How big is your library?

[lwadkins]

This thread caused me to reorganize my library and begin to cull some of the books that I bought years ago. It appears I have about 500 books that are of some use, and a number of books that are useless. I ran across "Setting Your Church Free" by Neil T. Anderson and a number of other books that were nearly as appalling So now that I am to be rid of these "books" (using the term loosly) guess I'll have to tell my wife it is imperative I replace them with books that are useful

 

[SmokingFlax]

Hmmmmm how big? Good question.

Especially if you consider all of the art and music stuff I have cluttering up my shrinking apartment. I'm guessing I have around 100 reformed books and a bunch of various Dispensational and charismatic kindling for Scott's book burning party. I also have the SWRB sets...tough to sit down and read through it though...Nothing beats the real thing.

It's kind of cheap but I have a bunch of books and essays that I printed from off the web...the book is a much finer package but sometimes I've just gotta have the info.

I get a LOT of stuff from Halfprice Bookstore - I love that place!

 

[heartoflesh]

"Books are infinitely imperfect; the best of books are but sparks from the Bible, mingled with human darkness"

- Robert Murray McCheyene

That being said, I am prone to BAS "book aquisition syndrome" almost as much as I am to GAS "guitar aquisition syndrome". I have a few books, and no bookshelf. My wife is tired of seeing them clustering and cluttering everywhere!

[Edited on 3-24-2005 by Rick Larson]

 

[D. Paul]

Originally posted by matthew11v25
I have about 100 reformed books, not including the SWRB set that I purchased a year ago.

My audio library is more extensive since I commute one hour to work each way (I get in atleast 2 sermons a day)... I have about 500 sermons on cassette and some on CD.

[Edited on 3-23-2005 by matthew11v25]

[Edited on 3-23-2005 by matthew11v25]

Now that we're into audio here, I've compiled 250 Microcassettes over the years each with 6-8 sermons (slow-play for 3hr). Now, with all the Mp3's available I suppose I have about 500 hrs of audio.

Like you, Matthew, I spend two hrs a day driving and "Reforming" myself.

Still, nothing like a good, hefty book in hand. My library consists of about 100 books. I am SOOOO envious of most of you here. That is until I hear you say you too have ones you've never read.

I'm glad we're allowed to count our SWRB collection. There is literally a lifetime of reading there alone!

 

[RamistThomist]

I did a precise count. I am within the range of 550 books, 200 of which are Useful Evangelical/Reformed.

 

[Puritan Sailor]

Originally posted by Draught Horse
I did a precise count. I am within the range of 550 books, 200 of which are Useful Evangelical/Reformed.

I stopped counting after 1000. I just felt like David numbering his men. I don't want a fire to break out and consume my books in judgment :bigsmile:

 

[SolaScriptura]

Originally posted by puritansailor
I don't want a fire to break out and consume my books in judgment :bigsmile:

Just get insurance... and then you're covered in case of any such acts of God!

 

[fredtgreco]

Originally posted by SolaScriptura

Originally posted by puritansailor
I don't want a fire to break out and consume my books in judgment :bigsmile:

Just get insurance... and then you're covered in case of any such acts of God!

Not to be grim, but this actually happened to an OPC pastor in NJ. The church burned down and his entire library was totally lost.

 

[RamistThomist]

Originally posted by fredtgreco

Originally posted by SolaScriptura

Originally posted by puritansailor
I don't want a fire to break out and consume my books in judgment :bigsmile:

Just get insurance... and then you're covered in case of any such acts of God!

Not to be grim, but this actually happened to an OPC pastor in NJ. The church burned down and his entire library was totally lost.

I have nightmares about that.

 

[Authorised]

Originally posted by fredtgreco

Originally posted by SolaScriptura

Originally posted by puritansailor
I don't want a fire to break out and consume my books in judgment :bigsmile:

Just get insurance... and then you're covered in case of any such acts of God!

Not to be grim, but this actually happened to an OPC pastor in NJ. The church burned down and his entire library was totally lost.

I would be in tears.

I only have 150 books, but I do have an interesting find:

I found a collection of Shakespeare's major plays and his sonnets with notations from what I though to be a college student using his textbook. I found an article with a book review from the 1930s and and article from February 6, 1960 concerning the death of Thomas Parrot, the book's editor and professor of English at Yale for 39 years.

