| In our modern, multi-media world, the idea of a | | | | costly but still elegant shelves available at places |
| "bookcase" is almost quaint. The items many | | | | like Pier 1 or Pottery Barn. The difference |
| people use as bookcases are sold as | | | | between them and the "entertainment storage |
| "entertainment storage units" and can also be | | | | units" is that these bookcases are usually made of |
| used for CDs, DVDs and other media. These | | | | higher quality wood and have the look of a |
| often come with adjustable shelves (to | | | | traditional bookcase. The more expensive ones |
| accommodate the variance in height between | | | | come already assembled and finished, but you can |
| CDs and books) and are sold unassembled at | | | | get very nice-looking some-assembly-required |
| places like Wal-Mart and Target. | | | | bookcases for a reasonable price. |
| These pre-fab storage units usually function well | | | | Another option is having shelves built directly into |
| enough as bookcases, CDs racks or knickknack | | | | the walls of your home. This is almost always |
| holders, but they lack the elegance and stateliness | | | | done when the home is being built, though it is |
| of the old-fashioned bookcases. They are usually | | | | possible to add them after the fact. Built-in |
| made of cheaper material, too, and are not nearly | | | | shelves save space, obviously, and are sturdier |
| as sturdy. They work well if you only have a | | | | than even the strongest freestanding bookcases. |
| couple dozen books to display, which is common | | | | (There's no way to knock over built-in shelves |
| today, as many consumers own far more CDs | | | | unless you knocked the whole house over!) They |
| and DVDs than books anyway. | | | | are especially prized in small apartments or homes |
| If you have a large library of books, a more | | | | where space is otherwise at a premium. It's an |
| traditional bookcase may be in order. The price | | | | option worth considering when looking for a new |
| range on these bookcases run the gamut, all the | | | | home. |
| way from hand-crafted mahogany cases to less | | | | |