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A Theory of L-Space
Apr. 26th, 2010 08:50 pmI assume most of us here are familiar with the theory of L-Space, that fluctuation in the trousers of space and time that forms around large masses of books and links all the libraries that are, were, and might be together. I would like to propose a minor addendum to that theory.
L-Hole: Hereby defined as a minor quantum event, varying in size from the width of a single paperback to the length of a full shelf, that forms in the vacuum left where the card catalog tells you insistently the book you are looking for should be found, if that book had not ceased to exist, or, one presumes, been checked out already by someone in the other trousers leg. The canny library patron can spot L-Holes by the gaps in the LoC numbers of the surrounding volumes, as well as the steady presence close by of other, less quantum-minded patrons grumbling about people who don't bother to put books back in the right place when they're done with them.
This information has been brought to you by The Department of Where The Hell Did They Put The Kate Chopin???
L-Hole: Hereby defined as a minor quantum event, varying in size from the width of a single paperback to the length of a full shelf, that forms in the vacuum left where the card catalog tells you insistently the book you are looking for should be found, if that book had not ceased to exist, or, one presumes, been checked out already by someone in the other trousers leg. The canny library patron can spot L-Holes by the gaps in the LoC numbers of the surrounding volumes, as well as the steady presence close by of other, less quantum-minded patrons grumbling about people who don't bother to put books back in the right place when they're done with them.
This information has been brought to you by The Department of Where The Hell Did They Put The Kate Chopin???