book counting

[calimac]

"What department are you in?" he demanded, adding hesitantly - "sir." The "sir" gave Adam courage.

"Book-counting," he said quickly. "It's a new department."

"Book-counting?" the man repeated, with a puzzled frown.

"That's right," said Adam. "We're counting the books." He stepped brisky to the nearest shelf, and commenced running his index finger along the rows of books, muttering under his breath, "Two million, three hundred thousand, four hundred and sixty-one, two million, three hundred thousand, four hundred and sixty-two, two million, three hundred thousand, four hundred and sixty-three ..."

"You've got a job there," said the man.

"Yes," said Adam. "And if you make me lose count, I'll have to start all over again from the beginning. Two million, three hundred thousand, four hundred ..."

"Sorry," said the man, humbly, and shuffled off towards the open door of the gallery.

- David Lodge, The British Museum Is Falling Down

We don't have that many. I just estimated the ones that are still in boxes. And some sections are still not in any order. But most of our books are now on shelves, for the first time in - well, enough years to count two million books in. And I used a hand clicker. But I counted our books.

Not to keep you in suspense, I came up with about 5350.

I'll give you a tour of the collection later.