Here I am teaching in the library using standard sets . . .

Three sets fit perfectly on each library table, which are vynil roll up standard club weighted sets . . . .

@TheOneCalledMichael Beautiful sets!

I am thinking the term library came from one poster that said it was from Victorian Era with people who have money to afford a personal library in their home. Since libraries don't need huge or standard size tables. The tables were smaller in size which causes chess sets to be smaller in order to be played on the smaller size tables. This is all speculation on my end but it would make sense of the origin of the term. I would consider 2.875"-3.25" to be in the range of Library size. Smaller it is travel/analysis size. Bigger is club/tournament size. I have had sets all within this range but the 3.25" size is my favorite size of the Library size category. 

Here's a set that would make for a great set to use for a Straight Up Chessboard in the Library.

3.1" Library Series Staunton Chess Pieces Only Set - Weighted Boxwood (royalchessmall.com)

I play either against my brother or my father and I gotta say I get used quickly playing that size. I like analyzing games and for that I prefer this size than the 3.75" size.

One thing I notice the other day, when playing this library size set it feels like playing a friendly game but when playing full size / tournament size set then somehow I feel serious and give much more thoughts on every move.

@TheOneCalledMichael yes I agree with your point on the feeling that playing on smaller sets tends to feel more friendly. Could be due to library sized sets can't be used for tournament play. Where tournament sized set are mainly used for serious competition. However I do experience the same friendly feeling with a tournament size set that in not mainly used for tournament play. If it's a luxury set with fancier designs. I would feel like it's a chilled friendly game as well. Size and design I believe is what makes us feel the difference. 

Good point, fancy sets do give different vibes. I don't have a really fancy set, but I guess it would feel like Christmas day?

I'm a sucker for dogface knights so I got myself another one, a smaller one. 7.5cm king on 42mm board.

Just realized something, set all together (pieces, board and clock) are approximately 110 years old. Talking about old school  

Where did you purchase your dogface Knight set from?

local craiglist, this set is run off the mill pieces you find here.

Nice purchase Michael!

Hahaha, your set looks much like mine!  Do any of the pieces have a slight lean that makes it easier to play uphill?

Of course! It had to be the king too

This is the set I use for analysis and reading. I'll probably get a non-coordinate board at some point, but this is what was in stock when I needed 1.75" squares. And actually, for analysis and reading I kind of like the "games room" look of this board even if it would get on my nerves if I was playing on it.

The pieces are House Of Staunton Zagreb '59. I'm waiting for delivery on a World Chess Studio set which will be my second analysis set. And I've also got a HOS Circa 1925 set that would fit on the 1.75" squares, but I use that one on a 1.875" board to actually play games so I don't really think of it as a library/analysis set, even though it could be.

For casual playing I think library size sets are just fine. They're easy to grab and bring along too and don't taking too much spare to store, what's not to like?

Here's another library size set I put together from several places. And yes, I've got another 3.1"  dogface knight. Board is 30 years old, quite hefty for a small one. It's 40mm squares and came in thick layer of unevenly applied lacquer or something like that. So I sanded it down and put oil on it. To top it off, I found this half broken Mom chess clock for 7 bucks in a thrift store, in living room decoration section. I'm a happy camper

Nice job with the board - that looks great!

I guess the small-ish 1970s East German set I own qualifies as library/analysis size. It's smaller-looking than bare measures can express.

Certainly is, you got cute sets