How do you access literature?

[burntpunk]

There are several ways of accessing fiction.

Do you buy?
Do you borrow?
Do you loan (libraries)?
Do you steal?
Do you download?

As my tastes have deviated towards classic fiction, I've found that 90% of what I want to read can be loaned from local libraries, given that you can pay in the excess of £10 for a read then you're saving mullah, haven't said that: how much do you value the ownership of a book? People like to build their own book collections, personally I like to read and move on, I'm a minimalism at heart. Not to be forgotten, is the advent of the internet; people can download eBooks illegally for free (a young version of how the music industry is now geared) -- the Sony Reader has the potential to penetrate the book market offering a innovative alternative to reading books. Will we be doing this in the future?

[JBI]

Borrow from the library, or buy in used book stores.

[Joreads]

I only buy the books that I want to keep now for two reasons 1)space, 2) money. Books are getting so expensive here some of them at AUS$50 each which is crazy. I rarely re read books so it is a bit of a waste unless you really want to keep it. I try not to steal :lol: but one of my really good friends is a librarian, she calls herself my dealer:lol: The downside to this is of course I end up with more books than I know what to do with times.

I also attend (well work at) the lifeline book fair here twice a year where the books are really keep some as low as $1 and none of $10. I get some great books and the money goes to a great cause.:)

[Mopey Droney]

When I was in high school and worked all the time I blew my paychecks on books, and I am very ashamed to say I sometimes did steal, though I've by now grown out of that of course. Then when I went to college and didn't have as much time to work and what little work I did do went to supporting myself I couldn't buy books if I wanted to, so I stuck with asking for them for Christmas or getting them from the library.

[Terror Firmer]

I love to buy through Ebay and Amazon marketplace and occassionally borrow from the library. The books that I feel I may never pick up again whether good or bad and also what I surmise as their level of wide appeal, will donate to the library too. I dont feel a need to profit off them myself unless it is a rare or sought after.

[Tallon]

I tend to buy from reliable second hand bookshops, or online if there is something i really want but can't find. I like to reread things, and have them on the bookshelf to remember what i've read. Though lately because i'm living in a different country i have been using the library because i'll never get everything back home at this rate.

[mona amon]

Most of what I read is borrowed from the library. I only buy books which I like very much.

[Dark Muse]

Buy at book sales and Used bookshops, then trade them in when I finnish to get new books.

[Jeremiah Jazzz]

I just buy from Boarders/Barnes & Nobles for the books I want to reread over and over. Otherwise I just shop at second hand book stores, which do have some great finds.

[Amethyst2010]

I borrowed the books from the library or I buy them first hand. About 20 to 30 perecent of what I read are bought from local book stores or overseas when I am travelling. I keep few of them after reading as there is no space at home, and I give them to the library.

[sprinks]

Buy from various stores, and borrow from the library.

[Remarkable]

I buy a lot of books;I kind of spend my allowance on books.Lately I registered on the library,but it doesn't satisfy my needs and wants,since most books in English here are only found at this big bookstore...
I do borrow a bit from friends and family,but not as much as not to buy something every other week.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Buy and borrow, but I am running out of space for books fast, so I only buy what I really have to. I very rarely buy new from bookshops, mostly I buy online or from second-hand shops. There's certainly no need to steal books really the cost of second-hand books are peanuts. I am not a fan of ebooks as I don't like reading anything lengthy online, though I can see the potential in the new electronic book reading devices.

The cost of certain student text books can be quite expensive but you can always re-sell them to recoup your losses if they are no longer needed.

[Hank Stamper]

i used to be addicted to book shops, but i have migrated to online (amazon) because it is cheaper... i suppose second hand book shops would be even cheaper but i prefer to buy new... i still visit book shops tho and nearly always buy something.. but the bulk is from amazon now

i use the uni library for reference stuff... my local library is beyond useless

[papayahed]

I've been buy books lately because my local library stinks.

[stlukesguild]

I virtually live in my own personal small library... nearing 3000 books. I have bought these over the years whenever and wherever I could: the large bookstore chains, small used book stores, thrift stores, library sales, garage and estate sales, and more recently, on-line. I have a few e-texts... but these are largely limited to books I could not find... or could not find at anything approaching a reasonable price. I return to books I have read again and again... and I never know when a new friend/book will lead me back to an old one with new insights.

