Library Books or Own Your Own?

United States
April 16, 2007 11:58pm CST
Would you rather borrow books for free from a library or buy books to own? If you do both, how do you make the decison about what books to buy? I often read books from the library and if they are ones that really impact me I may buy them to re-read. I also enjoy buying books for my daughters and photography or coffee table books. What about you?
5 people like this
21 responses
@1983tyler (507)
• United States
17 Apr 07
My library is very small, so I use bookswap sites to get my books. I am a member of three bookswap sites: www.thebookcart.com, www.bookmooch.com, and www.paperbackswap.com. The bookmooch site has people all over the world who will send books.
2 people like this
@BunGirl (2638)
• United States
18 Apr 07
You might like to check into bookcrossing.com too -- kinda like a treasure hunt for book lovers (but there's plenty of mail trading too)
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Apr 07
Thank you so much for sharing these websites. I've bookmarked them and will visit them too. What a great idea. Never knew about them. Wonderful!
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Apr 07
Another site to check out. Thanks so much!
1 person likes this
@LadyFenix (110)
• United States
17 Apr 07
I don't enjoy borrowing books from the library due to the fact that kids have no respect for books anymore sorry but I don't find drawing mad eyebrows on paintings funny well I do but not in a book that you don't own I choose only to buy books I know I'm going to use more then once and it's nice to display them once I have read them or done with them what I needed to like research I love to learn.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Apr 07
Your library needs to get on the ball LOL! When parents return books that are damaged the child and parent should be responsible. What a shame to damage books. That makes me sad.
@Fishmomma (11378)
• United States
17 Apr 07
I collect Perry Mason Books, so buy them when its possible. If I'm not collecting books by the author, then the library is a great way to save money. Any book I want to read several times is purchased.
• United States
17 Apr 07
Yes if you're going to re-read them I agree it's best to buy them. I used to have bookshelves full of books but after several moves, I had to get rid of them. That was very sad for me.
• United States
17 Apr 07
Hi Shawn! Books! Books! Books! I love books! I will read them at the library and if they really impact me, I might buy them. However, I try not to because I have hundreds of books. Ones I am inclined to buy are the really old ones. Some books you cannot get at the library or inter-library loan. Then you have to make a choice. To buy or not to buy. I usually don't buy it. Too many times I am disappointed and then I have wasted money. Now if it is a book I can get for pennies at Amazon.com's used books, that is different. When it comes time to buying gifts, books are my first choice. Kimberly
• United States
18 Apr 07
Kimberly, It is so wonderful to read about your love of books! It's inspiring. Do you get hooked on an author and have to read al of his or her books? That's how my mind works. It's either an author or a specific subject. Enjoy your reading!
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Apr 07
Hi Shawn, Sometimes it is the author. Other times it is the characters. Then again..it may be the subject. :) Kimberly
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Apr 07
Sounds like you've covered all the bases LOL
1 person likes this
@krayzee (1160)
• Romania
19 Apr 07
I very much prefer borrowing from the library. The main reason being the fact that, given that I tend to read a lot, if I bought everything I'd end up not only way poorer but with considerably less living space as it'd all be taken up by books :P Which isn't to say I don't have a lot of them though. I do buy books every now and then but it has to be something worth buying, like a book I read and really liked or a book by my favorite author :)
1 person likes this
@krayzee (1160)
• Romania
22 Apr 07
LOL indeed :) :) :)
• United States
22 Apr 07
I can see you in a house full of books with just a wee path to get to the bathroom LOL! Enjoy reading :)
• China
17 Apr 07
I do both, too.I am a software engineer,so if the book is used by my job,I buy them.If the book is just for fun or relax,I borrow it from library.That means i only buy book which i used everyday.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Apr 07
That sounds very frugal. Money is tight and why spend it if you don't need to.
@loved1 (5328)
• United States
17 Apr 07
I purchase a lot of children's books for my daycare and my own children. That way if one of them is accidentally ripped or lost I don't feel so guilty. For myself and my 11 year old daughter we borrow books from the library. Books are very expensive and most of the time you only read them once. I also find many books at garage sales for a quarter or two. That works well for me because I don't have to worry about returning them. When I am done reading the books I donate them to the library or give them to a friend. I did recently buy a book though, because it was fairly new and the library did not have it yet. I simply could not wait to read it. I will be the same way when the new Harry Potter book comes out.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Apr 07
Did you have to mention garage sales? I love them and especially for books. Here's my secret, I wait until mid-afternoon. Then go to some sales. If I see a box of books, I offer $5 or even less and most of the time they take it! It's like a treasure to see what's in there. I also love to find notes and bookmarks. Told you I was odd ;) Enjoy the Harry Potter book!
• United States
17 Apr 07
I am quite picky and must own the books I read. I am not sure why but for maybe the fact that I like to keep the ones I like. Even though I'll probably never go back to read them, I just like looking at them. lol
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Apr 07
I used to be that way. I had so many books. Now we don't have the room. I'm happy for you that you can own them and read them!
@BunGirl (2638)
• United States
18 Apr 07
I almost never go to the library. I prefer to own books. More often than not, when I find a book I like, I lend it to other people who I think will also enjoy it. Also, I read a lot of series, so I like to go back and reread the series from the start periodically to prepare for new books. I guess I just don't like to have to worry about a book being someone else's property. If I lend it out and it doesn't come back, it was mine to start with so who cares. If my rabbits get a hold of it and chew the corner, no big deal. If I accidentally get food on it because I'm snacking while I read, so what. I'd feel really bad if any of these things happened to a library book.
