Simply put, bibliophilia is the love of books. A lover of books is known as a bibliophile. This is opposed to bibliophobia, which is the fear of books. Bibliophiles enjoy reading, collecting, adiring, discussing, holding, borrowing, and thinking about books.
There’s no real qualifications for being labeled as a bibliophile, in the same way there is no official diagnosis for a philanthropist. The title is simply earned through actions and reputation. If reading and loving books is part of your personality, then you’ve established yourself as a bibliophile.
“I can’t imagine living in rooms without books,” says Mareen Corrigan, in her book Leave Me Alone, I’m Reading. “Book lovers always have to touch books.” Other people see books as commodities. A bibliophile understands the deeper value of a book. Pat Conroy goes as far to call books “living things,” because you don’t just read a great book—you experience it.