We can't decide if the ebook is the modern hero or villain of literature. While saving the book market, it's killing the beloved hardback and printed word. But there's another unnoticed victim in this drama: the humble bookshelf.
In celebration of 2014's National Library Day we've scoured design galleries and trendy furniture shops to bring you a selection of the finest literature storage man can buy (and in some cases, can't buy) for those few remaining works that aren't on your Kindle.
Prepare yourself for some serious shelf envy.
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The Floating Shelf by Umbra
By clipping a sturdy hardback to this shelf, you can stack smaller works on top to give the illusion of a floating library. You'll finally have a use for that hardback copy of Britain's Greatest Walks your mum got you for Christmas.
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B-oK by Marica Vizzuso
Doubles as both a book stack and room divider. Nothing says bookish recluse more than retiring behind your book wall for a good read.
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The Balance Bookshelf by Chris Cushingham
Looking for reading motivation? The Balance Bookshelf guilts you into breaking a few spines: unread books weigh down one side of the scale, transferred to the empty side once their read.
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The Book Sling by Living Wood Studio
Executive toy meets shelf. The Book Sling works by slotting a leather cord through the pages of your books, a wooden stopper sitting under the spine to prevent any page tears. Doubles as an extravagant bookmark.
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The Infinity Bookshelf by Job Koelewijn
Always find yourself with a seemingly unending pile of "yet to read" books? We can only assume that was the motivation of Dutch artist Job Koelewijn, designer of the infinity shelf. It's either an artsy comment on the never-ending futility of the written word, or just a pretty pattern.
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Read Your Book Case by Saporiti
We don't believe in subliminal messaging. It's a load of nonsense dreamed up b- WE NEED TO READ THIS CASE OF BOOKS.
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Bias of Thought by ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects
We really like this illusion bookshelf. We'd probably keep on liking it, right up until its illusive lines cause us to walk into it. Then we'd hate it.
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Tetrad Flat by Brave Space Design
The blocks of this Tetris-themed bookshelf can be moved around independently. Be warned: if you fill the bottom row, you may lose all your books.
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Cutshelves by Tembolat Gugkaev
Step one: Be rich. Step two: Own a room large enough to warrant installing Tembolat Gugkaev's amazing Cutshelves - a tear into bookish dimension.
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Extend by YOY
"Cool shelf!" - everyone who saw the Extend. This crafty L-shaped piece of 2mm steel clamps onto the end of your desk to meet your book storage needs and confound passing children/drunks.
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Minimalist bookshelf by Mark Reigelman
Casual reader? You'll want a casual bookshelf then. Mark Reigelman's is ideal for anyone who fears DIY. Possibly not so good if you own small people or an animal larger than a frog.
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Chuck by Natascha Harra-Frischkorn
Straight lines and ordered storage is very Ikea. Chuck allows you to break with shelf convention, creating a new shape to your shelves with every new item you add to its flexible planks.
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