While we're at it...

I found this in the Feehan Memorial Library at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. I like it so much I copied it down:

A Curse Against Book Stealers

For him that stealeth a book from this library,
let it change into a serpent in his hand and rend him.
Let him be struck with palsy,
and all his members blasted.
Let him languish in pain crying aloud for mercy,
and let there be no surcease to his agony
till he sink to dissolution.
Let bookworms gnaw his entrails in token of the worm that dieth not,
and when at last he goeth to his final punishment,
let the flames of Hell consume him for ever and aye.

-From the monastery of San Pedro, Barcelona

One day the books will fall on me

Yesterday, in my efforts to recuperate from the many and varied Easter festivities, I set about tidying up my library and suite; I all but abandoned the library some months ago so it needed a bit of work. Today, being a bit behind on a couple of projects, I sat down to work in my library where there is no television, no Internet, and generally not even a computer, though today I brought my laptop with me.

My library is on the first floor of the rectory, safely away from the parish office where any number of things and people might otherwise all too easily distract me.

At any rate, as I was happily typing away, my laptop decided it was time to hibernate. Apparently I didn't have it plugged into the outlet properly (I guess I'm not as recovered yet as I thought I was), so I thought I'd take this opportunity to finally post pictures of my library, first promised long ago.

The view as you enter from the hallway.

Looking back out the door to the left.

And to the right.

Above my desk...

...and behind my desk.

It isn't my dream library, but it's a nice start.