Buy or check out?

[sHaRp12]

Do you guys prefer buying your books or renting them at a Library.

I, Personally prefer buying books. I like the feeling of ownership, that I know Its mine. And also the thought of being able to hand them down to my children and grand children ect.

[Jay]

For now, borrowing books from the library will have to do. I don't have the room needed for my books. The few books I own (other than textbooks) would fit on one shelf, but once I have a place of my own, my collection of books will grow. Like sHaRp, I like the ownership feeling.

[bazarov]

I'm borrowing them, they are expensive im my land. One day...

[Scheherazade]

I will not, once again, start whining, telling why I think people should use libraries rather than buying books but I borrow my books from libraries as a rule.

I am a library devotee and very proud of it! :D

There has been a similar discussion: http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15933&highlight=library

[Pendragon]

I was a regular at our library for many years. They were among the first to recognize that I could read far beyond my years. Back then, in the late 60's and early 70's, you were allowed to check out only three books at a time, except for me. The head librarian made it clear that I was allowed nine. I could afford few books, but I still have most of them, in fair condition. Now, I buy my books because the library often doesn't have what I'm looking for. And Jay, you'd be amazed at how one can make space for books in small areas! ;)

A conservative estimate is I have a few thousand books. Some are far older than me, but I keep them in ways that preserve them. I have Paperbacks printed when I was 1. I'm 45. The books appear to be almost unread. I have some Paperbacks older than me. They are still in good shape. A book is treasure; keep it safe. Libraries are there for books I cannot find or afford, but need to read. They will get them for me on inter-library loan. So I use both. ;) :D :nod:

[Shannanigan]

When I was much younger, my mother took my siblings and me to the local public library, got us cards, and from then on every Friday night we were in there....turning in our books from the week before and searching for new literary adventures to undertake in the week ahead. It was a good experience. Now I buy books more often, even though I don't have room for them, mostly because the public library here is pretty small and is mostly just Caribbean literature, which I get enough of in school. If I ever move to the states though and have a family, I am planning to do the same thing with my kids.

[mono]

Though I have never particularly felt materialistic, I always prefer buying books, not only out of the pride of owning such books, but also having them available for reference. If I did not necessarily enjoy a certain book, I will sometimes sell it back to the bookstore, thinking I will never utilize it again (though I have deceived myself).
Now and then, especially in the past for school, I would rent books from the library for reference, but usually only if I did not feel like sitting in the library for endless hours. :p

[rabid reader]

I have ever only bought books... I have them in boxes all over the house. I do this so when I'm urgering to read a old favorite I just find (I make it sound like its easy but it is usasally a whole day affair

[Wild Apple]

We have a moral obligation to check out books whenever possible. It is a waste to buy a book, read it once, and then store it in the basement indefenitely. There are many books we will never read more than once. And if we do read a book again, it usually isn't for many years. If you had checked the book out from a library then it would be available for others to read between your two readings. And this would all be accomplished with a single copy of the book.

Now if it is a book you return to often, or if it is a book that can't be found in the library, then buying it becomes more reasonable.

[Scheherazade]

We have a moral obligation to check out books whenever possible. It is a waste to buy a book, read it once, and then store it in the basement indefenitely. There are many books we will never read more than once. And if we do read a book again, it usually isn't for many years. If you had checked the book out from a library then it would be available for others to read between your two readings. And this would all be accomplished with a single copy of the book.

Now if it is a book you return to often, or if it is a book that can't be found in the library, then buying it becomes more reasonable.Hear, hear!

Welcome to the Forum, Wild Apple! I like the way you are thinking!

:D

[AimusSage]

I like wasting trees, so I buy all my books :D

[Scheherazade]

I like wasting trees, so I buy all my books :D*tut tuts*

I really do think that hoarding books is like collecting butterflies or like hoarding shoes and such. One can surely make better use of their financial means.

(I understand that some do not have access to a library etc).

[Psycheinaboat]

We have a small, poorly stocked library where I live. Our librarian is a Nazi. I know that seems harsh, but if you met her you would probably agree. She does not agree with inter-library loans... she tells me they just don't do that, although other libraries in our state will. She will purchase books when asked sometimes, but only if she thinks the books would be an asset to other patrons. Pulp-fic is apparently much more popular than classic or "deeper" literature based on what is usually on the shelves.