[DaveB]

I have a substantial personal library comprised mostly of books purchased used from bookstores and Amazon marketplace. I use my local library to obtain books that I don't want to purchase. Their inter-library loan system can locate almost any book I want.

My dream is to buy an Amazon Kindle reader. I don't have the funds, but am intrigued by the concept. (Portability, cheap previews, speedy downloads, etc.) Even if I bought one, I would undoubtedly continue to buy books for my library.

[Akeldama]

My eighteenth birthday present was actually an Amazon Kindle, my mom decided it would be the perfect gift considering my love of reading and her disdain for the piles of books stacked around the house.

I still buy physical books, because even with the large catalog of books available to buy on the Kindle, there's still quite a lot of stuff that they don't have. Right now I'm working on getting through all of the unread books that I've purchased over the last year, but once I'm done with that I'll probably stick to buying e-books for the Kindle and reading the public domain stuff available here on LitNet.

[Hank Stamper]

I virtually live in my own personal small library... nearing 3000 books.

better stocked than my local library then :lol:

[Mag Master 21]

I buy every book I read.

For the most part, I only buy new (unless I'm seeking rare editions) and hardcover if available... it's an addiction, but is much less expensive than my clothing addiction :)

[eBagger]

Library alot. I am starting to order important books that I would possibly need reference to in the future, or books I really enjoy or felt are particularly well done.

[Allannah]

Do you buy? I buy the majority of my books from high street book shops such as Waterstone's or Borders, but I also get lots from charity shops (:

Do you borrow? Sometimes I borrow from friends, but they rarely have anything in the genre that I most like to read. It's usually if I want to borrow the latest "teen fiction" book [if it's worthy of being sorted into a genre] just to see what all the fuss is about. Slowly the contents of my parents' library in their study is being transferred upstairs to my bedroom, though ^^
Do you loan (libraries)? No, because I like keeping a book once I've read it. On occasion I'll borrow a book and then buy it if I liked it.

Do you steal? I stole from my friend once. But, like, she knew about it? So I guess technically it doesn't really count as stealing. Oh yeah, and probably half the contents of my school's library. The teacher in charge there has given up sending me "late book return" slips ^^

Do you download? No. My migraines would definately let me know about it if I spent hours reading from a computor screen! Plus, there's something special about having actual books lol.

[Joreads]

I virtually live in my own personal small library... nearing 3000 books. I have bought these over the years whenever and wherever I could: the large bookstore chains, small used book stores, thrift stores, library sales, garage and estate sales, and more recently, on-line. I have a few e-texts... but these are largely limited to books I could not find... or could not find at anything approaching a reasonable price. I return to books I have read again and again... and I never know when a new friend/book will lead me back to an old one with new insights.


3000 I think that may be bigger than the lcoal library here:lol: That is truely amazing

[Plumbum]

I'm a big library user. :) Nearly every book I've read came from my trusty local library. I think it makes much more sense than having to buy books and when you're done reading they're left on a shelf collecting dust. I still love buying books, though and it's usually if I find good bargains or if I just really wanted my own copy. I rarely borrow from friends.

[DisPater]

I buy, new and used.

[saba]

I tend to buy all my books, usually new, but used books do fit my fancy (not to mention cheaper :)). Most recently I have been buying books in bulk on amazon.com (free shipping is a constant joy :):)) which gives me enough material to keep my brain occupied for a few months at a time. Within my circle of friends we do tend to formulate a trade/borrow system which provides me with some interesting reading that I wouldn't of found on my own. Plus I do like the notion of passing down books of mine I've enjoyed to person to person. There is nothing more enriching than spreading great art to other people.

[*Classic*Charm*]

I buy new and used. Most novels I buy used because I know I'll read them until they're dead anyways, and it's cheaper. I also have a collection of pre-1900 antique novels. My fav is my Shakespeare anthology from 1867. Those I buy from antique dealers and old book shops.

I can't be seen in my public library- it's a long story...:sick:

[semi-fly]

I buy books new and used. I sometimes browse Project Gutenberg for random stuff.

[Riesa]

amazon.com

[Equality72521]

haha, depends on what I need and how desperately I need it!