this game can go on indefinitely and it drives me nuts so bit by bit I have put away all the objects that I don't want him messing with so that all that's left are books and random pieces of metal and large things like printers that he can't knock off. now I just look back at him when he looks at me.
this morning he tried to check several books out of the small library to my left. I just let him. if the books fall on the floor I pick them up but otherwise I'm not going to get in his way.
it seems to be working. he's spending less time on the shelves and more on the floor where things are more or less cat-proof.