Library vs Buying

[Anonymous]

I used to only do the library bc I’m cheap but my husband makes good money and I would spend it on lunch or coffee so I started buying books this year. I pass along to friends or donate when I’m done!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Same when it comes to hard copy books from the library.

But most of my reading is via Libby - the free library app. Mostly audiobooks, and e-books when I travel.

I have multiple library cards for Libby (I live in NY state, so I have my local county, NYC, and Queens, all allowed with a NY drivers license) so I can have something like 20 books on hold at a time, and the opportunity to have more on my “shelf” than I could possibly read or listen to in time. So I try not to hoarde!

I keep up on new releases and new additions to Libby - so closely that when I go to the local branch of my actual library and scan the “New Release” section, I usually see at least one on my Libby hold shelf or wish list. So that’s what I read next.

[Anonymous]

I mostly get my books from the library. I only use my own card for holds, though- I’m surprised people put lots of holds using different cards!

Montgomery County public library in Maryland had a fun thing at the end of the year, similar to Spotify Wrapped- telling me trends in the books I checked out. How many, what genre, which authors I read the most etc. It was kind of fun.

[Anonymous]

I am an avid reader, a true bookworm 🪱🍎 and I like you, have no qualms about purchasing books vs. checking them out.

I like purchasing books for the simple fact that I can take my time reading them plus I do not have to worry about losing ruining them.

[Anonymous]

I buy books; buying from my neighborhood independent bookseller is probably the only shopping that feels purely virtuous. I can afford it and I am glad to support business and author. Now it is true that I have a space problem for books. I gave several boxfuls away a couple years ago and need to do that again (or have new bookshelves installed). If I feel lukewarm about a book after finishing I offer it up to a Little Free Library. That being said I don’t like buying audiobooks, which seems like a waste to me somehow in a way real book a don’t. (I recognize this is not that rational.) But this thread has inspired me to try more library audiobooks to mix up my listen-to-a-podcast-while-cleaning habits.

[Anonymous]

To the people who can't find something available to read, do you have a TBR?

If you use GoodReads, there's a chrome extension called Available Reads that lets you load your libraries and you can quickly see what books/audiobooks on your list are available (and how long the holds are for those that aren't). I have around 100 books on my TBR at any given time and can easily plan by reading with that extension.

Here's an example from the My Books page:



From the book's actual page:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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

It is soooo hard letting go even the so-so books. Shoulda bought a bigger place just to collect more books. Argh!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the people who can't find something available to read, do you have a TBR?

If you use GoodReads, there's a chrome extension called Available Reads that lets you load your libraries and you can quickly see what books/audiobooks on your list are available (and how long the holds are for those that aren't). I have around 100 books on my TBR at any given time and can easily plan by reading with that extension.

Here's an example from the My Books page:



From the book's actual page:

I'll also just tag things on Libby I'm interested in and then scroll through the list. There's usually a few things I can borrow right away.

[Anonymous]

I'm the opposite. I tried to use the library for more books, but like you stuff was usually out or unavailable. When the book was back, sometimes I didn't want to read it anymore or had moved on. When I do check books out from the library, I often had to return them unfinished, particularly non-fiction which takes me longer to read and digest. I also like to have several books going at a time, and read them when the mood strikes. So now I tend to buy books.

I do use the library to check out YA books for my kid and for myself. Those are quick reads and I can breeze through and return.

[Anonymous]

I think for most people this is a combo of budget/discretionary income + capacity to wait. For me, my interests don't always align with the books the library tends to purchase (international lit fic) so I do buy a lot. I generally order from Blackwell's in the UK.

Also depends on your library. I still have a card for the Philly library (shhhhh this is key to my happiness) and it has a vastly superior ebook collection compared to DCPL (which I love as an organization, we're just not in sync).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think for most people this is a combo of budget/discretionary income + capacity to wait. For me, my interests don't always align with the books the library tends to purchase (international lit fic) so I do buy a lot. I generally order from Blackwell's in the UK.

Also depends on your library. I still have a card for the Philly library (shhhhh this is key to my happiness) and it has a vastly superior ebook collection compared to DCPL (which I love as an organization, we're just not in sync).

I love Blackwells. I would love to see the list of books from your most recent order!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think for most people this is a combo of budget/discretionary income + capacity to wait. For me, my interests don't always align with the books the library tends to purchase (international lit fic) so I do buy a lot. I generally order from Blackwell's in the UK.

Also depends on your library. I still have a card for the Philly library (shhhhh this is key to my happiness) and it has a vastly superior ebook collection compared to DCPL (which I love as an organization, we're just not in sync).

I love Blackwells. I would love to see the list of books from your most recent order!

Isn't it great?? They're the best. My last order was an all-in-one version of Pat Barker's Regeneration trilogy, Cuddy by Benjamin Myers, Amma by Saraid De Silva, Monstrum by Lottie Mills, and couple of Oxford World's Classics paperbacks (North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell and Germinal by Emile Zola) - I like Oxford's versions when available. You???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think for most people this is a combo of budget/discretionary income + capacity to wait. For me, my interests don't always align with the books the library tends to purchase (international lit fic) so I do buy a lot. I generally order from Blackwell's in the UK.

Also depends on your library. I still have a card for the Philly library (shhhhh this is key to my happiness) and it has a vastly superior ebook collection compared to DCPL (which I love as an organization, we're just not in sync).

I love Blackwells. I would love to see the list of books from your most recent order!

Isn't it great?? They're the best. My last order was an all-in-one version of Pat Barker's Regeneration trilogy, Cuddy by Benjamin Myers, Amma by Saraid De Silva, Monstrum by Lottie Mills, and couple of Oxford World's Classics paperbacks (North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell and Germinal by Emile Zola) - I like Oxford's versions when available. You???

I've actually never ordered from them, how is shipping and delivery to the US? I shop in person every 2-3 years and love finding things I've never heard of (eg, had never heard of Simon Hopkinson and bought his cookbook on a whim. Love it!). And browsing any OUP titles.

[Anonymous]

ebay for cheap books shipped right to me shipping usually included.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think for most people this is a combo of budget/discretionary income + capacity to wait. For me, my interests don't always align with the books the library tends to purchase (international lit fic) so I do buy a lot. I generally order from Blackwell's in the UK.

Also depends on your library. I still have a card for the Philly library (shhhhh this is key to my happiness) and it has a vastly superior ebook collection compared to DCPL (which I love as an organization, we're just not in sync).

I love Blackwells. I would love to see the list of books from your most recent order!

Isn't it great?? They're the best. My last order was an all-in-one version of Pat Barker's Regeneration trilogy, Cuddy by Benjamin Myers, Amma by Saraid De Silva, Monstrum by Lottie Mills, and couple of Oxford World's Classics paperbacks (North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell and Germinal by Emile Zola) - I like Oxford's versions when available. You???

I've actually never ordered from them, how is shipping and delivery to the US? I shop in person every 2-3 years and love finding things I've never heard of (eg, had never heard of Simon Hopkinson and bought his cookbook on a whim. Love it!). And browsing any OUP titles.

Oh, I'm envious. I've only been once, several years ago. What a wonderful treat. Shipping is free and the time to delivery is quite reasonable - maybe a few weeks at most?