Then I found the owner's name written in the book. It has the signature "J.H. Hagstrum" and gives the following address:

819 Michigan Ave.
Evanston, 60202
475-1265

Turns out Hagstrum (whom I thought was a student), from 1941-81 taught at Northwestern University in Evanston.

Of course, he had NO notes for Hamlet, the play we were required to read.

[Edited on 3-30-2005 by Authorised]

 

[JOwen]

Originally posted by Shane
not counting what I have on Esword & PC etc.

E-Sword is awasome!

Kind regards,

Jerrold

 

[PuritanCovenanter]

I only have around 300 and the SWRB and other Discs like Owens, Calvin, and Pink. Mainly hardbacks. I loath paperbacks because they fall apart on me. Mainly Puritan and Presbyterian authors. I have given away at least that many books. I am reading Ernest Reisingers biography now and Battle for the Church.

I have a problem called BOOK LUST. So I try not to buy books unless I am sure I am going to read them. Don't want to be waistful.

[Edited on 4-14-2005 by puritancovenanter]

 

[matthew11v25]

Originally posted by puritancovenanter

I have a problem called BOOK LUST. So I try not to buy books unless I am sure I am going to read them. Don't want to be waistful.

[Edited on 4-14-2005 by puritancovenanter]

sometimes the reassuring feeling of seeing them, and knowing you have them if you need them is worth getting them...maybe I am just crazy.

 

[matthew11v25]

Originally posted by Apologist4Him
I purchased Amazing Grace: The History & Theology of CALVINISM (DVD) from the Monergism bookstore because it is one of the few places which carry the DVD (highly recommended btw) http://www.monergismbooks.com/amazing2112.html

Anywho, I'll try to get back to this thread with more specific information.

[Edited on 3-23-2005 by Apologist4Him]

I just ordered it. excited.

 

[bigheavyq]

around 600 volumes. i wont get rid of any until I reach 30,000 like my man, rushdoony had.

 

[RamistThomist]

Originally posted by bigheavyq
i wont get rid of any until I reach 30,000 like my man, rushdoony had.

I am speechless. At his funeral they mentioned that he had a small warehouse as a personal library.

 

[strangerpilgrim]

5,000, not including another 1,000 that have been left behind in moves.

The southeast is littered with small town rare book stores. They are a gold mine. You just need to take a trip from southern Georgia through SC and TN, VA, and on up to Baltimore and then Philly. Don't take the interstate. Stop in any town with fewer then five stoplights and look for the local used bookstore. Then, once you get to Philly go on over to Carlyle PA where Banner of Truth has its seconds store. There you can buy lots of things that have some small mistake or stain or got their covers accidentally crushed or something like that, for 60% off. (And they are already pretty cheap).

Also, you should look into larger towns' used books stores--particularly if there is any OLD Presbyterian church (whether or not it is now heretical or not...) or had a seminary or Bible college at any time. I've been in those bookstores and found whole libraries of great stuff that some idiot dropped off; they were sitting around the church and no one wanted them anymore, or the seminary or whatever is finally getting around to dumping off all those dusty old tomes no one wants. One time I was looking through the "free box" in a big used bookstore in TN when a young couple drove up and dumped three boxes full of excellent works into the box--didn't even bother trying to get something for them by going inside. Their great-grandfather, a presbyterian minister, had finally died after a long, drawn spat in the nursing home. They couldn't wait to get rid of all those worthless dusty books, and I couldn't wait to pick them all up and dump them in the trunk of my car.

I can't believe a whole board like this and no one has mentioned these tricks yet...:bigsmile:

 

[RamistThomist]

I live in Northern and Central Louisiana--no good used book stores. That being the case, there is one semi-charismatic, independent Baptist store going out of business and everything is 75% off. I picked up 5 brand new NAC Commentaries on the old testament. A $130 value for $18.

 

[love2read]

My library is about 600 books. More than 90% are reformed/puritan books. Most books are published by Banner of Truth, Soli Deo Gloria, Baker or P&R. I am getting married in a few months so I have to buy "all I can get" now it is still possible

 

[clevipearce]

Uh I'm not sure if I'm up for catagorizing whether books are reformed or not, but my count thus far is 115. At the moment, I am in the middle of C.S. Lewis' science fiction series. Pretty captivating stuff.

