Libraries in your game

[Tinker Gnome]

Okay, so most fantasy worlds have the archetypal big library filled with lots of books that adventurers often end up perusing. My question is, in your game, are they allwed to "check" them out, and because adventurers adventure so much, how do the librarians keep the books within the confine of their city? Are the books magicall returned when they are due? Or is there some sort of SUper fighting squad that goes an retrives the books for the library? While the first option seems more logical, the second seems much cooler.

 

[Crothian]

Libraries exist for the rich and the well connected. One has to either be personally invited to use a library or make a large donation to the library to gain access. In my wolrd though most people ar enot literate, there is no printing presse, so books are rare.

Books cannot leave the library, many have magical protections as well librariians to prevent theft.

 

[Mr. Lobo]

In my campaigns books are precious commodities. The PC's are only allowed to peruse them within the confines of the "library" itself under strict supervision.

I would go with your contigency teleport spell on them. It's a great idea. If teleport spells on objects are readily available that is.

I would use the repo team in the case that somebody was able to bypass the teleport spell.

 

[CRGreathouse]

In my campaign, book are very rare. Private libraries exist, but (unless owned by a generous king or powerful noble) aren't open to the public. 'Public' libraries a la the Alexandrian library exist in some places; thus far, my players have only found one such library. Patrons are never permitted to remove materials from the library; the codices are chained to their shelves and tight security does not permit the scrolls and manuscripts to leave.

General literacy is 3-8%, varying by location.

 

[Jdvn1]

Yep, same as Crothian. Books can't leave the library. Although a player can try to get special permission depending on the emergency.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Different libraries, different means.

For the free libraries, which are public access, there is a small (1cp per day) fine on books that are returned late. Until you pay the fine you can't take out any more books.

Society libraries are open only to members, again a fee is assessed for late returns, and some books may not be removed from the premises.

University libraries are only open to students, professors, and alumni. No book of more than 10 gp value may be removed, though copying of passages is permitted, and scribes are available for a fee. Those books that may be taken out have a small fee per day.

Wizards and priests guard their books well, with differing effect. One book was rumored to 1. kill the thief, 2. turn the thief into a zombie, and 3. the zombie would return the book, collapsing again once the book was returned. No one ever stole the book to find out whether or not the rumor was true...

The Auld Grump

 

[Emperor Valerian]

Considering in my China-based campaign world an entire book may be 10-20 bundles of wood with writing upon them, the PCs would find it hard to carry an entire book out. Add to this that most of these books are owned by very jealous magicians, and theft becomes rather dangerous too.

 

[Amal Shukup]

In my Homebrew, the only Library I've detailed is the one associated with an Arcane College.

Books simply do not leave the premises. The Library is equipped with tables and private study carrels for the use of students and Guild Journeymen. The really nice books are stored in magically warded rooms and only available to guild masters (or by special arrangement).

Parties wishing to peruse books at length can do so in a number of attached (and secured) study rooms, certain laboratories, or the scriptorium. Some of these facilities are equipped for long-term accomodation.

Damaging or defacing books is strongly prohibited and often results in offenders being surrendered to the city watch. Actually stealing or destroying a book may result in offenders NOT being surrendered to the city watch…

The Master Librarian (Juna Hillfar, 8th Level Half Orc Diviner) enforces the rules, and will retrieve lost or stolen books by any means neccesary.

A'Mal

 

[fusangite]

Medieval libraries were high security places. Books were often chained up and people were searched coming in and going out to make sure they hadn't taken individual pages. It was unheard of to lend books out before the the advent of printing unless the loans were between friends or institutional loans between libraries.

 

[der_kluge]

Mongoose actually has a book on the topic of libraries. Unfortunately I can't think of the name of it offhand, even though I own it.