I hate to admit it because I feel like a snitch, but I have talked to our library board and one person from our state gov. about the unfriendliness and lack of cooperation at our library. The librarians, including this head librarian, will not even help you find things. Unfortunately, our board members are complacent and no one really seems to care.

Believe it or not, this current lady is better than our last head librarian. He would not allow Harry Potter books or books about religions other than Christianity because he claimed that the parents in our community would not like their children visiting a library like that. The board members were complacent during his "reign" too. Now, the HP books are checked out so often by local children, they cannot keep them on the shelves.

Before anyone asks, let me say that funding is not the problem. I've looked into it and the workers in this library are paid as well as anywhere in the U.S. and they have a large monthly budget to buy books, movies, etc. with that I doubt they even spend.

I could go on and on, but I guess to answer your question, I usually buy my books. Sorry this is so choppy, I am venting. :)

[grace86]

Welcome to the forum Wild Apple. I like your philosophy. I borrowed all my books for the longest time, but I always had a tendency to borrow more than I could read (unlike Pendragon...you go!!!). But since I started working, I haven't really been to a library, I have bought them all. But I cling to my books, they are like brothers and sisters. It is surprising where you can find room to store your books though if you don't have shelves.

[AimusSage]

*tut tuts*

I really do think that hoarding books is like collecting butterflies or like hoarding shoes and such. One can surely make better use of their financial means.

(I understand that some do not have access to a library etc).
Hey! I happen to like hoarding shoes. :)

I just don't rent things, I buy all my movies too. I never rent one, it's just a dirty word for me, like pickle.

[antirem]

I buy them, never new though. Half Price Book has almost everything you want otherwise amazon is only a click away. Its not even that expensive. (buy a few books at a time from amazon otherwise shipping gets ya) I guess it would be better if everyone bought books.. That way the author would be more supported and what not.

[Manfred]

I used to rent all of my books--with the exception of a few favorites--from the library. Lately, however, the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library (IMCPL) has selected a new director; one who is more concerned with the bottom line than the preservation of books. This is a shame, since IMCPL has been rated one of the 10 best public libraries in the USA for years.
In any case, an executive decision has been taken to eliminate many of the less-used books and replace them with more copies of pop fiction. If a book is not checked out for a certain period of time, it is purged from the stacks and sold at a depository booksale held every other month. These volumes are sold cheaply--$2 for a hardcover, some of which are suprisingly old, maybe valuable, certainly hard to come by.
Needless to say, I have been stocking up since this practice began. So much so that I had to purchase a new bookshelf to hold them all, and may soon need another. I feel that if I don't, many of these volumes will be lost to me forever--or at least I won't be able to read them at my leisure.
It is a situation that is both beneficial and traumatic; soon, IMCPL will resemble nothing so much as a Borders bookstore.

[Taliesin]

*tut tuts*

I really do think that hoarding books is like collecting butterflies or like hoarding shoes and such. One can surely make better use of their financial means.

(I understand that some do not have access to a library etc).

This sentence somewhy brought us an image of Smaug (the dragon from "Hobbit") sitting on a pile of books that is greater than he is,tail in his mouth and reading a book and Bilbo sneaking in from somewhere, wanting to lend a book from him, to the eye of our mind

Anyway, on the subject - we like our local library and use it frequently (since the town library is about hundred metres from our schoolhouse, one can easily pop out during a break and lend a book. Or two. Or ten)
But then, on the other hand - there are a lot of books that one simply can't get from the library and that is why we have been gathering our personal hoard (we just love the word).
We are a frequent visitor at local bookstores, but lately, some update those shelves that interest us about once in a month which annoys us. We sometimes order books in english from there still.
Luckily, there are quite a number of antique stores where we can find old books that one cannot buy in the regular shops any more. There is a wonderful athmosphere in them.

So, we favor the philosophy of: gather books from everywhere you can!

