Mirliton just published a medieval scriptorium:
http://www.mirliton.it/images/catalog/Scriptorium-08.jpg
The books in the background show a possible alternative. I am thinking of alcoves in underground catacombs, where books are stacked.
Thanks for that info -- I'd just checked them a couple weeks ago and nothing new was there. Glad to see there's something else for me to spend my money on!