Book collecting:  the collecting of books, including seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever books are of interest to a given individual collector.

The love of books is bibliophilia, and someone who loves to read, admire, and collect books is a bibliophile.  Bibliophilia is sometimes called bibliomania but should not be confused with the obsessive-compulsive disorder suffered by the biblioholic.

Biblioholics are confused individuals who put books first, before food, family, jobs, an dany other distraction from the written word.

And once a person becomes hooked on reading, a meta-morphosis occurs – a passion for books, a new way of life, a unique adventure ensues.  The biblioholic is always in a state of glory over new arrivals.  We love to have them overflowing from our shelves and, yes, from suitcases, boxes, nooks and crannies, fallen around the bed. . . puddles of tomes here and there about the house.  Biblioholics are always ecstatic when they find a powerful new author to add to their palate.

Have you ever awakened the morning after a book-buying spree, unable to remember how many you bought or how much you spent?  Have you ever been reprimanded or fired for readin gon the job?  Have you ever purchased or rented additional living space – just for your books?

Welcome to the world of book collecting.  is there a better gift, or more meaningful affliction to pass on to your friends and family?