Library – Love or Loathe?

[Maud Fitch]

A library loather may prefer a good bookstore or e-downloads.
A library lover could favour browsing the A-Z shelves of a library.
Some readers dislike the whole process of loaning and returning a book.
Other readers borrow frequently and seldom purchase reading material.

Then there’s the reader who does both, physical and electronic acquisitions.

Are you a buyer or borrower or both? Do you think one is better than the other? Why?
Please click the Poll and leave an ardent comment.

[Fran]

I'm a library borrower & a purchaser of both electronic & paper.

I love the library not just for the value for money but for the thrill of picking up something on impulse because the author is familiar or just because the cover appealed to me (shallow I know) or because they put it on their most borrowed list. And of course, the library is brilliant if you have a few hours to kill & you can sit in comfort & read without anyone trying to make you buy something.

While I think it is a pity if ebooks result in the closing of the old style bookshops but they are incredibly convenient.

[Bookworm2011]

I love the library. I love browsing through the books and it is a nice way to save money. I also love the library because it is a way to test out books. I hate buying a book and then finding out that it wasn't worth it. I have found some of my favourite books by browsing through the library, I find I am more willing to pick up a book that I don't know if I'm at the library.

[Simworm]

I'm both a buyer and a borrower.

I try to borrow books where possible. Only thing is that I am terrible at returning them on time because I often distract myself by reading another book first. Usually if I've borrowed a book and I love it so much that I want to read it again, I will buy it.

I buy a lot of books too. I live around the corner from a book clearance shop so they always have cheap books. I find it hard to walk out of there without buying something. Also, if a library has a long waiting list for a book that I really want to read then I tend to end up buying them.

[Jacob]

I always purchase my books, I don't like to borrow books. When I have a book, I like to have it stay up on my shelf. It just makes me feel complete when a book I have read is still with me,

I rarely go to the library anymore, although I stop by once in a while..

[Bighuey]

I used to like libraries, at one time I had cards for three of them. But I got away from them, cant really say why. It could be because I would find good books at used book stores, yard sales swap meets books I could keep. I dont think Ive been in a regular library for 20 years. I lived in an old ghost town in Utah for 18 years, a bookmobile used to come through there once a month and I got a few books from that but they didnt have much of a selection. I really like libraries but like Fran said, they are probably on their way out. Dont mean for this to be so long, but this reminds me of something I heard a while back. The head librarian in San Diego just retired and her retirement pay is, you better be sitting down, 250,000 a year with full medical benifits. Her working pay was 800,000 a year. Maybe I should have married that mousey little librarian girl I used to date.

[Meka]

I prefer to purchase my books, so I really don't have a need to visit a library.

[StephenKingman]

I plan on getting a Kindle this Christmas so until then i will continue to purchase books. I am a member of my local library but i just prefer to get a book new or not have to wait for it to become available. In either case, new books are not as expensive these days as they used to be so im not breaking the bank. If i decide i like the Kindle format i will buy e-books and if not i will no doubt go back to my usual method.

[Bighuey]

Ive noticed that, books have gone down in price. Ive seen new books for as cheap as 4 or 5 dollars.It must be the e book competition.

[StephenKingman]

Ive noticed that, books have gone down in price. Ive seen new books for as cheap as 4 or 5 dollars.It must be the e book competition.

Definitely, I think a lot of services and items have gone down due to the global recession. Books in my local shop used to be about 20euro for a new release, i have noticed they have gone down to about 10-15euros and there are a lot more "Buy 3 for the price of 2" offers floating around, as well as those deals where if you buy 20euro worth of books, you get a new release for half price!

[Bighuey]

Ive noticed that, books have gone down in price. Ive seen new books for as cheap as 4 or 5 dollars.It must be the e book competition.

Definitely, I think a lot of services and items have gone down due to the global recession. Books in my local shop used to be about 20euro for a new release, i have noticed they have gone down to about 10-15euros and there are a lot more "Buy 3 for the price of 2" offers floating around, as well as those deals where if you buy 20euro worth of books, you get a new release for half price!

I get most of my books from Alibris, they have new and used books. I just got an ad from them in my e mail, they had some new books for 99 cents. But the s and h is 5 to 7 dollars so you dont gain much.

[Gannon]

Maud, I must admit that I do not have a library card and buy all my books. However the library is one of my favourite places in the world. I love the feeling of being in the middle of all these books. Picking books off the shelf that you have never heard of. If I ever win lotto I am going to build an old fashioned library/book shop. There will be book club meetings on certain nights discussing books and authors. It will be a place for young authors to show and read their work, and if I win really big money I will try and get the famous authors to come and give talks and signings. Ah to dream, to dream.

[Simworm]

Maud, I must admit that I do not have a library card and buy all my books. However the library is one of my favourite places in the world. I love the feeling of being in the middle of all these books. Picking books off the shelf that you have never heard of. If I ever win lotto I am going to build an old fashioned library/book shop. There will be book club meetings on certain nights discussing books and authors. It will be a place for young authors to show and read their work, and if I win really big money I will try and get the famous authors to come and give talks and signings. Ah to dream, to dream.

I do hope you win lotto!

[Fran]

Maud, I must admit that I do not have a library card and buy all my books. However the library is one of my favourite places in the world. I love the feeling of being in the middle of all these books. Picking books off the shelf that you have never heard of. If I ever win lotto I am going to build an old fashioned library/book shop. There will be book club meetings on certain nights discussing books and authors. It will be a place for young authors to show and read their work, and if I win really big money I will try and get the famous authors to come and give talks and signings. Ah to dream, to dream.

I think you might well be describing Heaven there Gannon .. best of luck with the Lotto & don't forget to invite you 'virtual' friends to the official opening

[Mkroman]

I like both, though I tend to buy my own books more often than loaning. I love reading and re-reading books, so it usually works out better that I buy copies.

Spending time in a library, however, is my idea of a good afternoon.