I Found a Rare Library Card Catalog and Restored it

This was one of my favorite restoration projects, and I enjoyed sharing some of my own memories. I would love for you to share some of your own LIBRARY memories. Thank you for all your support and thank you EKSTER for making this video possible. Barry

As a senior citizen who grew up without computerized information and as an avid reader, I definitely have fond memories of using a card catalog. Thank you for restoring this beautiful piece.

I lived in Verona and Mount Horeb, WI from 1990-2003. Best years of my life. I watch these and get warm happy feelings.

When I was in high school in the early 1970’s, my mother started her career as a librarian, at the high school! I would stay after school and help shelving books so I could get a ride home with her! I was raised by readers and book lovers! Card catalogs were wonderful tools!

I love to see someone caring to give a second life to old furniture that most people would throw away, well done ! Great attention to details.

This is one of my very favorites of your projects. It is the kind of piece I would love to have in my own workshop. I am an artist working in very fine porcelains and other fine materials that I use many cabinets and drawers to store supplies in my studio, so a piece like your card Catalogue would really compliment my workshop. As you always do, this one is a gorgeous result.

Welcome back! You’re artistry has been missed. Beautiful restoration of the piece and your narrative and editing is as always exceptional! Happy Holidays!!

I remember the smell of our library. Like scotch tape, and old paper. I also remember going to our library as a child to sing, read books, and do crafts with other kids. Good times.

I've been a library patron for 73 years, from age 5, and started my library career in 1962, at 17. I've used many a card catalogue like this one, and I loved seeing it restored to its original condition. 👍 I worked in several small branch libraries and in the main library of my home town in northern England. Here in Canada I ran a combined elementary junior high school library for 5 years, had a brief one year part time job in a college library, and my last position was in the reference department of the main downtown library of the city where we've lived in Alberta for the last 36 years. Libraries have been my life and I now use the online service of Libby and borrow e-books. As you might imagine we have books in every room of our home, and although I have no card catalogue I know where every book is located. It's all in the details, but the Dewey decimal system isn't necessary. Nor is the Library of Congress system. Book lovers know their books. 📚🤗 Good to see you again. 🙋

Have come to reply on you for not only a wonderful restoration, but a heartwarming, uplifting and smile inducing story too. Thank you Barry and prayers for a prosperous 2024.

Former librarian here, love your respect for the past. I’ve spent many hours with card catalogs 😂but I have to say I sure do love having computers ! Well done it’s a beautiful piece.

Lucky you to be able to restore this piece and have a piece of history to share with us. As a 73-year-old I can appreciate the method of research I used in college. But it would have been so much easier today. Good restoration, Barry!!! It's beautiful!!!!

One thing I absolutely love doing is repurposing antique furniture. It's so cool that you now have this piece of history to keep your things in. It's so much more fun to open the drawers of an old card catalog instead of some generic piece. What a beautiful addition to your place. Seeing this brought me right back to the John Steinbeck Library, where I spent many hours. I'd walk to the library after school to do homework and look through the giant card catalogs. Now we've got the internet at our fingertips.

I love that you have labeled things you have gotten as gifts.

Thank you for saving this piece but more importantly, thank you for loving it.

Ever week in the summer as children, my mom would take myself and my brother to library and let us spend hours roaming through the books and let our imaginations go. Grateful that she gave us that experience

What a pretty piece! The hardware polished up so nice, it looks like jewelry. I grew up in the 70's and definitely remember using the card catalog system in our local library. Thanks for the memories!

I’m 73 years young lol and this brought back fond memories of going to the library. Beautiful wood and a lovely finish. Merry Christmas to you and hopes for a healthy and happy New Year. Thanks for these wonderful videos 🎄🎄

I have read many comments here and i loved them all! I am sure you will love ❤them too! People have very fond memories of readings books, loving books and libraries. 💖💖💖

I have always been a bookworm. As soon as I learned to read, books have always been in my life. Still today, my bedroom could be described as a library containing a bed. Books are so magical! I remember, as a teenager, this kind of index catalogs: the thrill to explore them, eager to find an interesting - and not yet read - book. For me, these furnitures were like treasure chests. There could be only dust or a unique book waiting for the reader to tell its amazing story. As a computer nerd, I am fully aware that these furnitures are no longer needed. Yet, they have been so carefully crafted, so daily useful and even loved that it’s only fair that they « do not go gentle into that good night ». I’m happy to see that one will go on existing with you. What better place could be found? Best from Brittany, France. M