If you’re a fan of the Game of Thrones series, both in book form and on screen, you might have noticed the unusual way books are shelved in the Citadel library. Believe it or not, they are shelved with the spines facing inwards. But have you wondered why?
Game of Thrones Citadel Library
In the grand and mysterious world of Game of Thrones, the Citadel Library stands out as a unique and intriguing institution. The library is a storehouse of knowledge, filled with countless scrolls and books. One peculiar aspect that gets the viewers’ attention is the unusual arrangement of books on the shelves, with spines facing inwards. This unconventional orientation naturally raises the question: how does anyone identify the title of each book?
The explanation lies in the intricate and fascinating system used by the Maesters of the Citadel. The Citadel’s library is not just a repository of books; it is an intricate labyrinth of information, meticulously arranged and categorized. Instead of relying on the spines of the books for titles, the Maesters use a sophisticated organizational system.
Why Are The Books Spine Shelved Inwards?
In 2012, Francesca Mari published an article in The Paris Review where she talked about books and the practice of shelving books from the Middle Ages to the modern era.
“The first spine with printing dates from 1535, and it was then that books began to spin into the position we’re familiar with. Despite the proliferation of affordable books with printed spines in the intervening centuries, the gold standard of shelving, the built-in bookshelf, didn’t become prevalent until the Depression.”
Basically, books weren’t shelved with their spines facing outwards until they started being published with printed spines. Seeing as Game of Thrones is also set around the Middle Ages era, it wouldn’t be uncommon for the Citadel to have books shelved with their spines facing inwards.
The citadel library in Game of Thrones is modelled after the Chained Library at the Hereford Cathedral. The chained library is known to have a book dating back to the 8th century. The official website explains that chaining books was a common practice during the Middle Ages.
“The chaining of books was the most widespread and effective security system in European libraries from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, and Hereford Cathedral’s 17th-century Chained Library is the largest to survive with all its chains, rods and locks intact.”
