Bookcases Overview

Bookcases are shelves spaced evenly apart, held together on each end by a piece of wood, and enclosed by some sort of door be it glass or wood. 

Bookcases are like no other piece of furniture. On the shelves of bookcases lay the words of the world. Bookcases shelve our discarded thoughts and our forgotten stories. Bookcases hold the world’s history alongside of tonight’s recipes. They are the ‘catchall’ and the ‘store-all’ soldiers of the household. They come in all different shapes and sizes. Some are made with wood composite, and some are made with hand planed antique wood. Some bookshelves rise up to the ceiling, while others sit low to the ground. 

 

Though there may be many different sizes and shapes, bookcases are universal in their function and beauty. Let us first make the distinction between bookshelves and bookcases. Bookcases generally are enclosed, meaning, they have glass or wood doors that close the books into the case. A bookshelf is basically the same thing minus the doors. Most people when referring to a bookcase use the term generically and could be implying either one. 

 

Bookcases are universal in that they can be used to hold more than just books. Many people use bookcases to house or store things such as: dishes, records, trophies, software, magazines, lamps, as well as other ornamental objects. Manufacturers have become quite adept at using the bookcase construction and using it for similar pieces of furniture such as: compact discs, DVDs, stereo equipment, and sewing.

 

Most bookcases that are bought at retailers like Boscovs or J.C. Penny or Sears are made from a wood composite. Wood composite is similar to particleboard in that it is one piece of wood made up of many smaller pieces of wood and compressed, to form a strong synthetic wood. Manufacturers and retailers use this wood composite because it is cheaper and holds up just as long. Whether it is just as strong as a real hardwood is debatable, however, it is certainly cheaper to use wood composite than real hardwood.

 

Bookcases made from real wood are typically expensive. Depending on the wood type they may be down right salty. Certain hardwoods are increasingly harder to come by than in years past. There is no substitute for real hardwood bookshelves. The natural wood grain with the right wood stain can give a well-crafted bookcase a lifeline. There is something inspiring about walking into a room that has antique or real wood bookshelves. Like the books upon the shelf, the wood from a bookcase has a memory and tells the story of where the bookcase has been and what it has been through.