I am of the same mind, Boboswitch. If I bought the item new and made the contract, I feel similarly. I never share my Chavez material for that reason. But I figure if it is in the open collection at the Magic Castle or at Conjuring Arts where anyone with access (and at the Castle it's a few thousand people), it is fair game.

It was a issue for me when I started more than 20 years ago. But as now almost everything is so easy to purchase or to have without paying (piracy), I think it should not be an issue anymore.

2500 is a very nice collection !

Sometimes I’m questioning myself about the energy and money I spent for all those books (I have pretty small incomes) because with around three hundred of well chosen titles, you have everything you need to become the best magician in the world…

I don't think even 300 would be remotely necessary. 10-20 well chosen titles (mix of physical skills and theatrical/philosophical titles), with some creativity, quality direction, and lots of stage time and anyone would rise to the top I think.

That is, of course, not going to stop me from continuing to build my library well beyond that number.

I agree with both of you Rachmaninov and WitchDocChris. I will never, ever get through all of those books. It is a sickness that I have. I also own most of Todd Lassen's coin gaffs and collect Magic Wagon, Magiro, Pohle, Tenyo. Part of me, however, condones my "sickness" as I love to sit down with incredibly clever stuff such as my Satori collection and marvel at his genius. My wife has already commented to me that when I am no longer around, she is having a yard sale -- "Every book is $1, 6 books for $5."

Hate to see you go BOBO, but please have your wife contact me .....

I was thinking the same DocChris about the number 20 sufficient books a few years ago, but now no, I would say around a few hundreds if you do most of the work by yourself. If you have a team around you for staging, lighting, sound…I agree that just a few selected books is all what you need.

I do have 3135 books, Lecturenotes and volumes of magazines, included. E-books not included. I am 69 and have thought about selling some of them but find it hard to part with them. Of course I haven't read all of them (during my active years I was too busy making a living with performing magic) but it is wonderful to have access everyday to my lybrary. Upon reading a reference chances are high that I can look it up. So I do enjoy that I can read everyday a book that has new content for me.

I use CLZ books app and it has all the tools I need(photos, description, details, plot,etc.). I, too, have reached an age where I will never finish reading them all. Cannot help but to buy new ones though.

It has been only since 2 years that I’m reading faster than I’m purchasing books. Maybe I get wiser as I get older…