The private library or study is a quiet, book-wrapped, miscellaneous collectionpeppered space that grants homeowners at least one place in the world where it is possible to work and retreat in peace from daily distractions. The story of the architecture of libraries extends back almost to the beginning of history, but in Britain it was only after the advent of the printing press that our homes began to see its influence and incorporation in various forms. And yet, as Mark Purcel notes in his book The Country House Library, many architectural histories resolutely ignore libraries.
However, despite the digital world we live in today, books remain treasured items and almost no home can be found without at least one bookshelf.