Assouline said he also seeks to include a variety of genres and adds decorations to the library space, such as rare statues and sculptures — objects that help take guests on "visual journeys" and add "conceptual depth" to the library.
"It's also about the elements of engagement and maintaining class and sophistication," he added. "We'll pair that with a hint of playfulness, like a game, or an old wooden domino or something."Assouline said his requests for physical libraries and hard-cover books have remained steady, even as the world continues to pivot to digital. His comments aren't surprising, however:In 2018, print books in the US made up $22.6 billion in revenue, while e-books made $2.
And this is especially true for coffee-table books, Assouline said, adding that books his family produces cannot necessarily be compared to novels, which can be translated to a Kindle. "In terms of coffee-table books, it's the whole experience of seeing your thematic interest," he said.