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Library or book store?

MichelleCarmen

MichelleCarmen

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Feb 8, 2003
Messages
15,880
Well, I had decided to start checking out books at the library rather than keep buying them since we have more books than can be stored. I DID cave and spent $4.44 on a "new" book: "Breakfast at Tiffany''s" from amazon.com and it arrived crisp and unread, but smells like cigarettes.
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I''m so annoyed, but can''t ask for a refund for a $4.44 book. . .and the book was sent so quickly. I had only ordered it a few days back.

So, well again, I decided to stick with my library rule, however, I found another book (on Ann Boleyn) I want and the library doesn''t carry it. It''s not expensive, a used copy is about $15 so w/shipping & tax, I''ll be spending $20. For some reason I feel guilty because I had told my kids that THEY can only get books from the library. They read so many and there is no way I''m spending thousands on magic treehouse, goosebumps, and captain underpants.

Do most of you do part library and part buying or what?

(Oh and FWIW, I''m reading about five different books at the same time and IF I do check them out, the library will only let me renew some of them so we ALWAYS have overdue books - I have two library cards - one for me and one for the kids so that I can keep my overdue books and still get ones for them.)
 
For fiction, used bookstores for me
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Libraries - someone has always checked out what I want for a month, it seems, and I hate buying new. I'm happy to wait a couple of weeks on new titles for the used copies to start cropping up.


Textbooks - uni. libraries - Stanford out here, JHU back east.
 
Both.

Right now I'm reading fiction that tends to be of the disposable variety, so I often get it from the bookstore or from a thrift shop. I make and exception for some series books that I pass along to my mother or one of my SILs (the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series for example) but I'm pretty good about waiting for these to come out in paperback.

I'm more likely to buy non-fiction new, especially books that serve a "reference" purpose.

Actually magazines are probably my largest sink for published materials. For some reason I'm drawn to the magazine format, and I could easily get one or two a week if I didn't stop to think about it. But they can add up both in bulk and cost, so I watch it... but when the library offers past issues of a magazine I like at $.25 per copy, I might throw caution to the wind and buy -- oh -- two or three dollars' worth!
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I used to go to used book stores every week. But, that''s when I had a library and room to store all the books! When we moved I got rid of several hundred and I still have 2-300 in the basement. Most of them are in boxes. I rotate out 50-75 in my book case so I get some fresh ones. Since moving to this little house, I do LOTS of library books. Unfortunately my library is small and it takes forever to get a title I really want. I usually go in with a few titles and end up with completely different books.
 
The only time I''ve bought books in the last few years is at Goodwill, other resale shops, and the library has an ongoing sale of books they''re rotating out and donated books. We just don''t have the room. We have a small library too, which kinda sucks b/c there''s a lot of stuff we don''t have. The library will have books sent from other libraries, but you pay postage. I have a coworker who likes the same kind of books and she picks them up cheap at Barnes & Noble so I borrow a lot. She''s found some really good authors for me too!
 
I NEVER buy books that I don''t use in my career - the library is for everything else (if they don''t have a book, they will usually be able to bring it in from another library - or at least they do around here)
 
I normally go to the library. I check everything out at the library first and if they don''t have it, then I make the purchase at the store.
 
new and used book stores, preferably independent and not a chain.

mz
 
Oh, library all the way! I am a major book worm, and would bankrupt us if I purchased all the books I read. I only purchase the ones I love, and know I will read again.
 
Bookstore. But, most of the books I read help me educationally, even if its just for background knowledge, so I like having them. I do buy used often (if its available used, then always), so that helps a lot.
 
Our local thrift store, paperbacks 50 cents , hardback 1.00! if i want something specific I will check half price books and if not avail then I will buy it but that is rare.
 
MC -- most, if not all, libraries have some sort of interlibrary loan system. If your library doesn''t carry a book you''d like, you can ask them to get it from another library. It''s a free service, and the borrowing rules would be the same. Just a thought.

