Library or Bookstore?

[vheissu]

I love bookstores, I can spend hours in them. And come out empty handed! I can't really afford to buy all the books that I want to read, and I usually have my eye on photography books which cost a bomb! Or huge cookery books...

Having said that, I feel quite lucky that my uni library and the council library is usually well stocked. And there's always the constant problem that I'm never too sure where I'm going to live next year so buying books would mean thinking about shipping them somewhere else.

So, until I'll have a more permanent adress, the library will do just fine. I'll just continue daydreaming in bookstores...

[Pyrrho]

I love libraries! Even if just because I am surrounded by so many books... But I rather buy books because I just love to see them on my shelves. And sometimes if I borrow a book and love it I buy it afterwards nonetheless. Even if I don't reread it. I just can't bear the thought that there is abook I love out there that I don't possess. However, a library is good for books I am not sure about. Then I just read about fifty pages of a volume and if I happen to like it I buy it and read the rest of it in my own copy...

[Freak Girl]

Bookstores tend to calm me down and sort of let me relax. Libraries make me start running around crazily (and I've just started work there!)

[Nossa]

Egypt has always fascinated me, I really must get there some day.

The Royal Library of Alexandria and the new one.

That said, I get most of my books from Amazon.com, it's just easier.

I'm glad you find Egypt fascinating
As for the two libraries you mentioned, it's not possible for me to borrow or even read in those libraries cuz I live over 250 Km from them I'm in Cairo, and they're in Alexandria, that's over 2 and a half hours travelling.
Amazon is also not practical, cuz it's way more expensive cuz I'm in Egypt. I think I'll stick to the bookstores here, and so far I do find most of the books I need, I have experience in books hunting..lol...so I can find most of the stuff I need for very affordable prices and those I can't find I either buy for the high prices they're sold with, or I can just *whispers* download them online

[MoldyMuse]

Libraries. Love 'em. I even joined the Friends group so I could help my local library.

I do buy books by authors that I truly enjoy, but I sure couldn't afford to buy all the books I enjoy reading. My at home library is small because we retired and moved a few years back and I had to downsize. Gave away several hundred books. *sob*

[samercury]

Both- If I've read a book before and really liked it, I tend to buy it. If I want to find books that I haven't read before or am not sure I'll like (or if I want a lot of them), I tend to go to the library. I really love the library, it's just that half the time, I completely forget what the due date is/ forget to renew the books and end up having to pay fines (like right now for example)...

[kratsayra]

Libraries. There are absolutely books that I'm glad I'm own - and for my academic work there are some books that I need to own.

But libraries are so close to my heart, I will always prefer them and prefer taking books out from the library to buying them. I love the way libraries smell.

And most of all, when I was a kid I was sustained entirely by my local public library. I would take out book after book - read it, and return it, and take out the next book. and the next book. etc. It was wonderful. And then I discovered interlibrary loan, and my selection of books was endless. It was such a great experience. I love(d) my library.

I wish I read that frequently these days.

[Weisinheimer]

And most of all, when I was a kid I was sustained entirely by my local public library. I would take out book after book - read it, and return it, and take out the next book. and the next book. etc. It was wonderful. And then I discovered interlibrary loan, and my selection of books was endless. It was such a great experience. I love(d) my library.

I loved going to the library as a kid. My mom took me and my siblings there alot. It felt so awesome to come home with a fresh stack of books. I also liked just hanging out at the library. I liked to get a book and find a corner somewhere in the library. I just loved being surrounded by books.

[Pensive]

No libraries (especially those containing English books) seem to be anywhere around. That leaves many works available online and book-stores (including an old book-store which I abolsutely love). But I would like it a lot if we had any good library nearby. Oh and there is this school library, but most of the books found there (the ones I want to read) are as abridged versions which I hardly ever enjoy...

[papayahed]

I'm a big fan of libraries especially when the book club makes me read stuff I wouldn't ordinarily read but I must admit there is something about a bookstore with rows and rows of brand new never opened books.

[cipherdecoy]

Which do you prefer, buying or borrowing books?

It's buying for me - I love the sense of ownership Plus, I can take my time to read the book without worrying about deadlines.

[JBI]

Borrowing, I'm on too fixed a budget to buy many books outside my school requirements. That being said, I like owning the book, but until such time as my income can handle it, I'll need to stick to the library.

[Joreads]

I love to buy books to but sometimes the budget does not allow. Lately I have only been buying books by the authors I want to keep, everything else I borrow

[johann cruyff]

I always buy the book if I can - I hate constantly having to think about returning them after borrowing.

[kelby_lake]

borrowing because books are so expensive!