Books
The wall of books in the reading room
Floor to ceiling, a ladder on rails, and a rule about whispering.
Ingrid Lund
The university reading room is open to the public on weekends. One whole wall is books, with a wooden ladder that slides along a rail.
I have never seen anyone use the ladder. I think it is mainly there to make us feel we are in an old film.
Whispering
There is a sign that says silence. People obey it so seriously that a cough makes everyone look up. I sit by the window and read until the light goes.
