If anyone has ever wandered the downstairs of Skillman Library, you know we have a vast and overwhelming collection of books. What I had not realized is how old some of these books are. After our multiple exposures to rare books, I began to notice the tell tale signs of high quality and aged printing. Walking amongst the walls of books, I found multiple books that were from the 20s and 30s which looked much like the rare books we have seen on display. It is interesting that although these books are old and have a similar appearance to the rare books, they are left sitting on shelves for anyone to read. This started me thinking about the progress of the rare books and writings we have seen, as we go further and further back, the historical significance becomes less and less important. Any writing, if old enough, is considered interesting. Comparing the books we just saw, with the writings and books from our first viewing, we can see the trend towards historical significance over just existing. All of the book from our latest view were of hefty historical significance.
Given that we have spent a few classes reviewing editions of books of historical significance, I wonder what students of Lafayette College will be looking at in the archives 200 years from now. What great work will be bound in today’s technology to be discussed in the future? I wonder if our generation will recognize our Mark Twain or Charles Dickens. What first edition book will be sought after and praised for years to come?
In response to the above reply, I wonder if future generations will even be using printed books as essential items, instead of quaint relics. Tablets, notebook laptops and other devices are rapidly replacing notebooks and binders in classrooms; it is only a matter of time before textbooks are digitized. As a result, the printed books of today will likely be the last wave of printing technology before books go purely digital. It is my hope that printed books will never be replaced, but with newer generations leaning heavily on technology to get through, it doesn’t look as if the common printed book will be around much longer.
This makes you think about the value of some printed material today. As the original post says, older books are valued for just existing, regardless of whatever their contents may be. So, if we go into the future, say 1000 years, some reading materials that would be easily disregarded today may be valuable collectors pieces. It would certainly be humorous to think that one day a nondescript newspaper or cookbook may be present in a museum collection or sold for millions of dollars at an auction. For all we know, the papyrus we say in class may be have been regarded as worthless in ancient Egypt.
I have also noticed that many books in Skillman Library seem almost ancient when you pick them up and notice they are not anything like the books that are printed today. It is interesting to think that in perhaps 100 years or so, today’s books might also seem ancient to a new generation of college students.