Libraries are a public good and I think they need my support more than an individual author does, so about 90% of my reading is library books (and like others I place holds before books are released, use six cards, and check the “lucky day” shelves when I am in the library in person if i want something very new.) I have not found myself “falling behind” new releases.

But— I gift between 50-70 books per year, and have made many of those gift book discoveries in the library (for example my go to “book baby shower” author is now Kaya Doi) so the library is still an incredible benefit to authors.

I retired in June. I was a librarian. Bought the latest and greatest with taxpayer money, read it and then put in library. Damn I miss that. Now I buy, borrow and listen on Spotify.

I use the library and read on my kindle. I read between 50-75 books a year. So just from a financial standpoint, it makes sense for me to borrow books rather than purchase them. If I bought 50 books a year, I would easily spend $5000 or more. I have multiple library cards which means I can keep up to 30 books on hold. A book is always coming available from my holds so I have no shortage of books to read. While it’s true there can be a long wait for a brand new book, I’m ok waiting a few months. If I really want to read a book right away or the library doesn’t offer a copy, I will purchase but that happens maybe once a year. I do want to support authors but the libraries are purchasing copies of the books and they purchase more copies when they see an increased demand.

I'm a library user, but when I really love a book, I buy it afterwards to support the author.

I read 94 books last year and 36 were from the library. The rest were largely from library sales for $1-2, gifts, borrowed from friends, or the occasional new purchase from an author I really love. I also read a lot of classics and many of those are available for free on kindle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Ma’am, just put your kindle in airplane mode like the rest of us.

I've found airplane mode doesn't always work. Sometimes if you go to the homescreen it will pull the book, even in airplane mode.

How do you think that happens?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Ma’am, just put your kindle in airplane mode like the rest of us.

I've found airplane mode doesn't always work. Sometimes if you go to the homescreen it will pull the book, even in airplane mode.

Anonymous wrote: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.

Ma’am, just put your kindle in airplane mode like the rest of us.

No, I do not purchase new books.
I see what is available with no waiting on Libby and get my books that way.
I can wait a year, or ten years, for the library wait list on the latest bestseller to die down. Meanwhile whatever was the latest bestseller a year ago, or ten years ago, is available with no wait.

I can't imagine paying $19 for a new paperback book. I buy used from the thrift store or from ebay. College textbooks too they were all used.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.