Today Marilyn, my personal helper, came for her monthly visit and one of the projects I started was I want to cull all my books. In the past, I've gotten rid of a lot of them -- recycled, sent to friends, etc. but I hadn't really taken a hard look.
I had decided we would do one shelf a month -- for now -- and in today's shelf was the typical desk-style dictionary. We were dividing the books into keep, give to friends, and put out on the street for passersby. It has been years since I've used a dictionary -- in fact, I had forgotten I had one.
I couldn't imagine any use I would have for a printed dictionry when more recent information was available on line. It's very weird to me that a printed dictionary has become obsolete, So we put it in the box to put out on the street. My, how times have changed.
I can't get rid of my dictionary -- it's symbolic. It's the sign of an educated and curious household. It's interesting to absent-mindedly wander around after you look something up to see what words you don't know.
ReplyDeleteNot that I've done that in years, but still...
Obsolete? Ya hear that Mr Webster? Hmmm. Noah darling, please know that my writing "desk" (glass coffee table) supports two hardcover dictionaries, Rodale's synonym book and Jane's aerospace dictionary and I wouldn't give em up for the world. There's something about leafing through a book of words..holding them in your hands. Love of paper is probably same reason I am devoid of any desire to own a Kindle....so, Noah, a few of us are still with you.
ReplyDeleteI get what you're saying, and I agree with you except I came to a different conclusion. I have not used a printed dictionary in more than 10 years. I don't even remember the last time I used one. Someone gave me an unabridged dictionary that I tried to get rid of, and no one took it.
ReplyDeleteI tried to come up with a circumstance under which I'd go to a printed book vs dictionary.com and couldn't come up with one. So think of it this way: If I keel over, it's one fewer book you have to cart out!