encourage a self-organizing Lending Library.   As former bookstore owners, we will also *donate* some subset of the books, which means we will not retain the right to retrieve them at will.  You may loan or donate books as well.  In fact, we hope that you will.

How do I use the Library?

While in the reading room, you may simply take the book from the shelf and read it.  If you wish to remove it to your own space in the complex or take it home, simply check to see if the bookplate inside indicates that it is available for loan or is intended as reference (to remain in the Library). 

If it is available for loan, check to see if there is a photocopy card of the book inside, if so, add your name and contact information to the photocopy and return it to the book's place on the shelf.   If there is no photocopy, make one on the copier provided, add your contact information, and proceed.  When you return the book, you will retrieve this identity card and slip it into the book before as you reshelve.  Unlike most libraries, we will only reshelve books if the patron fails to.  It is a self-organizing library, so don't be surprised if books move around on their own.

How will the books be organized? 

The books will be self-organized.  Don't be surprised if they move around when you are not looking.   The books will be organized according to the whims and sensibilities of the Librarians and re-organized by the patrons (you), either intentionally or by happy accident.

What if people cheat?

This is really bad karma.  People like us don't cheat or steal from eachother.  If you really don't trust people with your books under this circumstance, don't loan them.   We will not be loaning our most cherished books, except the few we cannot bear to keep hidden in our own shelves where nobody else can enjoy them.

 

When you loan or donate books to the library, you will be offered bookplates that identify you as the owner and sfComplex as the custodian of the books with instructions for proper handling and return.  You will also be asked to make a photocopy of the books (spines perhaps) to be added to a growing folder of donations.  If ever you (or we) want to make an accounting of the books in the library, we can. 

 

Librarians/Bibliophiles

• Suzanne Vilmain(mailto:suzanne@vilmain.net)
• Steve Smith(mailto:sas@lava3d.net)