Library vs Buying

[Anonymous]

I have no interest in buying $$$ coffee, but I’ve always been a book buyer and don’t have any issue spending money on books. The library never seems to have the book I’m interested in or I can’t finish it in time because there’s a waitlist behind me so I buy most of my books, immediately donate the ones I don’t absolutely love and keep the ones I might read again or loan to a friend. I also feel like buying books helps support authors and publishers—and imo that’s worth it alone. If you are a library mostly person, do you just read whatever the library has available whenever it comes ready? I’m curious to know if people tend to buy books more than take out from the library.

[Anonymous]

I read between 40-50 books a year and I haven’t bought a book in about 10 years. I utilize the library “best seller” shelf which has the most popular books on loan for 7 days only. It’s motivating to finish them! I also fill up my Libby holds using multiple library cards, and put books on hold the old fashioned way.

[Anonymous]

I’m a reader but use a kindle. I always have 40 or so books I want to read on hold through Libby and something is always available. My biggest problem is finishing them so I sometimes put my kindle in airplane mode until I get it done.

[Anonymous]

I used to be a buyer and had bookshelves and bookshelves full of books. I got tired of carting all that around and rarely read a book more than once.

I’m a happy patron of the library. I have multiple cards and reserve audio, electronic and print copies of books; something is always available. I feel that libraries support authors and communities, as does purchasing books.

[Anonymous]

I never ever buy. I own maybe a dozen books? I reserve books from the library online and also get whatever is on the shelf.

[Anonymous]

Library. Our book group consciously does not choose books that are brand new, because I am not the only library only person. The other thing we do is share, so if someone has the book (bought it), and has finished it, they will offer it up to someone else in the book group to borrow before we meet

[Anonymous]

Im a long time book hoarder, so not like you

I only buy books i love now because its hard for me to get rid of them after I read them

[Anonymous]

Yes, I read whatever the library has available, wait till books become available, request books from other libraries. This means I don’t read the newest books as they come out, but it’s fine for me.

[Anonymous]

I’m a library user. I read A LOT but I’ve never bought a single book other than cookbooks.

[Anonymous]

I adore the library and only buy a book if the library doesn’t have it and I really really want it, or I loved it and will re-read it. I use the books on hold feature constantly. Between me and two kids we have 25 books out at any given time. I am a fast reader and rarely have a problem finishing the book before it’s due. Sometimes I don’t get to the book in time, and I’ll just take it out again a few weeks later.

But most of the books I read don’t have a huge wait list. They’re usually renewable 3 or 4 times which is usually plenty of time.

[Anonymous]

I do both! I love love love shopping in a bookstore and yes I think it helps support the author. But it’s also expensive so sometimes I get library books when I get the chance. I have a kindle but it’s not my favorite way to read.

[Anonymous]

I read about 50 books a year, and I buy them. I usually end up giving them away . . . either sharing with friends, stashing a few good ones at the beach house for guests, or leaving them in a little library box or on a subway station bench for someone to find and maybe read next.

I used to keep a lot more of them, but I did a huge book purge about ten years ago when we did a renovation, and I found that they took up a lot of space, collected a lot of dust, and were best passed on to future readers. I do keep the most beloved ones, though.

[Anonymous]

I buy and use the library (Libby). I try to buy when books are on sale (Kindle deals) but I have also paid full price for plenty of books.

When I realized how many books I have on my kindle, I started using Libby. I have had to wait for lots of books but that’s ok. I have learned I don’t need to read a book right after it is published.

I still have an embarrassing amount of unread books on my kindle so I always have something to read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no interest in buying $$$ coffee, but I’ve always been a book buyer and don’t have any issue spending money on books. The library never seems to have the book I’m interested in or I can’t finish it in time because there’s a waitlist behind me so I buy most of my books, immediately donate the ones I don’t absolutely love and keep the ones I might read again or loan to a friend. I also feel like buying books helps support authors and publishers—and imo that’s worth it alone. If you are a library mostly person, do you just read whatever the library has available whenever it comes ready? I’m curious to know if people tend to buy books more than take out from the library.

Yes, pretty much. I’m not usually in a rush to read any particular book.

[Anonymous]

Yes I put the book on hold, get said book, and read it. It shouldn't take more than 3 weeks to read a book unless it's 1200 pages.

A tip to all you Kindle readers (and OP), you can hold the book, download it, then turn off bluetooth/wifi and it won't return the book. If a new book becomes available you can download it on your phone app.