Do you lend books?

I do lend books - if I have read something and enjoyed it I want to share it with others. If i had a particularly rare or valuable book I probably would not lend it but generally people are pretty reliable and ultimately most books are cheap and easy to replace.

I've always been happy to lend books. Some I've gotten back, others I haven't. I have learned to NOT lend anything that I hadn't read yet though. If I had books that were necessary for my job, or ongoing research, those books would be kept separate and not given out. Same with something that I was attached to. I moved 6 years ago from a large house in New England to a smaller home in Oklahoma. Without having much storage in the new home, I had to get rid of 24 boxes of books. Broke my heart, because some of them I'd had for many years. However, most were donated to organizations where others could have the enjoyment that I had from them, at least I hope some one did. I wouldn't feel bad about asking for your books back. It's all in how you word it. Something like this would work: "I'm working on a project where I needed to look up some information in (whatever the book's name is). I was wondering if you still had it, and were through with it?" I received your response aboutthe correct spelling of jalapeno's, and of course you were correct. I don't have the ability to put the '~' over the N were it belongs though. I wanted to reply, but for some reason I can respond to a discussion, but I can't reply to a response. Must be something with myLot's update they loaded.

I love books, so definitely I love to read. I sometimes lend my books but it's so rarely because I'm afraid they will not return it to me and it always happen or if they returned to me, the book is ruined. I also borrow books from my friends and there are still books I haven't returned yet LOL but I do take good care of them.

Hi pillusch, My husband collects books too, and I don't understand why he's so protective of these things. He has a separate bookshelf 3 times bigger than mine, and these don't include the ones in the boxes. I do collect books too but once I'm done with it I willingly lend it to friends. Many times he told me he doesn't want to let others borrow his books although at times he just can't refuse close friends. He makes sure tho' that they're returned as agreed... Now I at least I know he's not unique in this area.

i had lent books to friends before and like what u have experienced, some disappeared into the night, too, lol. there was one book that i really find very useful (about baby care from conception up to 10 years old) which i could no longer trace who borrowed last. i learned that being "helpful" in sharing information and tips has its side effects, in an effort to "educate" young (that was years ago, ) mothers like me, i even volunteer to lend that particular book as it was really a very useful guide to expectant mothers. yes, i acted as debt-collector for one costly book and asked her nicely if she still needs that book. she told me that she forgot about it and forgot to return as well. from that time on, i never bought, err, lent a book again i just don't know why some people do not make it a point to remember to return borrowed items. i, too, borrow small things in the office, but i never forget to return them (i write down things borrowed and "alarm" my phone on the date i will return it).

Never again! I've lent books and other stuff and they always come back in worse condition, sometimes never! I love reading and my books are sacred to me, I buy books all the time, I'm not going to keep buying books for other people's pleasure, if they want something I'll point them to Amazon or a library, sometimes it's rude but I'm sorry, it just doesn't work for me.

I hate to lend my books and I surely know that lent books are not going to find their return path to me.Once in school I read a prose extract "Umbrella morals" [forget who wrote this] and I remember only the moral in this.Similarly the same moral is valid for books too.I love my books and would not lend them.I even hide some books that are close to my heart .Would sound silly but that is the way I am. I had a lending library where I circulated books but here too,I would keep my favourite books inside and would give some select ones to select friendsThe "run of the mill" ones would be circulated.THose which are my prized possessions would not be given here too.

I hate lending out my books and for the exact reason you don't, people don't return them! Or, even worse, they return them and they're damaged! How in the world do that think its okay to borrow a book and then give it back with liquid stains and a ripped cover? And that's from family and close friends! I get really weird when someone wants to borrow one of my books, even if its my mother. Oh sure, mom likes to read but she doesn't have the bibliophile mentality where she really loves her books. Ok, I admit I might be a bit obsessive about my books but darn it, I've gone through a lot to get some of them, the darn things are expensive! Plus they're mine and I want them to stay that way. So, I try to avoid lending out a book unless it is one that I don't want to keep and I will be getting rid of it anyway, otherwise, forget it.

I used to never really have a problem lending out books but I've had people take them and keep them and that really bothers me. So, now I really don't lend out books. Of course I'd let my partner borrow the books but otherwise I'm not sure I'd want to lend out a book to anyone anymore.

From childhood, books have almost be a sacred thing with me. You should see the book collection I've collected over the years--not just fiction, but history (Ancient Egypt, Greece, all the way to the American Revolution and Civil War)--sciences..yes I'm a science geek. And everything in between. My hesitancy in lending books goes back to childhood. I loaned a book to this girl that lived down the block...months passed and she didn't return it, finally I reminded her again and she finally gave it back to me.....damaged...Have no idea what the heck she did to it but it looked like it had been tossed in the washer. Like Huh? Now maybe I'm weird but if I had borrowed something and accidentally damaged it, I would replace it or give the monetary value of it...so never again did I lend a book out. What I prefer to do is simply give the book(s)--uh NO never my history or science books, but I am willing to give up my fiction books or if I have an extra copy of a book (by mistake)....I do this as a pay it forward type thing. Two years ago, I wanted to participate and watch the world wide web event on Oprah Winfrey's website of the telecast of New Earth by Eckhardt Tolle...there was one hiccup. I didn't have the book. I posted my dilemma on her forum as I just couldn't buy the book at the time due to tight finances. Well holy moly...a person OFFERED to send me the book free! I then had the opportunity to pay it forward, when I had ordered a book (The Sedona Method by Hale Dworkin) but in the meantime someone gave me a copy...so what did I do? I actually started a discussion here of an absolutely free offer...yes I wanted to give the book to someone here who really wanted it. I also just recently gave away the first three books in the Artemis Fowl series (yes, I love children's books as well) via the Wish Upon a Hero website. So bottom line...I'd rather GIVE a book of mine away to someone that might want it than loan it and have it disappear or returned to me in a condition like it went through a garbage disposal.

I am more apt to give my books away. I seldom read a book more than once. If it is a reference type book....no...it rarely goes anywhere because that is what happens when you lend things. I have run into that problem in lending out my music. All too often, it just never makes its way home to me. I don't have a problem in reminding the person about it but once reminded if it still does not come back then you know it is probably gone for good. I don't understand it. I have borrowed books from friends and I am so anxious about them. I won't eat while reading so as not to mess them up. I read them right away and get them back asap. If by chance something were to happen to it....I would replace it. I truthfully don't like borrowing from friends. Most books can be found in your local library anyway.

Hi pillusch. Yes , I do lend books to some of my friends. The person that I lend to the most is my bestfriend. If there is some book that I find interesting and I want it to share, I would just let her know that I have the book and tells her that she can borrow it. I do borrow books as well. Some books are expensive. Lending is a good way to reach for book economically. You get information at a cheaper price.

I have before, and just like with you, they normally go missing. But then again, they are all just basic paperback novels I could buy if I ever needed them again. My problem is that when I read a good book I want someone else to read it so I can share with them how I felt about what I read. So I just want them to experience like I do, I dont really care too much about getting it back.

Hello, its all the same whether one lends them to some one or buys them. The fact remains the brain has got its share of 'food' LOL. Keep on feeding either way but i recommend that you purchase one and will be yours forever.

I too really love reading, which is also why I have many books. I don't mind lending books, but only to people that I really trust and those to whom I know they will return the book or books that I lent them. Otherwise, I won't lend my books. It's just something that I do. If we're talking about lending a book to my best friend or a friend that I've known for a long time and really trust, then yes, I will lend them a book.

I lend also books, before when i am studying, i go to library and lend books, sometimes in my classmates, if i cannot afford to buy.