December 10th is National Dewey Decimal System Day. Melvil Dewey was born this day in 1851. He invented the Dewey system for library clasification. Having a library, I have a few books about libraries.
Will start with “Melvil Dewey – Seer: Inspirer: Doer”, by Grosvenor Dawe, puplished in 1932. This was a limited club edition-copy 412. It has a signature tipped into the foreleaf.
This book is an in depth biography of Melvil Dewey. From a librarian to developing an indexing system for libraries, to developing the ALA-American Library Association, Dewey had an eye for books, and their order in a library. There was some controversy as well in Dewey’s life, that the book does not shy away from.
I then have a copy of the actual “Dewey Decimal Classification” that he developed – 495 pages, and this was the abridged edition, 1958. His system for book indexing was amazingly detailed.
Third would be the A.L.A, catalog, printed by Library of Congress, 1904. This book lists and index-catalogs 8000 volumes to fill a popular library. It was put together by the New York State Library and the Library of Congress, edited by Melvil Dewey.
More books on books for the library would be “Building Library Collections” by Mary Duncan Carter, 1974; “The Pamphlet File in Libraries” by Norma Olin Ireland, 1954.
Also, “Sequences: an Annotated Guide to Children’s Fiction in Series” by Susan Roman, published by the American Library Association, 1885; and “First Editions: A Guide to Identification” edited by Edward N. Zempel and Linda A. Verkler, 1985.
This last book was one of several textbooks from my class at MSU about repairing and selling used books. Her bookstore “Shirley’s Book Service” had additional books that I bought. She taught a lot, both in class, and then in her bookstore, giving details on how to take care of my library of books. Shirley died in 2022, at 93.
I have a few more notable books about libraries: “Books in Chains” published 1892 (about books that were locked up-physically in chains, especially in churches and abbeys), and “The Enemies of Books” published 1902 (about hazards of keeping books, ie fire, water, insects, riots, even children). Both books were written by William Blades for The Book-Lover’s Library.
Two more books from the series are “How to Catalogue a Library” published 1889, and “How to Form a Library” published 1886. Both of these were written by H.B. Wheatley.
It takes a lot of books to plan a library of books. It also takes people – good mentors. For me, as well as Shirley Sliker, teacher and bookseller, there was Irma Shipley. Mrs Shipley was a volunteer at Chaplaincy Bookstore in Waukegan in the early 1980’s. I would go there on some lunch hours and look for books. After a couple of visits, she started talking to me.
Mrs Shipley used to manage the Rare Books department at Lake Forest College Library. After she retired, she volunteered at this used bookstore. She would price the books, and she had an eye for books. Twice a week I would visit her, and she would give me some training on what to look for. She enjoyed teaching me about rare and unusual books. Then she would ‘test me’ on various books-values, importance, collectablity.
My knowledge seemed to improve, and my enthusiasm was always there. After about eight or ten months, I was transfered away from the area. A few years later when I came back for a visit, I found she had been put in a nursing home, and shortly thereafter passed away.
I was lucky to have two mentors in the actual book world. They gave great advice on buying, collecting, and maintaining books (and a library). And with the foundation of Mom and Dad both nurturing my love for reading, I developed a pretty hobby and pastime. Guess I too, have ‘the eye’ for books.
Thanks for reading.
Librarytomes 