Thanks to everyone for your responses! I bought an 18-watt table Ott Lite this a.m. at JoAnns, using a 50%-off coupon. The entire length between the heavy base and the light is flexible. I've tried it, both for reading and hand quilting. It's just fine for reading and is much better for quilting than my old 3-way bulb. There is much less glare, but I can still see clearly. (Now if I only had a place to put my old table lamp.)