I get my books mostly from the library or from my mom since we have the same taste in books. The only thing that I don''t like about libraries is that (in my large, county-wide system) the really popular books are always checked out and there''s a LONG waiting list. You can rent books but I don''t like the idea of paying for something that should be (and is) free. The library system where we''re moving is much smaller, so I don''t think I''ll have to wait as long for books. I''d love to buy all of my books but I don''t like spending $. Sometimes I''ll treat myself though.
 
I have some great options near me:

1. The local libraries near me host a book sales (from donations) 3 times per year. Normally the price is 3 books for $1.00 for paperbacks, 75 cents for hardcover.
By day 3 of the sale all books are $3.00 for the bagful

2. There is a store called Newtown Book and Record Exchange where you can buy used books, dvds, cds (& new if you order it). You can also sell them your old books, dvds, cds for store credit.

3. Not only do I have a county library card, I also have a library card for non students and from the local community college. They have a huge book collection and I am more apt to get the book I want here than other sources, other than buying new. Plus I can renew by just calling them on the phone.
 
Here''s what I do:

Kindle: I buy Kindle books when I''m traveling (mostly for work). I read a lot of mystery/thriller type books and buy newer books that I really want to read but will take weeks to get from the library and are cheaper to buy on Kindle.

Library: I read library books when I''m home (because I''m too cheap to buy every single book I read). I pick a lot of books up from the "new fiction" section and am on the waiting lists for some older books that they don''t have as many copies of.

Used Booki Store: I buy a lot of used books when DH and I go on vacation. I don''t want to take library books for fear of losing them. I''ll read my Kindle a bit too, but since we''re both reading, we need lots of actual books.

Amazon/brick & mortar stores: Cook books, art books, etc. Anything with graphics/color that I really want a personal physical copy of.
 
I always buy from a bookstore -or amazon because I reread my books constantly so it just makes more sense for me. I also like to be able to take my time and not worry about returning them and waiting for a book to be in stock.
 
I recently donated and sold hundreds of books. HUNDREDS. The only books I kept are the ones I reread yearly, some sentimental titles (such as all of the books I''ve loved since childhood, most of which have inscriptions since they were all given as birthday gifts), and the handful of books I own but have not yet read. Most of these were gifts, as well.

Now, I typically only buy professional books. Most of these I don''t even have to buy, the publishers send them out to me or to my school.

I have a Kindle, but have only read free books on there thus far. Hello, Jane Austen!

Since I''ve gotten rid of all those books I will now only buy books that I know I''ll reread. The only book I''ve bought since is Vagabonding by Rolf Potts. (And I actually bought three copies of that because I sent two to friends.) It''s great.

I do still like to give books as gifts, especially when I want to support a particular author.
 
I am an avid...and fast...reader. While I used to absolutely love owning my books for my bookshelves...when I was looking at my treasure trove of books one day during one of my moves and realized I had THOUSANDS of dollars worth of books in there (that were also a pain in the ass to move every time!). I read lots of non-fiction (which tend to be heavy hardcovers and hence more money). I really never buy paperbacks unless I am in an airport. Most I had only read once (though lots I read over)...I avowed to return back to the library.

I donated 90% of my books after that and just kept the ones that had sentimental value, that I had really, REALLY, enjoyed or that I wanted to read again.

I used to work in a bookstore so had amassed quite a few working there too.

DH and I go a couple times a month to the library and check out several books. I only read one at a time, but I can read one in an evening so I take out anywhere from 5-10 books at a time for the three week period depending on my schedule and what tickles my fancy. Usually I am done them by the end of the second week and have to go back for more. I get to read a LOT more books than I could reasonably buy and for free! If I was to actually buy them all the books I could and want to read in a month I would be spending around a $100+ a week! DH is a slower reader but reads a lot more now that he can just borrow them from the library and will read about once book a week.

If they don't have it at the library...I will wait (they usually get the new releases eventually), get on the waiting list, or ask if the library can get in from another library. And save the $20-40. And just by walking around and browsing I find a lot of interesting books I might never have found at the store otherwise, or been reluctant to buy it not knowing what I might be getting. Now I find tons of interesting reads I never would have thought to buy.