[Idril]

I buy them all, I'm not sure I have ever, in my adult life, read a book from the library. I like to have physical reminders of the books I've read, to have the choice to reread them or to refer back to them, to find a quote or a name. And as has been pointed out, if you buy used, it really isn't that big of a strain on your pocket book. I bought The Eustace Diamonds used on amazon for a penny! A stinkin' penny! Of course shipping and handling was a bit more but still, anyway you look at it, it's a bargain. And I fully admit, it's like hoarding but while there may be better ways to spend your money, there are also certainly a lot worse ways. ;)

Now, my husband is a 'renter', the only books he owns are books that have been given to him as gifts...usually by me because I love to buy books but he is perfectly happy getting all his books at the library and our kids are somewhere in the middle. They certainly do take books out from the library but if it's something they really like or an author they love, they want to buy.

[amanda_isabel]

i usually rent my books, or i used to anyway. in elementary they had great choices but the library in school doesn't offer to much. so i love going to book sale and diplomat. i usually buy a lot of books cheap, like 25 pesos (about half of a US dollar), other times there are even books for sale at 10 pesos.. or i borrow books from my friends... i'm both hoarder and renter.

[Pensive]

In my previous school library, our librarian did not use to let us touch a book other than Enid Blyton's novels and King Queen's stories. Now, I will be joining a new school starting from Septermber but I have heard that there is no library there, a pity...

And in Pakistan, specially in my area, there is not trend of libraries, specially libraries containing English books.

My brother has already got a huge collection of novels so first of all I want to read them all but when I really need a book to read, I try to buy it. (That's another thing that most of the books I want to buy are unavailable in the market so sometimes I have to read books online.)

I can read books from anywhere. I don't even mind to read a good book online, that's another thing that sometimes my head really aches by doing so...

[Suzieq47]

I buy and then trade and lend. But, please, everybody, NOTE: Just today I found www.bookins.com. Very interesting concept. I listed 2 books I was willing to send to anybody who wanted them and got a response and a mailing label to mail one of them to someone in California within 20 minutes of signing up. It's free, and if there are books you've bought and don't want to keep, consider that somebody may want one or more of them, and he (or somebody else) has a lovely copy of Henry James short stories that he doesn't want but will gladly send to you.

Suzie

[cruciverbalist]

Thanks for the suggestion, Suzieq! This website is a great idea! Although, I will have to scour my bookshelves to find books I can bear to part with. :rolleyes:

I used to borrow books from the library earlier...it was a bookstore-cum-library ('The Browser'), so you could find new titles as well, which is a rarity in the State Libraries in Chandigarh. Also, they would source any book (even obscure titles) that was not currently available, if requested. They even deliver to other cities, but shipping charges have to be paid on return.
Now that I've moved to Delhi, I have to buy books as there isn't a library nearby. I much preferred having a library at my disposal though... inexpensive & convenient(they even home-delivered!). :nod: Also, I definitely read more when I borrowed books, whereas now I sort-of read them at a more leisurely pace.

[Pendragon]

*tut tuts*

I really do think that hoarding books is like collecting butterflies or like hoarding shoes and such. One can surely make better use of their financial means.

(I understand that some do not have access to a library etc).

Quite so, my dear. But the series of books that I collect have been out of print for years. And most libraries simply do not think Pulp Fiction worth having in stock. I just received word from an author friend that Condé Nast has finally decided to allowed the books to be legally reprinted. Now people can buy them again! The prices had reached the point, due to rarity, where even I could not complete my collection, being unwilling to pay over $100 for a 30 year-old paperback. Sometimes to get the books one wants, one has to hoard. I missed getting a single volume of the BBC Eighth Doctor Who books, called Vampire Science. Now I can't afford it. The same goes for the novel of the Doctor Who Movie; I can’t find it, or I can’t afford it. http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/figuren/e010.gif

[Erna]

I used to rent books when I was younger, first when living with my parents, than when living on my own. But when I lived on my own for a couple of years, my interest in the classics started to grow, I wanted to read more literature then I did before, because I didn't have that large ammount of time anymore as I used to have before going to university. I also wanted to read more English books and classics. And they are not easy to get in a not that large Dutch library.

So I started to buy books, mostly cheap and second-hand, sometimes new ones, of which I know I really want to read them. And I'm happy with it, I've a larger choice and I also notice that I have no time pressure of 3 weeks to finish a book. And that's handy when you read several books at a time and sometimes just don't have time to read..

