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The device will brace up the top or bottom edge of a row of books (see the drawings of Latimer’s original support). Latimer fashioned his support out of sheet metal, but you can build a similar unit out of inexpensive pine board. You assemble the support by screwing together five pieces of wood. We’ve given each piece a name to make it easier to talk about putting the pieces together. Begin by cutting the five pieces from an 18 inch length of “one-by-six” pine board. (The board you buy at the lumber yard will actually measure 3/4 inch thick and about 5½ inches wide — 1 inch by 6 inches are nominal, or approximate, dimensions.) The first diagram shows you how to cut the board into the different pieces. Next, drill six 3/16-inch diameter holes through the “top piece” and six 3/16-inch diameter holes through the “side piece” at the locations shown in the second diagram. Using “long, ear” and “right ear” to the “top piece,” then fasten the “top piece” and the “bottom piece” to the “side piece.” The second diagram shows how the various pieces should be joined. Complete the support by sanding off the sharp edges and painting the support to match your bookshelves. Note that this support is designed to fit standard 5/8 inch to 1-inch thick bookshelves. If your shelves are thicker, you will need a wider “side piece.”