There are some books that I am glad I bought - my collection of Roald Dahl books for example that I have collected since childhood - but honestly most of the ones I have, I wish I had just borrowed. I would have saved a LOT of money.
 
I''m cheap and new books are way overpriced. I use the library a lot too. I sometimes find some good books at used bookstores and thrift stores.
 
Books are my guilty pleasure. I love the feel and smell of books. I buy them whether I''ll reread them or not. I''ll buy hardcovers from my favourite authors and will even get signed copies. I am a conspicuous consumer of books. If a book is really bad, I send it to the recycle bin, whether it is a paperback or hardcover. I will buy used hardcovers. My husband wants to buy me a Kindle but I think I would hate it. I''m all about the touchy feely of books.
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I typically buy books. Here are my reasons
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1) I usually buy long books that I want to keep as part of my "library"
2) my library isn't great and doesn't seem to have anything I look for

If I were getting short books that I knew I would never read again, I would be more likely to go to the library. But I'm ok spending $14 on a 700 page book that I want to keep around.

I would love to get more non-fiction books from the library, but as I said, they almost never have with I'm looking for
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(and no, they don't seem to have any inter-library loan program)
 
I get the kids books at Goodwill. They are anywhere from .39 - .99 (hardback) a book. All with the current characters. Many of the different
leveled reading books. My kids have a ton of books. I get my books there too but I read a lot of historical paperback books that I get for .99.
You cant really get anything "current" there or anything on a specific topic. Just doesnt have the variety but...it works for me. Anything current
I want I usually buy at the bookstore.
 
Date: 5/4/2010 11:30:01 AM
Author: lyra
Books are my guilty pleasure. I love the feel and smell of books. I buy them whether I''ll reread them or not. I''ll buy hardcovers from my favourite authors and will even get signed copies. I am a conspicuous consumer of books. If a book is really bad, I send it to the recycle bin, whether it is a paperback or hardcover. I will buy used hardcovers. My husband wants to buy me a Kindle but I think I would hate it. I''m all about the touchy feely of books.
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Click to expand...
This is how I was until about a year ago. I''m only 29 and I already had too many books for our little house, and DH said "How bad is it going to be when you''re 40?!" That''s when I started to donate and sell everything. Our end tables were literally stacks of hardcover books. (They looked really cool, by the way.) I like to have a house with not too many things in it, so the books just had to go.

It''s just too easy to amass books as an English teacher, and former English major, that there was going to be no end to the madness.
 
Date: 5/4/2010 5:15:10 AM
Author: Zoe
MC -- most, if not all, libraries have some sort of interlibrary loan system. If your library doesn''t carry a book you''d like, you can ask them to get it from another library. It''s a free service, and the borrowing rules would be the same. Just a thought.

I get my books mostly from the library or from my mom since we have the same taste in books. The only thing that I don''t like about libraries is that (in my large, county-wide system) the really popular books are always checked out and there''s a LONG waiting list. You can rent books but I don''t like the idea of paying for something that should be (and is) free. The library system where we''re moving is much smaller, so I don''t think I''ll have to wait as long for books. I''d love to buy all of my books but I don''t like spending $. Sometimes I''ll treat myself though.
Click to expand...
Yeah we have a large coverage-aread library system and they have it set up to put books on hold and transfered to a branch of my choosing. Turns out the book I wanted IS available, I had typed the author''s name in wrong. lol!
 
Date: 5/4/2010 1:06:44 PM
Author: Haven

Date: 5/4/2010 11:30:01 AM
Author: lyra
Books are my guilty pleasure. I love the feel and smell of books. I buy them whether I''ll reread them or not. I''ll buy hardcovers from my favourite authors and will even get signed copies. I am a conspicuous consumer of books. If a book is really bad, I send it to the recycle bin, whether it is a paperback or hardcover. I will buy used hardcovers. My husband wants to buy me a Kindle but I think I would hate it. I''m all about the touchy feely of books.
41.gif
Click to expand...
This is how I was until about a year ago. I''m only 29 and I already had too many books for our little house, and DH said ''How bad is it going to be when you''re 40?!'' That''s when I started to donate and sell everything. Our end tables were literally stacks of hardcover books. (They looked really cool, by the way.) I like to have a house with not too many things in it, so the books just had to go.