And I'm not the only one reading my books, my mother always reads them when I'm finished, as we like the same kind of stories, although she't not that fond on English reading, she reads those books still. And friends always always can borrow my books as I can theirs.
When books were really bad, I will sell them again on the internet.

[TEND]

Sorry to say, but I'm a bit of a hoarder. I just love collecting anything, so it's no surprise I would start a book collection once my interest really took off (about 2 years ago). I practically only buy used books unless I absolutely can't find one. Frankly I prefer used books, and we have a few excellent used book stores within a 5-10 minute drive that I love to support. Something about used hardcover books that I love, I don't know they just look proper, like literature should, they have a certain smell, and the pages feel worn and are a little yellowed. I just love them more than a crisp unmarked book fresh from the mall, but that's another subject. Back on topic, I'm a buyer, but have nothing against checking out.

[mtpspur]

I like to own what I read. I generally read the library copy in hardcover and wait the year for the paperback. This however can backfire badly (Adam Hall's Quiller Salamander never made to paperback in the U.S. as far as I know and I finally e-bayed a hardcover copy. I buy John Mortimer's Rumpole of the Bailey in hardcover to make sure I own them. What's annoying me right now is Cornwell's Sharpe series is being released in various sizes. We get testy about the appearance of the book case. If only Pyramid had done that last Fu Manchu book instead of DAW (Wrath of Fu Manchu)!!

[WhimsySA]

Definately buy! I don't like the fact that you know hundreds of people has been touching the books if you take them from the library, besides if you buy them new you get to touch & smell them first (don't you just love the smell of new books in the morning?) and they also look great on my bookshelf!

[Syme]

If I have a quirk, it's that in almost every case I absolutely have to own a book, and it has to be new, and the edition I want. Occasionally I will take a book out from the library, or buy a used one (sometimes that's the only way to find it anyway, and if it's out of print I'd like to own a copy before they all disappear). I work at a book store and enjoy a discount because of that, which obviously gives buying the upper hand for me in this argument.


Also, a case against borrowing: the market for contemporary literary fiction is so dismal compared to that of other entertainment media that buying new books could be considered (stay with me here) supporting the arts, or at the very least an author trying to live off them.

[Suzieq47]

Also, a case against borrowing: the market for contemporary literary fiction is so dismal compared to that of other entertainment media that buying new books could be considered (stay with me here) supporting the arts, or at the very least an author trying to live off them.


Hear, hear!

[grace86]

Definately buy! I don't like the fact that you know hundreds of people has been touching the books if you take them from the library, besides if you buy them new you get to touch & smell them first (don't you just love the smell of new books in the morning?) and they also look great on my bookshelf!

Whimsy, I thought I was the only oddball who falls in love with the smell and feel of new books :D But then again, I also love the smell of old books at the library just as much. Maybe I should go back there sometime soon..when I am done with the dozen I have.

[Manfred]

I buy and then trade and lend. But, please, everybody, NOTE: Just today I found www.bookins.com. Very interesting concept. I listed 2 books I was willing to send to anybody who wanted them and got a response and a mailing label to mail one of them to someone in California within 20 minutes of signing up. It's free, and if there are books you've bought and don't want to keep, consider that somebody may want one or more of them, and he (or somebody else) has a lovely copy of Henry James short stories that he doesn't want but will gladly send to you.

Suzie

This website is just TOO COOL! I have literally hundreds of books that I'll never look at again, and this is a great way to pass them on to someone who will. It has the added advantage of getting booke you want to collect in return, not to mention saving bookshelf space without resorting to cold storage. Thanks Suzieq, for turning me on to this great site.

[Inga]

I would say that I buy about half the books I read. Our local library is quite good and I am there often, but there are just some books I think I need to own. And well, when there are special sales in our bookstore I go there and cannot resist buying the one or other book.

