Libraries vs buying books

[Anonymous]

I read 100-150 books a year and I buy them all. I keep the ones I love and lend them to my mom and neighbors.

The ones I don't have strong feelings about I put in the little free library in my neighborhood and other close by places.

Reading is my main hobby so spending money on books is something that is worthwhile to me.

[Anonymous]

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.

Not really a win-win, because the library has to pay for purchasing and processing replacement copies in addition to the basic cost of the books. In this scenario the library loses out. Ask if you can donate a replacement copy; that seems to help a bit.

[Anonymous]

i no longer buy physical books after having to clean up after 2 floods. i will purchase an e-book every now and then, but honestly the e-books and audio books from the library, even when i'm on a waitlist, are just fine.

[Anonymous]

I mostly read e-books from the library but I hear where you're coming from. I'd like a way to "tip" the authors of books I liked. I've also thought about buying copies of books I really liked and giving them away.

I dislike buying books I'll only read once though I guess I do that with performances - but books make clutter!

[Anonymous]

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.

I feel seen! Me too.

[Anonymous]

You are overthinking! Keep doing what is working.

[Anonymous]

I find I tend to buy the books of living authors I really like and want to support, same for small publishing houses that I like. It feels like putting something in their Patreon.

Books that I'm just trying out or churning through I get from the library. Henry James doesn't need any money from me.

[Anonymous]

I do a mix. I read about 80 books a year and about 30 are from the library, 20 or so purchased second hand or borrowed, and the rest I purchase.

Unfortunately, here in Springfield, we don't have any local independent bookstores, just one Barnes and Noble. A lot of the books I purchase are on vacation in local bookstores that I stumble upon. But the rest are from Amazon which is a separate discussion.

[Anonymous]

I love the library! It's one of my favorite places. The only issue I have is that it is no longer a quiet zone. I know there are pros and cons to that, and I'm glad that people are using the library so I try not to get too grumpy about it.

I visit the physical building to get books, and our local branch has a puzzle exchange and a magazine exchange. I also use my library account for audiobooks on Overdrive. Our area has a Friends of the Library nonprofit that runs a secondhand bookstore with hardbacks and trade paperbacks for $1 and mass market paperbacks for about $0.25. So when I do buy books, I buy them there and then donate them back once I'm done.

[Anonymous]

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


Why would you not want to support the authors and curate a nice home library like most of us have?

[Anonymous]

I do about half and half. I like supporting writers and bookstores and the publishing industry. I probably buy about a book a month. But the rest of them, I get from the library because I can't spend all my money on books! Also a decent number of the books I buy are used, from either my local bookstore or if I want something specific, from one of the independent used bookstores online.

Also, writers and publishers still make money off of library books -- the libraries have to pay license fees or buy library copies (which cost a lot more than a regular copy because of the assumption that it will be read more). So using the library still supports writers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do a mix. I read about 80 books a year and about 30 are from the library, 20 or so purchased second hand or borrowed, and the rest I purchase.

Unfortunately, here in Springfield, we don't have any local independent bookstores, just one Barnes and Noble. A lot of the books I purchase are on vacation in local bookstores that I stumble upon. But the rest are from Amazon which is a separate discussion.

You can buy books from independent stores online! Check out Bookshop.org. You will pay more, on average, than Amazon, but I balance this out by also buying a decent amount used books online. I also try to avoid Amazon there, and use Abe Books or thriftbooksonline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do a mix. I read about 80 books a year and about 30 are from the library, 20 or so purchased second hand or borrowed, and the rest I purchase.

Unfortunately, here in Springfield, we don't have any local independent bookstores, just one Barnes and Noble. A lot of the books I purchase are on vacation in local bookstores that I stumble upon. But the rest are from Amazon which is a separate discussion.

You can buy books from independent stores online! Check out Bookshop.org. You will pay more, on average, than Amazon, but I balance this out by also buying a decent amount used books online. I also try to avoid Amazon there, and use Abe Books or thriftbooksonline.

I love to use Bookshop.org.

[Anonymous]

Just remember that every library book you hold (or pack in a work bag with your lunch), many many people have taken with them to read while using the bathroom.

[Anonymous]

I do some of both. I have never felt like I "should" buy books, and until Covid bought very few. Then the libraries around us closed, and one bookstore became the place we allowed ourselves to go. I/we started buying books. Now I am back to the library, but do sometimes buy books by authors I especially love and think I'd like to own their works. Also, I buy a lot of books for gifts.
That said, I do still love a trip to the library to browse, try an author or book just for fun and not have to worry about wasting money if I don't like it.