Borrowing library books

[Miss Chicken]

Though I love reading, and though I was a library technician, I rarely borrow books from my local library.

I am one of those people who prefer to buy books rather than borrow them from the library.

I don't know why this is. I am not well off so it would make more sense financially for me to borrow books.

I tend to buy my books either from Amazon or from second-hand book shops.

I don't remember my mother ever borrowing books for herself from the library (though we did as children). I know my brother and one of my sisters usually buy their books (or borrow them from friends or family). I am not sure about my other sister.

So do you borrow books from a library, or do you tend to buy them?

 

[trekkiedane]

I used to go to the library at least once a month (one month is the normal borrowing period) and drag home a big stack of novels an even bigger stack of graphic novels (you know; the European kind) and a load of music and a few handfuls of dvds (once those were invented).

But I haven't been doing that the last couple of years.

I enjoy books too much, I want to own those that I really like and find it extremely difficult to find time to read those others as I spend a lot of time on-line these days

 

[DanTheGrey]

I buy my books or borrow them from my dad (which are usually more Economics or Chomsky ones). I haven't borrowed a book from a library since my University days over a decade ago and haven't had a library card for the Municipal library since I was in my mid-teens.

I do annually donate books to the library though that I no longer need or want. Strangely, if you donate too much money, the budget gets cut for the local branch (since it has community support) so I just donate books to them instead since it means they get the books for that branch only and I don't ding their budget.

 

[Harvey]

I borrow from the library all the time, books, CDs, DVDs, whatever else I can get my hands on. When I really enjoy a book, I purchase it, but most tomes don't need to be on my shelf at all times. I have too many books as it is...

 

[Jadzia]

I prefer to buy than borrow, but I don't like being cluttered up with loads of books so I prefer to not buy either I do borrow too but it's a less enjoyed experience, that I can't take my time reading it, that it's second hand and worn and sometimes fusty, and once I've returned it I can't easily refer back to it. It's an inconvenience to borrow and there's not as much pleasure in it. Despite their immateriality, free electronic texts are preferred by me.

 

[Captain Shaw]

I do not use the library much because sometimes i can read a book in a day other times I'm busy and it can take me for ever to read them so if i borrowed them i would end up getting fined.

 

[trampledamage]

I use the library a lot. At the moment mostly for books for my kids - my local branch has a play area with a play kitchen and puzzles so they love going, and it means I can get lots of different books for them without worrying too much if they're going to read them at all (well, pick them out for me to read to them ). The libraries here have online renewals so I can keep each book for around three months before I physically have to take them into the library again.

I like it for books for me because there are many books I would love to read but just can't afford to buy. I wish I had the money, but I don't - and also the library offers an easy way to try new authors just on a whim. I started reading John Sandford that way and he's now one of my favourite authors (and a definite must buy)

 

[TheLonelySquire]

Though I love reading, and though I was a library technician, I rarely borrow books from my local library.

I am one of those people who prefer to buy books rather than borrow them from the library.

I don't know why this is. I am not well off so it would make more sense financially for me to borrow books.

I tend to buy my books either from Amazon or from second-hand book shops.

I don't remember my mother ever borrowing books for herself from the library (though we did as children). I know my brother and one of my sisters usually buy their books (or borrow them from friends or family). I am not sure about my other sister.

So do you borrow books from a library, or do you tend to buy them?

I buy books. Borrowing seems like a handout to me.

 

[thestrangequark]

I do both, though now that I'm out of school I tend to buy far more than I borrow. I do, like you, Miss Chicken, usually buy from used book stores like the Strand or from Amazon Marketplace. When I was a kid we were poor, sometimes very, very poor. One thing my mother always said was worth buying, though, was books. Our house was full from floor to rafters with all sorts of books; and though we didn't get much in the way of toys or new clothes, when the Scholastic Book Club came to school we were allowed to choose as many books from the catalogue as we wanted. I remember it felt like Christmas the day the book boxes were delivered to school!
My parents, especially my mother, instilled a great love of reading in me, and while my apartment is not yet filled floors to rafters, my bookcase is heaving with everything from poetry to physics to manga. Our family has always treated reading as not only a solitary activity, but a family activity. My mother read to us as kids, and we read to each other. One of my favorite memories was reading aloud The Lord of the Rings to my little sister when I was 12 or 13 -- she would've been 9 or 10. Whenever Frodo would pull out Sting she'd break the tension by singing "...Every breath you taaaaaaaake..."
My older sister and her husband read the Harry potter series aloud to each other, so the tradition is continuing. I'm rereading the series myself, and it makes me want to have children, just so I can read it to them!

Well, that was a tangent.

