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by johansch 3646 days ago
Most libraries (in Europe, at least) tend to have an incredibly low density of books. I think the image of a good-looking library is more important to them than to actually have more books on the shelves.

E.g. something like this (the main public library in Linköping, Sweden):

https://cdn3.cdnme.se/cdn/7-2/1081760/images/2012/dsc_0337_1...

rather than something like

http://f.tqn.com/y/seattle/1/W/V/F/-/-/IMG_8459.JPG

2 comments

Kenmore's public library has a low density of books as well - wide aisles, low shelves. I suspect it is partly due to wanting to be accessible to people in wheelchairs. But few books kinda defeats the purpose of having a library.

Half-Price Books in Bellevue is more my speed. It's completely packed with books. I could putter away hours in there.

Damn, how do they keep the books from falling out of those sideways shelving units in Seattle? ;-)