BTT - Why Buy?
Posted by shelburns on November 13, 2008
I’ve asked, in the past, about whether you more often buy your books, or get them from libraries. What I want to know today, is, WHY BUY?
Even if you are a die-hard fan of the public library system, I’m betting you have at least ONE permanent resident of your bookshelves in your house. I’m betting that no real book-lover can go through life without owning at least one book. So … why that one? What made you buy the books that you actually own, even though your usual preference is to borrow and return them?
If you usually buy your books, tell me why. Why buy instead of borrow? Why shell out your hard-earned dollars for something you could get for free?
I don’t buy alot, but when I do, it’s because I’m not good at remembering to return the books to the library on time. Not because I don’t get them read, just because I forget to take them back. Also, it is not usually in my schedule to go to the library, so I’d rather just pick up what I want at the store. Lots of times I’m not the one buying though. My mom buys alot of the books I read and then just passes them on to me when she’s done. I also thank God for my school library because I can get books from there without worrying about the deadline. Teachers are excused from that, as long as it’s turned in by the end of the school year.
Another reason I buy is for my classroom. Those are books that I want the kids to be able to read again and again, so borrowing them is not really feasible. I do get some from the library, but don’t like to keep them too long because other teachers may need them. So, I buy at every book fair (2X a year), from Scholastic, and Half Price Books. I do have books in my library that were donated, but for the most part, I have bought them all.
Okay, so I do buy, but usually not adult books. If I just have to have it RIGHT NOW, I’ll buy it; otherwise, I’ll wait and borrow it from someone.
What are your thoughts on this? See all the comments at Booking Through Thursday.
November 13th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I buy books every chance I get.
I don’t borrow from the library much because I hate to give books back. I want to keep books and see them on the shelves in my house. I like to have a whole lot that haven’t been read so I always have a large selection to choose from.
I grew up in a home with floor to ceiling bookshelves on many walls and I can remember browsing those shelves. Sometimes you’re not in the mood for one thing, but you’re in the mood for something else. I think you need a large variety at hand so you can find just the right book for the right rainy day.
And I wanted my children to have the same choices. So my shelves are full of children’s books.
I buy many of my books at library book sales. I was at one two weeks ago and I got 67 books for 20 dollars. But I also buy a lot of books new. I buy books I love in hardback because I want to have them on my shelves. They are better than artwork, I think. They make me feel rich and satisfied. I also buy books I love as presents. I give them to everyone.
November 13th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Great question, Shel, and thanks for stopping by.
I’m a mix - very lucky to live just six blocks away from a branch of the very excellent Seattle Library system, which allows me to hold items online and pick them up at that selfsame branch - so I get a lot of books (research, curiosity, other YA books) there. But then I’m part of a community of authors, and it just wouldn’t be right not to own a copy of as many signed books as possible. I will often check out books from the library, love them, and end up buying them to be a part of my permanent collection - to educate, to inspire, to look at lovingly. It helps that I have a husband who doesn’t mind that we have bookshelves in practically every room.
November 13th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
When I was teaching, I loved that I didn’t have that time pressure of HAVING to return a book. Here’s my answer.
http://bookcritiques.blogspot.com/2008/11/booking-through-thursday.html