 

[TheLonelySquire]

I do both, though now that I'm out of school I tend to buy far more than I borrow. I do, like you, Miss Chicken, usually buy from used book stores like the Strand or from Amazon Marketplace. When I was a kid we were poor, sometimes very, very poor. One thing my mother always said was worth buying, though, was books. Our house was full from floor to rafters with all sorts of books; and though we didn't get much in the way of toys or new clothes, when the Scholastic Book Club came to school we were allowed to choose as many books from the catalogue as we wanted. I remember it felt like Christmas the day the book boxes were delivered to school!
My parents, especially my mother, instilled a great love of reading in me, and while my apartment is not yet filled floors to rafters, my bookcase is heaving with everything from poetry to physics to manga. Our family has always treated reading as not only a solitary activity, but a family activity. My mother read to us as kids, and we read to each other. One of my favorite memories was reading aloud The Lord of the Rings to my little sister when I was 12 or 13 -- she would've been 9 or 10. Whenever Frodo would pull out Sting she'd break the tension by singing "...Every breath you taaaaaaaake..."
My older sister and her husband read the Harry potter series aloud to each other, so the tradition is continuing. I'm rereading the series myself, and it makes me want to have children, just so I can read it to them!

Well, that was a tangent.

You have to be either an obsessive crackpot who's escaped from his keeper or Samuel T. Cogley, attorney-at-law.....

 

[Vulcan Princess]

I buy some books and I check others out of the library. About a year ago, I discovered Paperback Swap. It's a site where you can list old books you're willing to give away, and you ship them to people who want them. In exchange, you get a credit so that you can get a free book from another member. I've gotten rid of lots of books that were collecting dust and exchanged them for books I want.

 

[thestrangequark]

I buy books. Borrowing seems like a handout to me.

Seriously? Frankly, I find this a very silly position. The library is one of the most beautiful products of our society. I know that sounds cheesy, but think about it, really think about it: It is in action and as a symbol the very best we as a society have to offer. It is the idea that knowledge and truth are things that everyone deserves and to which all should have equal access. The library is proof of our freedom. Seriously. The literate and learned have the power, and as so long as literature and learning are made available to the public the public remains free.

Besides, your taxes help fund it. Consider it paid for.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

It depends on my proximity to one. If I was in close reach I tended to live in the library and get books all the time. If I was far away from one I would never go in and I'd get all my books from Amazon or Half.com. Right now I am sandwiched in between two different city libraries that are within 5 blocks of me. One of them is an LA County library that has a free inter-library loan policy so you can get any book in the Los Angeles system shipped to your library. So I go to one of them almost every day and have gotten at least a couple dozen books on loan.

 

[thestrangequark]

You have to be either an obsessive crackpo who's escaped from his keeper

Because I read?

or Samuel T. Cogley, attorney-at-law.....

Well, apparently I don't read enough... got to go look him up!

Ahhh...I've not seen all the OS eps.

 

[TheLonelySquire]

You have to be either an obsessive crackpo who's escaped from his keeper

Because I read?

or Samuel T. Cogley, attorney-at-law.....

Well, apparently I don't read enough... got to go look him up!

Ahhh...I've not seen all the OS eps.

You'd appreciate it!

 

[thestrangequark]

^After skimming the Memory Alpha article, I'm sure I would! I'll have to get it from iTunes!

And, hey, would you think it nutty if I watched the LOFTR movies with my sister? I'd think not. So why is it nutty to read the books to her? We read a lot of books together, it's fun!

 

[TheLonelySquire]

I buy books. Borrowing seems like a handout to me.

Seriously? Frankly, I find this a very silly position. The library is one of the most beautiful products of our society. I know that sounds cheesy, but think about it, really think about it: It is in action and as a symbol the very best we as a society have to offer. It is the idea that knowledge and truth are things that everyone deserves and to which all should have equal access. The library is proof of our freedom. Seriously. The literate and learned have the power, and as so long as literature and learning are made available to the public the public remains free.

Besides, your taxes help fund it. Consider it paid for.

I hear you. I just prefer to own what's in my hands. I'd be holding the book knowing I'd need to give it back and that just rubs me the wrong way..lol.

 

[thestrangequark]

I buy books. Borrowing seems like a handout to me.

Seriously? Frankly, I find this a very silly position. The library is one of the most beautiful products of our society. I know that sounds cheesy, but think about it, really think about it: It is in action and as a symbol the very best we as a society have to offer. It is the idea that knowledge and truth are things that everyone deserves and to which all should have equal access. The library is proof of our freedom. Seriously. The literate and learned have the power, and as so long as literature and learning are made available to the public the public remains free.

Besides, your taxes help fund it. Consider it paid for.

I hear you. I just prefer to own what's in my hands. I'd be holding the book knowing I'd need to give it back and that just rubs me the wrong way..lol.

Well,that makes sense. I tend to buy because I am hard on my books. I dogear the pages and make notes in the margins and all that.

I won the fifth Harry Potter book in a drawing contest, though!

 

[TheLonelySquire]

^After skimming the Memory Alpha article, I'm sure I would! I'll have to get it from iTunes!

And, hey, would you think it nutty if I watched the LOFTR movies with my sister? I'd think not. So why is it nutty to read the books to her? We read a lot of books together, it's fun!

It is an EXCELLENT TOS ep. Really is. He gives a memorable performance.

What is LOFTR?

 

[thestrangequark]

^After skimming the Memory Alpha article, I'm sure I would! I'll have to get it from iTunes!

And, hey, would you think it nutty if I watched the LOFTR movies with my sister? I'd think not. So why is it nutty to read the books to her? We read a lot of books together, it's fun!

It is an EXCELLENT TOS ep. Really is. He gives a memorable performance.

What is LOFTR?

It's a typo. It was supposed to be LOTR -- Lord of the Rings.