Libraries vs buying books

[Anonymous]

I do both. I love libraries because I can truly explore..and pile books into a bag, and bring them home and leaf through them to see what resonates. But I also like to have my own copies and build out my bookshelves.

[Anonymous]

One way you can support authors is by recommending their books to the library for purchase. I regularly do this for e-books on Libby . . . plus if they buy it, you are at the head of the line for it!

If I really love a book I borrowed on my Kindle, I'll buy it . . . either on Kindle or a paper copy.

I also support my local bookstore by buying some of my e-books through the My Must Reads app for a local store . . . (you can't run it on a Kindle e-reader but you can run it on a tablet that has the Google Play Store or Apple Store). If I need to order a physical copy of a book, I'll order it through another local bookstore via indiebound.

I try to do my part, but it wouldn't make sense to buy every single book that I'm interested in reading. And sometimes I read the first chapter and don't finish a book.

I've got 6 library cards . . . my local jurisdiction, plus three surrounding counties with reciprocity, plus out where our mountain house is, plus my family's beach house in NJ. The small beach town in NJ is by far my greatest success for getting them to buy the books I recommend, go figure. I figure they have a huge tax base but small population so the library is flush and just waiting for people to ask for things. So I ask!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I support my library with all my overdue fines, and I get to keep the books (once I eventually find them). Win win.

My city doesn't do fines anymore.

Even if you just completely lose the book? Because that's what I have done a number of times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you want to consume more in a world that’s already full of so much consumption?

I think this criticism is more valid for things like constantly renovating your kitchen or buying your kid every single toy they want.

DP. I disagree - unless the OP is only purchasing eBooks. Material consumption is consumption no matter how small.

[Anonymous]

I don't want to own every book I read. I love libraries. I see books there that I would never have known about and that adds so much to my life.

Also, as someone who grew up low income, having a robust library is part of having an educated populace. Feel free to support your library by making donations to the library.

[Anonymous]

Since little kids go through a ton of books, we loved going to the library when kids were young. It was a fun way to kill a few hours and it taught them that reading/learning was positive.

Now I do both. If I want to trending book, like to read on vacation, I will buy the paperback. But if I want to compare books (like travel guides or retirement tips), I will take a handful out of the library.

They are GREAT community resources, which we should support. (And if you haven't been lately, check them out. Some offer board game groups, volunteering opportunities, room rentals (for meetings), art loans (that was in Greenwhich CT), tax and gardening advice, and of course book and movie clubs. Not your grandmother's library.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As long as you're reading, you're doing good. Libraries are great. You are helping authors when you take out their books because it shows demand for their work. You are also helping libraries justify their budgets.

+1
I buy a lot of books, and I use the library a lot. I think it's good for libraries to be able to show that people are checking out books, and there is a demand for their services. And I support libraries in other ways -- buying books at the book sale, supporting library funding, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you want to consume more in a world that’s already full of so much consumption?

I think this criticism is more valid for things like constantly renovating your kitchen or buying your kid every single toy they want.

DP. I disagree - unless the OP is only purchasing eBooks. Material consumption is consumption no matter how small.

This cannot be disputed. Of course consumption is consumption. But do you think buying, say, thirty books a year is as bad as renovating a kitchen every five years? Because it's not. We all consume some things. The important thing is saving our consumption for what is really important to us. If somebody buys a bunch of books instead of upgrading to a new iPhone, they are doing the environment a tremendous service.

[Anonymous]

I'm a librarian myself (not public) and make good use of the MCPL system for children's books, bestsellers for me and DH, and various classes/activities. I also appreciate that they offer services like Rosetta Stone for learning languages... I'll definitely take advantage of it when I have more free time.

However, I do buy books for the kids every Christmas and birthday. I love having a tangible collection of children's books. I get ideas from our local MCPL branch's display shelves for new releases.

[Anonymous]

I do both. I tend to buy some books at Gaithersburg Book Festival and then again at Roundabout Books and Bethany Beach bookstore since I like to support those places. The rest of the year, I check out from the library

[Anonymous]

I mostly read library books. If I love a book, I buy it in print. Thus one of my bookshelves consists only of my favorite books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I support my library with all my overdue fines, and I get to keep the books (once I eventually find them). Win win.

My city doesn't do fines anymore.

Even if you just completely lose the book? Because that's what I have done a number of times.

I don't know - I've never lost a book.

[Anonymous]

I stopped go

[Anonymous]

People still “buy books?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People still “buy books?”

Yep!