Library vs Buying

[Anonymous]

I used to buy every book that I wanted, but now I have bookshelves on every level of my house filled with books that I haven't read yet.

So I've started borrowing from the library instead as I also go through my own books. When I see a book that I want to read, I add it to my hold's list. And if too many of the books that I want to read are coming available at the same time, I pause the hold and resume later. Books that I really end up liking, I buy to add to my collection.

[Anonymous]

I scan the books on order list on the online catalog and place holds on interesting books before they come out. That means I usually get them pretty soon after they are released. Library orders are also a significant part of a books market, so I believe that it helps the authors too, but that may just be something I saw on Instagram once.

Sometimes I have trouble finishing a book before it’s due. If I’m close to finishing it I will just power through and return it a little late. If I’m not, then I’ll put it back on hold. Sometimes I will buy a longer book.

I rarely browse adult shelves at the library. Mostly I operate by putting books I want to read on hold.

[Anonymous]

I read between 200 and 300 books per year.

I have seven library cards in my Libby and I've cultivated enough clout on NetGalley to always get advanced copies of the books from my favorite imprints.

I buy books from a few authors who I really love, but other than that, I'm reading books I've borrowed.

If you live in the DC area, you can rack up a ton of library cards!

[Anonymous]

I never buy books. I have many on library waiting lists. Sometimes I wait a long time but that doesn't bother me. I always have something in the queue. I often read the book after other people have but I don't mind. I think of new books as anything published within the last three years or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I scan the books on order list on the online catalog and place holds on interesting books before they come out. That means I usually get them pretty soon after they are released. Library orders are also a significant part of a books market, so I believe that it helps the authors too, but that may just be something I saw on Instagram once.

Sometimes I have trouble finishing a book before it’s due. If I’m close to finishing it I will just power through and return it a little late. If I’m not, then I’ll put it back on hold. Sometimes I will buy a longer book.

I rarely browse adult shelves at the library. Mostly I operate by putting books I want to read on hold.

Same! I just pop in to the hold shelf when ever I get that lovely email! Same with my Libby holds - one of my libraries lets you join the queue way before the publication day.

And my TBR is so long that I always have books coming off hold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never buy books. I have many on library waiting lists. Sometimes I wait a long time but that doesn't bother me. I always have something in the queue. I often read the book after other people have but I don't mind. I think of new books as anything published within the last three years or so.

What's funny is that sometimes, you'll see people on this sub talking about some new hot book and they're all hating it. I'm so glad I'm still in the queue for it and can cancel the hold!

[Anonymous]

I'm a reader (and a writer, so i sometimes need these books for reference and I can "write them off" my taxes) and I buy books.

If I read 50 books a year, that's about $1000. It's not a huge amount of money in the scheme of things.

I also put a little free library in front of my house. every few weeks, someone drops a book in there that I end up taking and loving.

[Anonymous]

I love the library because I can get a stack of books and I can read what interests me, and there is zero pressure or guilt if I don’t read the rest.

If I need more time with a book (ahem 1929) then I just go buy it.

I buy plenty of other books too. But i do feel terribly guilty when I don’t finish purchased books!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read between 200 and 300 books per year.

I have seven library cards in my Libby and I've cultivated enough clout on NetGalley to always get advanced copies of the books from my favorite imprints.

I buy books from a few authors who I really love, but other than that, I'm reading books I've borrowed.

If you live in the DC area, you can rack up a ton of library cards!

200-300! Is that really reading or listening ??

[Anonymous]

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

Yeah, I don't believe this.

[Anonymous]

I rarely buy a book. Between my local library system and another one in my state I can usually get books on Libby without too long a wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I scan the books on order list on the online catalog and place holds on interesting books before they come out. That means I usually get them pretty soon after they are released. Library orders are also a significant part of a books market, so I believe that it helps the authors too, but that may just be something I saw on Instagram once.

Sometimes I have trouble finishing a book before it’s due. If I’m close to finishing it I will just power through and return it a little late. If I’m not, then I’ll put it back on hold. Sometimes I will buy a longer book.

I rarely browse adult shelves at the library. Mostly I operate by putting books I want to read on hold.

Author here.

Library requests and library holds can help because sometimes libraries purchase more copies (physical and electronic) when the hold lines are long.

A lot of people don't realize that electronic copies of a book are generally limited, too. So if a library has an electronic copy, it might only be able to be checked out a certain number of times, like 5-10 times, before the library has to rebuy it. (At least this was true when I last read up on it, about four years ago. It may have changed.) But oftentimes libraries are slow to re-buy without demonstrated demand, so titles can slip out of circulation. After I learned that I tried to be much more careful about not checking out more ebooks than I was certain I could finish at a time

Preorders are really helpful for authors, so if you know an author you love has a book coming out that you'll likely eventually buy, please pre order it from an independent bookstore. The more they get signal them to buy more and also can prompt them to host signings. If you're uncertain, place a hold or an alert at your library or request the library purchase it.

[Anonymous]

I don't buy new books ever. I do buy 3 books for $6 (including shipping) on ebay a few times a year. Then I donate them to goodwill when I'm done.

[Anonymous]

A secret if you like Libby and have an e reader. I've noticed that as long as I stay in the book, even after it's been returned, I can finish the book. If you go to the home screen it yanks it. This is true on both my Paperwhite and early model kindle.

[Anonymous]

I only ever read physical books if someone buys them for me. They feel bulky now and I have to keep track of them. I also do buy physical books because I do not have space because the rest of my family has hoarder tendencies. So 99 percent of my reading is ebooks, mostly (90 percent?) on Libby but I’ll buy a book if Libby does have it and I really want it. I am a fast reader and if I can’t finish a book in one hold it means I don’t really enjoy it and it’s ok to DNF. I also get audiobooks for my commute and those I do have to check out more than once sometimes- they are long and I only listen in the car. But it’s fine.