Discussion | Library Books

Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 4:30 AM
 
 
I'm sure any reader appreciates the libraries in their town and I'm no exception, I love the fact that I can check out some of the books that I'm not sure about as this saves me money on buying books that I have doubts about. But, I got to thinking, is there a big difference between books that you buy and books that you get at the library?
 
I can only speak for myself here, but I think there is quite a bit of difference between library books vs. books that you buy. What do I mean? Well, here's a few of my habits.
 
* I'm more likely to read a book that I've bought - I can't tell you how many books that I've checked out from the library to read and then return them weeks later NOT READ. I guess I feel more of an obligation to read the ones that I've spent my own money on.
 
* I'm more likely to DNF a library book- This is a really bad habit of mine. There has been quite a few times that I've checked out a book and then just read the first chapter and be like "nah, I'm not really feeling this" and then put it down. I guess it's easier to do that with books that you didn't pay for. A few that I can think of off the top of my head is Jellicoe Road, An Abundance of Katherine's, and Insignia. I'm sure if I would have bought these books, I would have given them more of a chance.
 
* I'm more careful with books that I've bought - While I'm not the most careful person in the world when it comes to my own books (I read in the bathtub and carry books in my purse) I am a little more careful about how I handle my own books vs. how I handle the ones that I borrow from the library. If I'm taking the books back to the library then you can guarantee that when I get in my car, I'm going to sling them in the passenger seat without a second thought whereas if they are my own books I usually sit them down carefully so the covers don't get bent.

 
Talk To Me
 
Do you think there's a difference between library books and books that you buy? Do you have the same problems that I do with library books? What are some of your differences when it comes to books you've bought vs. library books?
 

Comments (9)

Loading... Logging you in...
  • Logged in as
I'm nearly opposite! Gosh, I've never really thought about this, though...I'm more likely to read the books I borrowed from the library than bought, because, well, they have to go back, while I have my books forever. But, heh, I'm guilty of not treating library books as reverently as my own. How awful is that?! I'm so bad. >.<
It's so weird - I am almost the exact opposite to you!
1. I am MUCH more likely to read a library book than a book I've bought. I mean, I've bought it - I don't have to return it by a certain date. It will still be there in six days/weeks/months (even years). But library books are usually only allowed to be borrowed for a maximum of four weeks. That means that I have a specific time frame for reading all those precious lovelies. So, I always put my library books above the books I own. Because unless I want to buy the book I've rented from the library, I only have 2-4 weeks to read it.
2. To be honest, I've only ever DNF'd one book, and felt like DNF-ing another (but it was for review, so I finished it). So it's not really a problem for me. I generally pick books that I know I will like (or at least THINK I will like). Though, I suppose I would be more predisposed to DNF-ing a library book because I hadn't spent money on it.
3. This one is weird for me. I am the same if I have a bag of library books. I'll generally hurl the bag into the back of the car without a car or glance where they land. Although, I try not to throw them too hard because they ARE books after all. But I take the same care when reading the books I've borrowed from the library. I don't want to be the person that causes that first spine-crease, or splits the spine on a hardback. All books are my babies, so I definitely treat them that way! :D
HAHA There is a difference but...

See, majority of the books I own, I have not read. OR I read it before I bought it. I like my books perfect and untouched. WEIRD, right? I do buy bargain books, so sometimes they are tears or marks or something, but as long as they sit there and look pretty, I'm okay! As for library books, I always had this thing about "borrowing" stuff. You return it in the same condition or better than what you got it. So I am REALLY careful with others stuff. Esp books

My recent post Review~Her Summer with the Marine: A Donovan Brothers Novel by Susan Meier
I am SO opposite about the reading thing. I am way more likely to read library books and let the books I own sit on the sidelines!! I really anger myself when I do that because I'm always pushing library books to the front of my reading lines and I have books that I bought YEARS ago that I have not read and they are sad :( Cool topic... I love reading about people's reading habits!!
My recent post Cover Lover (or Hater)- November Edition
Pam@YA Escape's avatar

Pam@YA Escape · 582 weeks ago

Hmmm…I am more likely to DNF a book I get from the library because I get books that I'm on the fence about or that I'm willing to try even though it got a lot of negative reviews. When I buy a book, I'm pickier and mostly buy books that I'm almost certain that I will like. As far as what I read first, that depends. If it has to go back to the library, sometimes that gives me the incentive to read it, but a lot of times I am more excited about books I buy so I do tend to read those first (obviously there are exceptions). Great discussion topic!
My recent post Book Review: The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
I try to treat library books really well while I'm reading them. Like, no eating while reading a library book ever, but if it's MY book, heck yes, grab some food. But I'll also throw library books around my car like they're immune to harm.

Recently, I've been borrowing ebooks from the library, so those get pushed to the front of my TBR list because the library only has 1 ecopy, so the reading time feels really short. I think it's a week?

As for DNFing books, I don't think I have a noticeable bias there because I've only DNFed about 10 books ever. Although, most of those have been ebooks that I've gotten for like 99 cents.
My recent post Callum &amp; Harper
1. I'm definitely actually more likely to read a library book first because they have due dates haha. The books on my TBR have been untouched for a while since I keep going to the library haha
2. I'm the same too! Since I don't lose as much if I DNF a library book.
3. I'm not too sure if there's a difference here since library books are already wrapped and protected.
I can't get ANY urban fantasy, dark fantasy, PNR or dystopian books from our local library as they just don't do them. The horror section consists of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. There was huge excitement when I spotted Joe Hill, even though that was 2 years after I read the book...If you want to order a book it costs £2 per book which I'm not going to do. So I need to buy or download everything I want!
Eek... I am the same way with library books :( I am far less gentle to them than my owned books ... it's actually sad to write that now that I think of it! I also will totally DNF a library book with barely a thought, but my own books? I will nearly all of the time muster through it no matter how rotten!
My recent post Stacking the Shelves (71)

Post a new comment

Comments by

Copyright © 2014 Novel Ink
Template and Design by New Chapter Designs
Subtle Patterns (Subtle Patterns) / CC BY-SA 3.0