This is an AI created summary of the March 8, 2026, Book Wyrms meeting. I fixed obvious errors and deleted digressions, but be aware this is imperfect. The AI is trying to work on a business model, we are a lot more free-wheeling! CPL
Quick recap
The group held a meeting focused on libraries, both real and imaginary, with Joe presenting slides on notable libraries including the British Library and Trinity College Dublin’s Long Library. Members discussed various science fiction and fantasy books featuring libraries, including works by Terry Pratchett, Gene Wolfe, and Neil Gaiman. The group also planned their next meeting, April19, deciding to focus on time travel stories
Library Presentation Planning Meeting
The group held a casual meeting with Joe preparing to present about libraries, though the main discussion focused on informal conversation. Joe mentioned his upcoming presentation about real and imaginary libraries, including the Long Library in Dublin and the British Library. The meeting included personal updates, with Lynda joining late and Danny mentioning his upcoming birthday. The conversation included casual exchanges about work locations, family updates, and general social chat among the participants.
Joe presented a detailed overview of the British Library, describing its exterior, interior, and notable exhibits including the King’s Library. He shared insights about historical documents like Alexander Fleming’s notebook and a 1598 Shakespeare folio. The Long Library in Dublin and the Book of Kells was mentioned. The discussion included references to Terry Pratchett’s fictional Library of Unseen University and L-Space, with participants making connections to Pratchett’s works and engaging in related discussions about historical figures like Isaac Newton.
Fictional Libraries Discussion
The group discussed fictional libraries from various sources, including Terry Pratchett’s Unseen University and Doctor Who’s library planet episode. Danny shared details about a library in Charlie Stross’s Palimpsest novella, describing it as a continent-sized memory diamond containing all books from previous trillion years of humanity. Lynda contributed by noting that libraries in books she’s read often feature secret powers, hidden rooms, special books, and portals, positioning them as resources and vaults of knowledge with special access.
Science Fiction Libraries in Literature
The group discussed the significance of libraries in science fiction, particularly how they serve as important settings for worldbuilding and character development. Danny shared examples from various works including Diane Duane’s Young Wizard series, Jo Walton’s “Among Others,” and Gene Wolfe’s novels, highlighting how libraries often contain special books that lead characters on new journeys. The discussion also touched on how libraries function as archives and museums, storing both books and historical artifacts, with references to works like Spider Robinson’s and Freya Marsk’s novels.
Mass Market Paperback Discontinuation
The group discussed changes in the publishing industry, particularly the discontinuation of mass market paperbacks in North America by one major distributor due to declining sales. Joe shared a Guardian article noting that sales dropped from 131 million mass market paperbacks in 2004 to 21 million in 2024, with Walmart and drug stores no longer carrying them. The discussion highlighted the shift toward hardcovers and trade paperbacks, though it remained unclear what impact this change would have on European markets.
Cathy presented a visual tour of impressive libraries around the world, including Trinity College Dublin’s Long Library, the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, and others. The group discussed various architectural features and historical aspects of these libraries, with Joe mentioning that tickets for Trinity College’s library need to be reserved online in advance. The group discussed various public libraries in Montreal, with Cathy sharing photos and details about different locations including one near Olympic Park. Danny shared information about the Geisel Library at UC San Diego and a fictional scenario from a novel about digitizing books through advanced scanning technology.
They discussed the differences between public and university libraries, noting that university libraries were closed. The conversation shifted to books about libraries, with Cathy mentioning a book called “Temples of Books”. and discussing “The Starless Sea” by Aaron Morgenstern. The conversation ended with technical issues as Keith experienced camera problems with his laptop.
Fictional Libraries and Book Concepts
The group discussed various fictional libraries and book-related concepts from different novels. Danny shared details about a popular book involving a secret society of Libriomancers led by Johannes Gutenberg, where characters could extract objects from books. Cathy presented examples including The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, the Library of the Dead series, the Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman, and the Left-Handed Booksellers of London. The discussion also covered Neil Gaiman’s Library of Dream from Sandman and Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series, with particular focus on “The Well of Lost Plots” and the concept of characters being able to interact with books.
What are we reading now?
The group discussed their current reading preferences, with most expressing a preference for uplifting books over dystopian or depressing content. Danny mentioned working on an essay about fantasy versus science fiction, noting that while fantasy can include science fiction elements, the reverse isn’t possible. The participants shared updates on their current reads, including The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (Joe), A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Lynda), and Space 1999’s operations manual (Dom). Lynda recommended Chris Hadfield’s science fiction series and Project Hail Mary, while the group discussed their enjoyment of the Game of Thrones prequel stories featuring Ser Duncan the Tall. Keith shared he was reading a book about a scuba diver’s encounter with a Humboldt squid
April Meeting Planning Discussion
The group discussed their next meeting scheduled for April 19th at 1 PM on Sunday. They agreed on a time travel theme for the next meeting, which Keith will introduce. The group also briefly discussed the quality of AI-generated meeting summaries, noting they were sometimes accurate but not completely reliable.