Boston Gal's Open Wallet

I recently rediscovered the library after years of paying for books and then I'd either resell them or donate them. Now I try to go about once every two weeks to the library! It probably costs me about $4 in gas, but still cheaper than a single book and I usually bring home about 5-7 books.

 

Libraries are often misunderstood. I go to my library for books on how to garden, for the latest cookbook or if I want to learn something new. I'm also canceling my cable movie channels because my library has the latest DVD's I rarely go to the movies anymore. Libraries also offer free educational programs, I recently learned about finding grant money. As for BMW's it depends what library you go to. I know the libraries I go to in NoVA are always crowded with people from all walks of life.

 

Also I use the library to test drive books first. If I hate the return a book I usually go and buy it.

 

I read a story that discussed the popularity of B&N and other bookstores .. more than one person said they'd rather buy books because they could never remember to take them back to the library and got honked when they had to pay fines ...

 

I'm an ex-librarian, but I lived in a place for seven years where I never used the library after the first few months I lived there. The staff at every branch I went to were surly and sometimes downright mean, the selection wasn't very good, they charged $1 to request a book from another branch (or even to put a hold on one that was checked out!), and they had a RIDICULOUS overdue policy that included an amnesty period every couple of years that was unannounced until the week before it happened. The ridiculous part of it was that someone could keep a book for YEARS past the time it had been replaced or removed from the system, and then return it for free during the amnesty period... but the $5 in late fees I racked up for returning a book late wasn't even discounted. That doesn't get books back on the shelves; it encourages people to keep them at home, waiting for an amnesty period, rather than return them a couple of weeks late so they can at least be circulated again.

The library system where I live now is much better: friendly staff, a good selection of materials (including some downloadable audio books online), interesting activities, and reasonable overdue policies. I'm there at least once a week.

 

Ay yi yi. This is like the 3rd link I've seen to WSJ + Frugality in the last week. Frankly, it is creeping me out. If CNBC starts running specials on clipping coupons, Colbert will have to raise the threat level.

 

I head to the library every fortnight to restock my books. They have their entire catalogue online so I can reserve books ahead of going to collect them, or have them brought in from other libraries – too easy.

I was really lucky that I come from a family of readers & I even had my own library card from the age of 18months!

I very rarely buy books these days, only books I've fallen in love with & know I'll reread again.

Yay for libraries!

 

I second that "yay" for libraries! Where I grew up the library was awful, but here it's a dream. I don't use it a lot regularly just because I don't go out much at all these days, but I hardly ever buy a book these days. I love how I can find the books -- or movies -- online and have them held at the counter for me, then drop them off at the drive through. Blockbuster was never this convenient, let alone Borders. I still do browse some, but mostly I just get in and get out.

I still occasionally buy a book, but I test-drive them first through the library when I can. Few books pass that test. The Complete Tightwad Gazette and some local plant guides did.

 

I'm a librarian myself and I'm happy about this, if only to increase funding and donations to libraries. Any awareness is a good thing! I know for a fact that bookstores up the price of books by about 40-60 percent.

Buying a book at full retail price, especially one you only plan on reading once, is about the stupidest financial move you can make. Much worse than buying a new car.

On the other hand, I collect books so I sympathize with buyers vs. borrowers. But 90 percent of my collection is used.

 

Sean's right, this is getting out of hand. People used to think I was a freak. Now this freak is having trouble finding room in the fridge for his lunch among all the other brown bags.

Last week a coworker expressed interest in a book I was reading. I told him to go place a hold on it online and I would return it the next day. Seeing the confusion in his eyes, I had to reintroduce him to the concept of a library (he still didn't fully get it - kept saying he was going to go "rent" the book).

What secret will they blab about next? Buying barely-used items for pennies on the dollar?

 

Unfortunately, my library has very few books for adults in English. I think I'll need to drive a little farther to find one in a neighborhood with more native English-speakers.

 

Molly, you wouldn't be describing the difference between libraries in San Diego and Seattle would you?

Paying a dollar to get a copy of something from another branch is the one charge that really makes my blood boil. I don't mind so much paying for myself because we can afford it but I imagine that's a charge that hits seniors and the disabled pretty hard.

Our library here is great. My one peeve is that the downloadable content (audiobooks and music) requires Windows. To me the library is a public institution that should not dictate a particular operating system. At least make it work with Macs.

 

I utilize two local libraries, and it's really one of my life's greatest small pleasures. I always have at least a dozen books at home, a few on hold, and pick up an occasional (free) DVD. They are more than happy to find for me any book that is not in their holdings. I stop at least once a week to drop off and pick up new items.