[SleepyWitch]

Quite so, my dear. But the series of books that I collect have been out of print for years. And most libraries simply do not think Pulp Fiction worth having in stock.

the public library at my place has way too much pulp fiction (at least in the English section),.. the only kind of pulp they don't have is the one i want :lol:
they've got this range of totally random books... i think they'll just get whatever they can lay their hands on.. like special offers, donations whatever... there's no system to it...

i mainly take books out or buy used ones... but sometimes i also buy them.. usually they end up on the shelf and I don't read them because a) i don't have enough time or b) i buy other books...

i like Scher's view a lot :) but over here it's a bit difficult to get hold of English books.. at our departmental library you can get lots of them of course, and then there's also the public library.. but there are still lots of books that neither of them have... e.g. we had to read "Call it sleep" by Henry Roth for a seminar, but our library doesn't even have it! so we all had to buy it...
so I still have to buy some books.. but if it were easier to get English books over here, I'd probably stop buying them

[Pendragon]

Let's see, Sleepy, Germany, nacht whar? Perry Rhodan no doubt. I had quite a collection of his adventures in American translations. I finally traded them for a good many rarer Sherlock Holmes novels not by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. My half-brother collects them still, I believe. I've not seen him since dad died about five years ago. They weren't bad, but I'll bet they were better before the translator got a hold of them! :)

[smoothherb]

I notice that people like to buy books and have them in a room of there house like trophys all my aunt and uncles do it,I still buy all the books I read not for that purpose but so if I have kids there will be easy access to good books and I also often read good books more than once.

[SleepyWitch]

Let's see, Sleepy, Germany, nacht whar? Perry Rhodan no doubt. I had quite a collection of his adventures in American translations. I finally traded them for a good many rarer Sherlock Holmes novels not by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. My half-brother collects them still, I believe. I've not seen him since dad died about five years ago. They weren't bad, but I'll bet they were better before the translator got a hold of them! :)

hehe, it's 'nicht wahr' :) Nacht means night :) but let's not be too picky :)

Perry Rhodan is German????? i never knew! i thought it was translated from English...... one of my best friends collects them...
nope... that's not what i miss at our library.... what i don't like about it, is that they still seem to consider science fiction and fantasy as pulp... they've got quite a few books in German, not in English, though and I don't read translation (from English, that is... i do read French to German or Spanish to English etc, seeing as I don't speak any of these languages) as a matter of principle.... so if i want to read slightly cheesy books like the Darkover series by Marion Zimmer Bradley, I have to buy them...
err.. and here's a token on-topic comment to justify this post :):
i like re-reading my fave books too... so it wouldn't make sense to take them out from a library because it would be too much hassle....

anyone want a copy of "Call it Sleep" (Henry Roth) or my double copy of "Great Expecatations"? I'm willing to give them away...

[mono]

I notice that people like to buy books and have them in a room of there house like trophys all my aunt and uncles do it,I still buy all the books I read not for that purpose but so if I have kids there will be easy access to good books and I also often read good books more than once.
Indeed, I still have many of my very old childhood books, intending to pass them along to nephews, nieces, or any children in a future family (I phrase it that way because . . . just imagine my own children :D). The collection mainly includes the works of Lewis Carroll, Æsop's Fables, Days with Frog and Toad and Frog and Toad Are Friends (two personal favorites of mine) by Arnold Lobel, various literature by the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, many books by Dr. Seuss, and others that I cannot recall.

[Shannanigan]

I notice that people like to buy books and have them in a room of there house like trophys all my aunt and uncles do it,I still buy all the books I read not for that purpose but so if I have kids there will be easy access to good books and I also often read good books more than once.


See, that's my big thing...and that's why I try to keep the REALLY good books for as long as I can. When I was growing up, my dad had three bookcases in the living room stuffed with books...and I mean STUFFED. The books were propped normally along the shelves and then there were other books lying horizontally on top of those where they could fit. I LOVED it. That's where I found "The Old Man and the Sea," "2010 Space Odyssey," Ray Bradbury books and so many others that founded my love for knowledge and literature. Even all of the private daycares I went to had scores of books for me to read...and I still remember some of the lessons from those books.

When I have a house of my own, I want to have a little office room with a computer, a comfy couch, and bookshelves built into the walls to be packed tight so that my kids and any other kids that spend time in my home can never be bored...

