There are two places where you expect to find rare and antiquarian books – private collections and rare book rooms of libraries. Here's a place you might not expect to find them – hotels. There are obvious reasons, such as the ease of theft and the fact that rare books need to be very gently handled if at all. Nonetheless, we are seeing a trend for more rare book collections in hotels. This is not something entirely new, but the trend received greater publicity after a recent article in Elle Decor.
You won't find such collections in your average hotel or motel. Don't expect to find a rare book library at the Motel 6. That's one of the things you'll have to give up for the cheap price. Bring your own books if you wish to read. This is strictly a phenomenon of the most upscale luxury hotels.
Elle Decor points out the Hotel Sylvia in Newport, Oregon. It is a historic luxury hotel that was named for Parisian Bookseller Sylvia Beach. She was the brave bookseller who agreed to publish James Joyce's Ulysses when no one else would, fearful of censorship laws. The new owners wrote on their website, “When we learned the story of Sylvia Beach, we felt compelled and inspired to continue to curate a special hospitality environment that inspires connection, growth and exploration.” They invite visitors to “Experience a literary themed stay with the perfect setting to inspire growth, re-ignite passions and rediscover oneself while you take in the captivating ocean views perched along the cliffs of the Oregon Coast.” Sounds nice.
If you travel to Bath in England, you might want to stay at the Lucknam Park. Bath is a popular tourist resort for the hot springs for which it is named. The Telegraph informs us, “Inside, a dignified quiet presides, in rooms where portraits look out from gold wallpaper and in the library, stocked with crinkly 19th-century books.” Rooms start at £574 (US $750). Just don't take the books to the baths since water does terrible things to old books.
There is Hotel Le A in Paris. They describe it as a “Parisian house,” but with 26 rooms and suites, it must be a very large house. It's on a side street just off the Champs Elysée. They mention that they have “a library of 300 books on art, fashion, design and architecture sitting by the fireplace.” Nice touch.
In Houston, you can stay at the recently renovated Hotel Granduca. They say they are “ushering in a New Era of European Elegance in Houston.” They describe their library as “Wrapped in deep Mediterranean blue tones, the library offers a warm and inviting retreat, rich with intellectual charm. A marble fireplace serves as the room’s centerpiece, surrounded by rare books and heirloom decorative pieces that celebrate literature and history. The walls feature oil paintings, sepia-toned prints, and authentic antique maps, adding depth and character to the space.”
You might not expect a luxury hotel in Hudson, New York, once a manufacturing city in earlier days. However, it has had a renaissance and you can book a room at the luxurious Maker for $595 a night. According to 1000 Libraries, “The Maker Hotel Library is an intimate literary retreat within Hudson’s boutique Maker Hotel, blending vintage charm with a carefully curated book collection.”
There are booksellers who now concentrate on, or at least offer their services to hotels looking to offer books to their guests. Probably the granddaddy of these is Ultimate Library. Founded in 2008 by Philip Blackwell when he saw a need for travellers, it is located in London. Their website explains, “Responding to a rising demand from discerning travellers to find great books at their hotel, we partnered with luxury travel brands like Six Senses, Soneva and Aman to curate books for their lobbies, spas, kids clubs and guest suites. We took great care – still do – to understand each client’s brand values and local culture, to create a valuable amenity that educates, entertains and inspires their guests.”
Some people have claimed that books are dead, and yet they keep popping up even in unexpected places. Now some hotels can promote something besides a TV in every room.