 

[LadyFlynt]

Okay, I have book envy! I think hubby's reformed books add up to around 50, especially if you count the booklets.

If you want to count ALL our books....I'll get back to you...gotta go estimate...

 

[Augusta]

Originally posted by puritansailor
I've got over 1000 now. Alot of it good, but some I will probably never read. Most I just have for reference so I don't have to run to the library all the time. About 1/3 is Puritans.

I don't think I have ever paid retail for a book. When I lived back in Seattle, there were a few good bookstores that had used books. One of the Family Bookstores in particular was run by a reformed Baptist and he readily supplied the store with good puritan books. That is where I got a good start on my library. Now, I do most of my shopping online. You just can't beat the good deals both for used and new books, especially through Amazon's used book network. But I've become much more picky now with what I buy. It's too much work on my bad back to move all these books around. I'll probably have to start pruning soon.

So Patrick, what were these bookstores that you went to. Do tell. I live in Bothell and want to go raid a couple of them.

 

[Rich Barcellos]

Joshua Press is connected to Micahael Haykin - a Canadian Reformed Baptist. A good resource for older reprints is http://solid-ground-books.com/. Another excellent resource is http://www.heritagebooks.org/. My motto is, "Old is better!"

 

[doulosChristou]

657 books here. I mostly buy used. It's interesting what you can find out there. Just last week at a local flea market, I picked up a Greek-Latin NT and Selections from Cicero with intro, notes and vocab by Charles Bennett -- both hardbacks in excellent condition -- for 99 cents each. Several years ago, I bought my BDF grammar used online for dirt cheap and then found the original author's name signed on the first page -- Robert H. Mounce.

 

[RamistThomist]

Originally posted by doulosChristou
657 books here. I mostly buy used. It's interesting what you can find out there. Just last week at a local flea market, I picked up a Greek-Latin NT and Selections from Cicero with intro, notes and vocab by Charles Bennett -- both hardbacks in excellent condition -- for 99 cents each. Several years ago, I bought my BDF grammar used online for dirt cheap and then found the original author's name signed on the first page -- Robert H. Mounce.

Wow

 

[Jonathan]

You guys have big libraries... I am just starting mine now. I have 33 books, mostly Puritans and the like. I also have 22 coming in about 2 weeks (Calvin's Commentaries!!!)

At the rate I am going, by age 40 I should have about 500 books

 

[ABondSlaveofChristJesus]

Well... at the most 50... but then again i'm poor and have only been reformed for a year.

 

[sundoulos]

I used to have over 10,000 books (including history, science, arts, etc.) but they are expensive to move and require lots of room to store. I inherited about half of these books (non-theological) and have disposed of most. I probably have 3000 books now. Living in a one-bedroom cottage requires that most be in storage. I peruse the thrift shops and used books stores and occasionally buy something new. In this manner I picked up Merle d'Aubigne's History of the Reformation original edition for less than its more modern reprint ($17.00). One of my favorite stores, for those in the Pacific Northwest, is Shorey's in Seattle. I found there a book entitled Scots Worthies, a history of the Covenanters and especially dear to me because I lived in the area the author describes in the 1600's and only paid $25.00 for it.

Anyway, I no longer have the same attachment to my books as I had when I was younger. Fifty quality Puritans are more valuable than all the books one finds in the typical Christian book store these days. I shall soon start eliminating non-essential books from my library and read and re-read the great standards that have survived the centuries.

[Edited on 8-24-2005 by sundoulos]

 

[Poimen]

Originally posted by Draught Horse
Since we have many readers on board, I thought this would be a good question.

Secondly,
How did you go about obtaining your library?

Thirdly,
What is the best means of gaining a sizable libary with limited resources?

1. I believe about 400-500.

2. Campus book stores (university and seminary), online, used book stores, and a little Reformed Baptist store that sold precious Puritan/Reformed items for 50% of the price (more of a ministry than a business). I also have had many books given to me and I purchased several from a retiring ministers collection.

3. See #2.

 

[Puritanhead]

That's an impressive library Pastor Sean...