Custom-Built Libraries (Librarians Can Never Afford)

Michael Lamb, the operations manager for Powell’s Books in Portland, Ore., is working as a “literary adviser” to a Saudi Arabian sheik who is building a library in his palace. Forbes Says Between its store and Web site, Powell’s sells about 4 million books a year. But Lamb spends about a third of his time designing private libraries for the über-rich literati. Corporate and scholarly libraries also place plenty of orders in his office.
Most business clients want reference libraries full of the latest technical books, but there are exceptions that allow Lamb to have a little more fun. McMenamins, the growing northwest hospitality company that operates a chain of bars and hotels, purchases books by the foot to stock the shelves of their pubs.

“books by the foot” There’s a joke there someplace.