The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders

What is a library? Book trade historian Kells describes libraries as an "act of faith." Libraries cover many areas of human existence: being integral to education, offering solace and discovery, and providing a social connection. Interesting facts abound. Want to learn more about "bookworms," or Dermestes lardarius? What vellum is made from the skin of bovine fetuses? Each chapter follows a general theme, such as oral traditions, ancient books, design, and war. Interspersed after each chapter are brief stories on topics such as accidental physical items found in books and historical accounts of book vandalism. Kells also covers the development of both real (the Folger Shakespeare Library) and fantasy (J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings) institutions. The author ends with his own "love letter" to libraries, seeing them as something sacred, magical, and hard to quantify.