[Pendragon]

hehe, it's 'nicht wahr' :) Nacht means night :) but let's not be too picky :)

Perry Rhodan is German????? i never knew! i thought it was translated from English...... one of my best friends collects them...

anyone want a copy of "Call it Sleep" (Henry Roth) or my double copy of "Great Expecatations"? I'm willing to give them away...Ja, I know, Sleepy, mein German is terrible! I know very little of the language, having picked it up in childhood from a German speaking friend, but I DID know the mistake as soon as you said something! How embarassing! But, yes, Perry Rhodan is German: http://www.perry-rhodan-usa.com/index1998.htm This website tells the story. He has the honor of being the longest running Sci-Fi character as the magazines I understand were still printed untill recently. Take care (I'd say goodbye in German; I can say it, but not spell it!) :rolleyes:

Pen ;)

[cruciverbalist]

I came across this site on bookcrossing (http://bookcrossing.com) recently and thought it was a pretty interesting idea. I had never heard of this before but apparently "bookcrossing" is even a term in the Oxford English Dictionary now!

bookcrossing
n. the practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then do likewise.
It's a bit like leaving a message in a bottle, but more meaningful, I suppose.

Personally, I couldn't bear to part with my books (meager though the collection is), but apparently a lot of members of the bookcrossers community buy an extra copy just to leave around for someone to pick up! Sounds like an interesting experiment to try!! :D

[Pendragon]

It is strange that you mention that, cruciverbalist. I didn't know they had a name for the practice! If I buy a book that is in perfect condition, but turns out not to be what I personally like (unless I find it horribly offensive!), I can't see throwing it away. So I leave it somewhere someone will find it and perhaps enjoy it. I have also donated extra copies of the same book when my memory gets mixed up and I buy the same book twice to our local library.

I had ordered a Dr. Who collection from amazon.co.uk. and they sent me the wrong books by mistake. I contacted them, and to my great surprise, they sent me my correct shipment, and allowed me to keep the others rather than pay shipping costs back to the U.K. I donated the collection (five books) to the library, complements of amazon.co.uk! ;) :nod:

[SleepyWitch]

you didn't know about bookcrossing?

I've released a book once and have another lying around at home which I'm supposed to read and then pass on.... i'd better release it though coz I'm never gonna read it anyway...
you can register your books and track their travels :) it's fun

[literaturerocks]

bookcrossing? hm that is interesting! as for me i prefer to buy my books as i will probably pass them on to my children when i die (assuming i have children one day:)) but for the more expensive and hard to find books i use the library.

[SleepyWitch]

bookcrossing? hm that is interesting! as for me i prefer to buy my books as i will probably pass them on to my children when i die (assuming i have children one day:)) but for the more expensive and hard to find books i use the library.
also assuming you'll die some day :) think positive :lol:
yeah, I must admit I've started hoarding books for my future children, too. i bought some of the books i read as a child (used books, amazon)... this is really silly because I'm not going to have children any time soon plus i don't have enough storage space as it is... but on the other hand, these books were difficult enough to get hold of coz they're German childrens sci-fi from the 80s.. so they are only available used, e.g. from libraries that throw out some old stuff... this way i was able to buy them for 1 Euro each.. whereas if i waited for another 10 years they'd either be unavailable or 250 Euros

[muhsin]

I also personally do greatly blieve in ownership, so prefer to buy rather than renting.

[cosmos..33]

I buy.

1. I like to write in my books for future reference.
2. I like to own books for future reference.
3. I am unashamedly materialistic and love to own books.

When I'm at school I also check books out from the library at an extraordinary pace (and sadly, do not return them at the same pace), but I much prefer book ownership.

[subterranean]

I have said it few times and I'll say it again. I have to buy. Libraries here suck!

[mono]

I have said it few times and I'll say it again. I have to buy. Libraries here suck!
No one has said it better, sub! Welcome back - you ought to come around more often - I miss you around here! :D:D:D
Anyway, the libraries here do not necessarily seem bad, and, ironically, the libraries and bookstores mostly contain the same material (the libraries only tend to have more older, nostalgic books I desire), but more often one will see me walking toward the mighty Powell's Books (http://www.powells.com/) before the county library a mere few blocks away. :)

[Nightshade]

Well as a library assistant I do borrow most of my books but then I buy the book Ive had out at least 3 times for my emergency shelf and I do buy bbooks quite regulally from amazon and I buy a bag or 2 of used books from charity shops or from the libray to pass onto my grandmother who sells them for charity.

But I know how frustrating it can be to come to the library and not find what you want. and then there is the do I go to interlending or not?