You find yourself half way between Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro; about as far from Mexico City as from Moscow.

Albert Einstein waits to the left, ready to explain his theory of relativity. A short distance to your right James Watt hopes to recount his development of the steam engine to you. John Steinbeck and Isaac Bashevis Singer crouch over you, vying for your attention.

Your surroundings are conventional and functional. One aspect stands out: A piece of furniture - represented in 2 or 3 specimens in the typical home - recurs here hundreds of times.

What are the two common names for this item of furniture?

The item of furniture would seem to be a bookcase (bookshelf) with the card mentioned being a library card. 

Another possible solution would be a television set (telly, tv set) with the card being a credit card and you being in a huge television shop where many science and travel programs are being displayed on the several channels on the sets positioned such that you are half way between one TV showing Tokyo and another televising Rio de Janeiro, a third showing Mexico City with a fourth, Moscow.  Science programs with Albert Einstein and James Watt, respectively being displayed right and left. And, on an overhead HDTV, perhaps, an educational/history program about writers, particularly John Steinbeck and Isaac Bashevis Singer.