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Re: A Library Of ... Books?

From Bob Eager <news0009@eager.cx>
Newsgroups comp.misc
Subject Re: A Library Of ... Books?
Date 2026-02-18 01:01 +0000
Message-ID <mvkhbqF2skpU7@mid.individual.net> (permalink)
References <10mmdvu$22lfc$2@dont-email.me> <10n2sgt$26ic6$1@dont-email.me>

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On Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:10:21 +0000, Jason H wrote:

> On 13/02/2026 05:48, Lawrence DOliveiro wrote:
>>Today I visited a local University where an employee, a friend of mine,
>>was having his retirement sendoff. While I was there, I had a look in
>>their Library.
>>
>>I can remember, years ago, the Library building had four levels, each
>>full of books. Now, the building is twice the size, by adding the
>>equivalent of a second building’s worth of floor space beside the
>>existing one, so it still has four levels, each with double the area.
>>But all the books (that would have been part of the old collection)
>>now fit on just one level. There is a new specialist “Law Library” on
>>another level, but the rest is filled with computer terminals, meeting
>>spaces etc.
>>
>>So four (old-size) floors’ worth of books is now down to just two.

Sounds like the library in the University a few miles from me. But in this 
case the library was originally built in 1968, but asymmetrically with the 
central catalogue hall and just the 'left' (west) wing. The other wing was 
built in 1974, with again four floors. A new part was built next to it, 
same height, but in a totally different style, but joined on. This part 
has a cafe, lecture theatre, exhibition space, etc. but few books. There 
is a Law Library and a Cartoon Centre.

It used to be called The Library, but now it's the 'Txxxxx Library', named 
after the first Vice-Chancellor.

>>I had a look at the computing section. I found books dating back ten
>>years or more. Apart from historical interest, I can’t see much of that
>>being of value to the current students.
>>
>>So, like it or not, we are steadily moving more and more into an online
>>world. And some subjects are moving faster than others.

Yes, I miss the physical books, particularly the O'Reilly ones. I still 
have a shelf of those here.

> The last editions of Unix In A Nutshell and Linux In A Nutshell were
> both
>  published in 2009. Paper books are still a thing, but more so in the
>  arts and humanities. I'm still kicking myself for leaving my good
>  friends Kernighan and Ritchie behind when the office got permanently
>  closed during lockdown.

I still have both editions.

-- 
Using UNIX since v6 (1975)...

Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
 http://www.mirrorservice.org

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Thread

A Library Of ... Books? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-02-13 05:48 +0000
  Re: A Library Of ... Books? Jason H <jason_hindle@yahoo.com> - 2026-02-17 23:10 +0000
    Re: A Library Of ... Books? Bob Eager <news0009@eager.cx> - 2026-02-18 01:01 +0000
    Re: A Library Of ... Books? arnold@freefriends.org (Aharon Robbins) - 2026-02-18 14:01 +0000
      Re: A Library Of ... Books? Bob Eager <news0009@eager.cx> - 2026-02-18 14:48 +0000
        Re: A Library Of ... Books? "Kerr-Mudd, John" <admin@127.0.0.1> - 2026-02-20 16:12 +0000
          Re: A Library Of ... Books? Bob Eager <news0009@eager.cx> - 2026-02-21 00:55 +0000

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