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3nodding

Hmm... a comunal library for the guild... all right, here's my envisionment of said library.

A large building (at least three stories tall), well made from stone and wood freely asked for and given by the earth. Numerous bookcases linging the walls, sometimes sticking out to make private alcoves with windows and a few comfortable chairs to curl up in. A few stacks in the middle of the room, as well as tables for spreading books out on when researching a subject of interest. An information desk near the front entrance to the library manned by at least two librarians/archivists whose job it is to help others find what they are looking for. Each subject clearly defined and ordered by author for easier searching amongst the many diverse subjects of the Craft (herbs, stones, ritual work, tools, protection...etc). The floor would be hardwood with radiant heating underneath, so that even in the dead of winter the library would be a warm and inviting place to be. All of this would just be the first (or ground) floor.
On the second floor would be an open sort of common area, as well as several small- to meduim-sized rooms. The small rooms would all have slate floors and walls, so as to be used as individual work rooms for personal rituals/workings. The medium-sized rooms would also have slate floors and walls to be used in larger group rituals/workings, or for teachings such as circle castings. The common area would have well spaced; and placed; tables, chairs, and sofas for people to gather around and on to discuss whatever comes to mind, or simply just to spend time with friends.
The third floor would be one large room with slate floors and walls for when the entire guild was gathered for a Great Rite or working.

That's what I envision a library for such a guild as ours would be like.

Edit: Forgot to explain why the work rooms would have slate floors and walls. Well, that so it's easier to create circles with chalk, and other ritual symbols that may be required for whatever you're working on. Less hassle and easier to clean up afterwards. biggrin

Of course. I was talking about it with my mom, and she reminded me to make sure there were elevators for those of us with problems going up stairs, and to have a cafeteria/kitchen in the basement. I'm thinking full industrial kitchen with a comfortable seating area for eating and just gathering, much like on the upper levels. Every floor would have radiant heating, and there would naturally be doorway from the first/ground floor to a heated greenhouse that would also lead to an outdoor garden. That way we would always have herbs and other spell components ready at hand when we needed them.

No one laugh at my description please?? sweatdrop I'm not the best at describing my thoughts.

What I see is a library not surrounded by buildings, but rather on the outskirts of a city, surrounded by a small forest. The sign above the big oak doors says in runes, An it harm non, do what ye will. then in smaller runes under it, it says. Blessed Be. Both scrawled in gold. When you go inside, there are lines of bookshelves reaching to the enormous dome ceiling. Hanging from the ceiling are two intricate chandeliers. The ceiling has a Celtic floral design going to the center of the dome. In the center is the lord and lady painted. The books on the shelves are old, and worn from use. Wiccans from the past gave the library their books of shadows for us to use, and to learn from. All the books are filled with information on herbs, plants, incense, tarot, spells that are ancient and many other things. The desk the librarian sits at is beautiful, and made of a stained oak. The lamp on her desk isn't a lamp, but a candelabra. The library is lit with only candles, and has a warm welcoming feeling to it. In the center of the massive library is a seating area, with old couches, and armchairs. In the middle of the table, in the middle of the circle of couches, and armchairs, is another candelabra. Another seating area is by the far wall, around a fireplace. The tables have piles of books on them from studying witches who are still there. It seems you could spend ages in the library, just reading, and learning. There is soft meditation music playing all the time. All the windows are stained glass with images of different tarot cards on each window pane.

That's how i picture it. 3nodding heart

I was seeing more of a cottage living room sort of space, with mismatched squishy furniture and floor cushions. There'd be mismatched tables with books piled on, and bookshelves. It'd be quite a dark room, lit by sconces and a fire in the grate, with a broom above the hearth. I'm not sure why a broom... it just popped into mind.

The air is warm and quite close, with earthy, paper smells, and that smell you get in the fabrics of a room that incense and oils are burned in regulary.

There's something comforting about it, cosy. A few alcoves, rough stone walls, wooden floorboards. I think there's two or three larger desks, with herbal almanacs and the like on them.

....Yeah, I'll stop talking now. smile

There's symbols for Earth, Air, Water and fire on the North, East, West and South walls an full of shelves, each about 6 feet tall. On the roof i glittering stars and the Goddess and God in the center. The roof is domed. The sections all have tables here you can sit and read, there's some computers for finding books. The building s made of wood, and there are runes and Theban (sp?) letters on the shelves and check-out desk. There are Tarot decks so you can look at the different kinds (Dragon deck, etc.) and sometimes people can give lecteres on stuff they're good at or teach a class on something. And just for fun, Wi-Fi smile
Allright, I'm done now.