1 person likes this
@BunGirl (2638)
• United States
19 Apr 07
LOL -- yup. I have three that are mine and one that I'm fostering at the moment. Then also, I work for a rabbit rescue group which currently has over 100 in our care. And since Easter was not so long ago, that number is probably about to go up even higher...
• United States
19 Apr 07
Yes you do have to be extra careful with library books but I do so with any books. It's just something that's in me. So you really do have bunnies? I collect them, not the real ones though. Thanks for your well thought out reply.
1 person likes this
@sweetlady10 (3611)
• United States
17 Apr 07
I love to read books and I do both. Most of the time I borrow books from library. I am selective in buying books for my collection. If I love a book very much after reading it or if I think that a book has potentiality to help in day to day life then I buy that kind of books. Also sometime I buy a book before reading it when I know something about a book very interesting going through reviews.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Apr 07
Please share about your collection of books. Is it a particular type of book you collect? I'd love to know. I do check out the reviews and may buy too before waiting for the library to get the book.
@lifeiseasy (2292)
• United States
17 Apr 07
For myself i would much rather buy my own books so i could read them at my leisure but as that does get quite exspenive I do tend to get books from the library to read. Sometimes I wil check then out twice. I prefer to not have to drive across town to get a certain book but alot of times you can't find them at the local library and you have to buy them . All the books for my two year old I buy as she hasa tendancy to rip some of the pages yet . She loves books already and I can see she will be an avid reader. Its funny to hear a two year old tell you she wants to go to the library but she does. We go and he sits on the big rug they have set up for kids and will get a few books and sits for an hour looking at them all . We all need to encourage our kids to read , its a great source of informationa as well a great way for your kids to llearn and grow.
• United States
19 Apr 07
Libraries and children what a great combination! As soon as a child can write his or her own name they should get a library card. It's their best education and it's free!
@dopey22girl (3319)
• United States
17 Apr 07
I don't know why but I have a thing with having to own my books. But I don't like to buy them new usually, because then it's like 14 dollars just for a book that I'm only going to read once. So I like to get books used either from thrift stores or from garage sales or online or something. But I do sometimes by new books. The only time I really get them from a library is if I can't find them in a store and it's one I really want to read.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Apr 07
Lovely that you enjoy books that much. You've found some great alternatives to spending a lot of money too. Keep reading!
@5000ml (1923)
• Belgium
18 Apr 07
When I was a child I only ever borrowed books from the library, but these days I'm not a member anymore and I prefer to buy my books so I can keep them. The ones I don't like after a while I place on Bookmooch just so someone else can enjoy them after me.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Apr 07
Another moocher LOL. I've got to take a look/see at this site. Nice to be able to afford your books and enjoy them as you will. Keep on reading.
17 Apr 07
I like to own books which is why our house if full of them. However, they are quite expensive (I must have new ones) and we read a lot (especially my daughter and I) so I also get a lot from the library. I mostly save the ones we have bought to take on holiday with us as I would not like to risk losing a library book. I try to seek out the new library books - which is not too difficult as our library is quite small but still stocking so I can spot them from the ones we have already read.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Apr 07
I think sharing the love of reading with your dd is one of the best gifts you can give her. I take books when we go on vacation. I like to relax at the hotel or pool with a brand new book.
@weemam (13372)
17 Apr 07
I used to read a lot , both bought and borrowed from the library , but alas since finding My lot I never have time to read as I am always on the site , My hubby however has no interest in the Net , he reads every morning , afternoon and last thing before bed , he buys books every week , he pases them all on to friends and they look just as new , he has a thing about keeping them good , he even lays a square magnifying glass on top of them to keep the pages flat ,he doesn't like the idea of someone handling the book before him xx
• United States
18 Apr 07
I am the same way about books and have taught my children to respect them. Books are treasures and are not to be thrown on the floor or pages folded down. That's how they were able to take books out of the library from a very early age. How nice of your husband to pass them along after he's paid for them and read them!
@ArsonCuff (3114)
• United States
17 Apr 07
Books are generally too expensive to keep buying. So anyone with access to a good library system is better off because you can get pretty much anything you want and it is free.
1 person likes this
@clod0327 (817)
• Philippines
18 Apr 07
If I really want the book and I really love the story, then I would buy it. But if I don’t like the story that much, then I can just borrow it from the library so I can read the book for free.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Apr 07
It depends on the book. If it's a reference book or one I need for research, or just something that I know I'll read again, I prefer to buy it. My favorite books are in my personal library where I can get at them any time I want to read them. If it's a one-time book, I'll borrow it from the library.
• United States
18 Apr 07
Good way to do things too. I'd love to hear about your personal library! I picture one of those old fashioned rooms from the movies where you have stacks of books and need a ladder that moves from row to row. What an imagination ;) Just kidding.
• Canada
26 Apr 07
Both! I only buy books I know I'll enjoy and I find out by checking them out
• India
17 Apr 07
mostly library books as all books can't be bought and if they are novels you would find it boring to read it again and it is probable that other iat home don't like to read the book bought ofcourse i buy some gud self help books
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Apr 07
I do like to re-read some of my favorite novels, but then again everyone's different! Thanks for your reply.