Interesting. I have been in several libraries over the decades, and have seen photos of the library of Trinity College, Ireland and they also are spine outward. Have never seen books with the spine turned in. Why would someone do that? Seems (to me) that skin oils on fingers would/could stain or tear the pages. 🤔 And,,, writing the title on the page edges seems to me as a way for the ink to "bleed" onto/into the printed text.
I'd imagine it's largely a moisture and bug thing. Books on a shelf facing in would create space for bugs to get into and even nest, which could cause a mess and damage the books. Same with moisture, where you'd create a space for moisture to get trapped. Turning the book around would solve that. Same with dust. I think they also largely cared more about the binding than the edges of pages. While the edges of pages could get frayed over time, there was a buffer zone for that so the book would still be usable. But the binding is what holds it all together, so that would be the most protected part of the book.
I love books a lot really but once you try a Kindle, life gets amazing, although if there's no electricity bye bye your books and the physical ones stay for a century or more, but meanwhile kindle feels nicer
I could smell those old books through the screen 😂
Having to write the title on the pages is proof that it’s a design flaw.
That would also avoid splay shelving them with the spine at the back of the shelves. I often was wondering about that
Interesting. I have been in several libraries over the decades, and have seen photos of the library of Trinity College, Ireland and they also are spine outward. Have never seen books with the spine turned in. Why would someone do that? Seems (to me) that skin oils on fingers would/could stain or tear the pages. 🤔 And,,, writing the title on the page edges seems to me as a way for the ink to "bleed" onto/into the printed text.
I'd imagine it's largely a moisture and bug thing. Books on a shelf facing in would create space for bugs to get into and even nest, which could cause a mess and damage the books. Same with moisture, where you'd create a space for moisture to get trapped. Turning the book around would solve that. Same with dust. I think they also largely cared more about the binding than the edges of pages. While the edges of pages could get frayed over time, there was a buffer zone for that so the book would still be usable. But the binding is what holds it all together, so that would be the most protected part of the book.
Congratulations!
I love books a lot really but once you try a Kindle, life gets amazing, although if there's no electricity bye bye your books and the physical ones stay for a century or more, but meanwhile kindle feels nicer
I can’t stand digital crap. It is soulless.
🤓acktshually