It''s just too easy to amass books as an English teacher, and former English major, that there was going to be no end to the madness.
Click to expand...
Donating is the way to go. A few years back, DH and I sold 10 boxes of books to Half-Priced books and I was appauled at how little they gave us. If I had known, I would have kept a few of the books and donated the rest. There''s a book charity bin about 5 minutes down the road and I now put books in there.

I just gave away a few books and I''ve regretting doing so and am now thinking of rebuying them. lol (they''re non-fiction historical books.)

Lyra - I love the smell of books, too. . .that''s why I''m SO mad that my "breakfast at tiffany''s" novel that just arrived smells like cigarettes. I''m going to try airing it out in the garage.
 
Date: 5/4/2010 1:01:39 PM
Author: tyty333
I get the kids books at Goodwill. They are anywhere from .39 - .99 (hardback) a book. All with the current characters. Many of the different
leveled reading books. My kids have a ton of books. I get my books there too but I read a lot of historical paperback books that I get for .99.
You cant really get anything ''current'' there or anything on a specific topic. Just doesnt have the variety but...it works for me. Anything current
I want I usually buy at the bookstore.
Click to expand...
Last summer, we found a bunch of books at garage sales. Some people are so lame though. One guy wanted $5.00 for a used paperback. I gave my son only $1.00 and told him to make the best of it so he ended up picking out another book (a $1.00) one and the guy wouldn''t even bargain over it. What a jerk! lol
 
Since I got my Kindle, I''ve been buying and reading books almost exclusively on it. It''s so nice to not have to lug actual books around. In the past, I would get books at the library and at bookstores (probably 60/40). I need to start going to the library again, but I am much too infatuated with the Kindle right now to go.
 
Date: 5/4/2010 2:07:20 PM
Author: kittybean
Since I got my Kindle, I've been buying and reading books almost exclusively on it. It's so nice to not have to lug actual books around. In the past, I would get books at the library and at bookstores (probably 60/40). I need to start going to the library again, but I am much too infatuated with the Kindle right now to go.
Click to expand...
I've never actually seen a kindle in person! Haven showed that cute kindle cover. . .did you see that? There is a post around somewhere.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/calling-april20-i-have-pictures-of-my-kindle-cover-for-you.141881/
 
I love the library!!! Once in a while I will buy a book at Costco or a book from Amazon. Most of the time I will check it out at the library first. I just got a book at the library that I waited months for. It is called the Pioneer woman
Cooks and it had the best recipes. Not low fat, by any means, but real food down home stuff. The lady writes a blog and took all her own photos for the book. I ordered that one. I was 31 on the waiting list for that book, by the
time I got it, I couldn''t remember why I wanted it!!

I read too much to buy most of the books. I wouldn''t have any where to put them. You would see me on Hoarders lying under a pile of books. Death by books.
 
I think it''s a bit of an obsession for me, because I''ve been wanting to try a Kindle on top of amassing too many books. That Kindle cover looks awesome. Can you read a Kindle in bed with the lights off? I think my DH would really appreciate if I could do that...
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Date: 5/4/2010 2:12:34 PM
Author: MC
I''ve never actually seen a kindle in person! Haven showed that cute kindle cover. . .did you see that? There is a post around somewhere.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/calling-april20-i-have-pictures-of-my-kindle-cover-for-you.141881/
Click to expand...
MC, not only have I seen it, I''ve now spent days agonizing over which one to order
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. I think I''ve finally decided on one!

Lyra, you can''t read the Kindle with the lights off since there''s no backlight. This helps immensely with issues like eyestrain and glare, so you could read it for hours in the midday sun if you wanted to. You can get a small light that attaches to it if you want to read in the dark. I just make my husband deal with my bedside lamp being on when he''s going to sleep.
 
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