Editing Bookcase (section)

{{Short description|Furniture used to store books}}
{{Redirect|Bookshelf|the speaker|Bookshelf speaker|the reference software by Microsoft|Microsoft Bookshelf}}
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[[File:Interior of Bibliothèque Mazarine 003.JPG|thumb|[[Composite order|Composite]] columns of a bookshelf from the [[Bibliothèque Mazarine]] (Paris)]]
[[File:Rainbow Bookshelf.jpg|thumb|Household bookshelf arranged by color]]
A '''bookcase''', or '''bookshelf''', is a piece of [[furniture]] with horizontal [[shelf (storage)|shelves]], often in a [[cabinetry|cabinet]], used to store [[book]]s or other printed materials. Bookcases are used in private homes, public and university [[libraries]], offices, schools, and bookstores. Bookcases range from small, low models the height of a table to high models reaching up to ceiling height. Shelves may be fixed or adjustable to different positions in the case. In rooms entirely devoted to the storage of books, such as libraries, they may be permanently fixed to the walls and/or floor.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chairish.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-a-bookcase-and-a-bookshelf/ |title=What Is The Difference Between A Bookcase And A Bookshelf? |date=February 25, 2020 |website=Chairish |access-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712213743/https://www.chairish.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-a-bookcase-and-a-bookshelf/ |archive-date=July 12, 2022}}</ref>

A bookcase may be fitted with glass doors<ref name="Bookcase">{{cite web| url= http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bookcase|title=Bookcase|publisher=The Free Dictionary By Farlex|access-date=2012-05-19}}</ref> that can be closed to protect the books from dust or moisture. Bookcase doors are almost always glazed with glass, so as to allow the spines of the books to be read.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.homedit.com/bookcase-with-doors/ |title=Stylish Bookcase with Doors To Fit Any Budget Or Space |last=Osmond |first=Candace |date=March 9, 2021 |website=Homedit |access-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309201953/https://www.homedit.com/bookcase-with-doors/ |archive-date=March 9, 2021}}</ref> Especially valuable rare books may be kept in locked cases with wooden or glazed doors. A small bookshelf may also stand on some other piece of furniture, such as a [[desk]] or [[Chest (furniture)|chest]]. Larger books are more likely to be kept in horizontal piles and very large books flat on wide shelves or on [[coffee table]]s.

In Latin and Greek, the idea of bookcase is represented by {{Lang|la|Bibliotheca}} and {{Lang|el-latn|Bibliothēkē}} ({{langx|el|βιβλιοθήκη}}), derivatives of which mean ''library'' in many modern languages. A bookcase is also known as a ''bookshelf'', ''bookstand'', [[cupboard]] and ''bookrack''.<ref>{{cite web |title=bookcase |url=http://freethesaurus.net/s.php?q=bookcase |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119114443/http://freethesaurus.net/s.php?q=bookcase |archive-date=Nov 19, 2012 |access-date=2012-05-19 |publisher=Free Thesaurus}}</ref> In a library, large bookshelves are called "stacks."