Libraries

[Nannydo]

Instead of buying books why not join your local library. The libraries are under threat from the Government cuts and it is a case of use it or lose it.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

And we should all do what Nannydo says because?

[IreadthereforeIam]

Fair point from both of you! I do both - I have a terrible reading habit, and it would be very expensive without the library! I try there first, and if they don't have the book I want (I like a lot of Sci-fi and Sci-fan books), then I'll get on to Amazon. Why not do both? :)

[gailforce1]

Regular user of my local library both for books and audio books - it is a case of use it or lose it and I cannot imagine NOT having a library.

[tillyfernackerpants]

I love my book collection, and will always buy them. But I also use my library, am usually there at least twice a week. Its great for my ds's, I go to the book club there, and they've been extremely helpful in tracking down books I've needed to write essays.

So I think you can have both

[Ephiny]

I do both too, my house would be even more overrun with books than it is now if not for the library. Doesn't save me much money though, as I usually forget to take the books back on time and end up paying more in fines than it would have cost me to just buy them...

[clemetteattlee]

We each get our full allocation of 24 books. If the DC get attached to a particular book I buy a copy of it second hand. I use it mainly to "test-drive" cookery books before buying, and for getting copies of book club books.

I love the fact that I can request books from the whole county for all of us online and they get sent to my local library for me to collect.

[DaisySteiner]

Our library lets you order books in from other libraries online. Works out just like Amazon, just a bit slower.

[clemetteattlee]

Ephiny, check if you can get email reminders of them being due back. I get email reminders and then can renew them six times online before they actually have to see them again...

[IreadthereforeIam]

I get email reminders for all of our library books (me and the dc's), and I'm always on there ordering books on their website - it's only £1! I can't even buy them at that price from charity shops round here!! I check out what I want to read on Amazon, then go straight to the library website to see if I can order them from there!

[Ephiny]

You have to pay to order books from the library - not any library I've ever used! I suppose it's still cheaper than buying, if it's only £1....

Email reminders are a good idea, not sure it would help in my case as I'm hopelessly disorganised and even if I know the date I forget to take the book with me, or don't get back from work before the library closes etc. I like to think my fines are going towards supporting the libraries so it isn't all bad!

[clemetteattlee]

It costs you a £1? 25p up here, and free for the children. Not that i have ever requested cookbooks on the children's cards...

[IreadthereforeIam]

I was a bit put out that it was £1 the first time I did it - I thought it was free, but I suppose if it's keeping my little local library open, than I'll pay it! 25p is good though! (Incidentally, I'm an 'up here' too - Chester. But they seem to charge for everything up here!!). It is free for the children to order books. Maybe I should try to order on their cards... Somehow, I think they'd twig that it was for me though (they know me very well )

[TotallyUtterlyDesperate]

Many libraries also run websites where you can request books or renew your books online. That way you can save the travel costs. Also, quite a few public libraries are beginning to offer e-books - I wish my local one did!

[northender]

We are lucky to be round the corner from our local library and I use it regularly, as clement says for test driving cook books, book group reads and just books that I would never bother buying but are of interest (generally non-fiction). I find it odd that borrowing from libraries is dwindling so much in a time when people are strapped for cash. Incidentally we pay 60p to order a book.

[clemetteattlee]

It is my understanding that you can now join any library in the country, regardless of where you live. You could join Nottinghamshire libraries and borrow ebooks...

[Abcinthia]

I do both. I go to the library regularly and will regularly go round charity shops to buy books. I occasionally buy them brand new from a book store but that's more as a treat.

[Merrylegs]

It depends on the county, Clemettattlee. Essex I think, anyone can join. In Norfolk for eg you have to live there for a full membership. And the ebooks aren't kindle compatible.

[gailforce1]

Its 25p to reserve a book through the library. You can browse through their book catalogue and reserve on line and pay whenyou collect the books. The Oxfam book shop in the High Street is now charging £2.50 for paperbacks!! I dont begrudge paying 25p to the library - its a fantastic service.

[transferbalance]

I buy and borrow, but sometimes the library doesn't have a book in it's stock

[inthesticks]

I do both.
I always used to buy books for the children but they soon outgrow them. DS2 reads 2/3 books a week which would be quite expensive. I can order online whatever he wants free and collect it from the tiny library in the market town nearby.
There was a thread on here about astrophysics and as a result I managed to get a pile of obscure books on the subject for DS1, all free from the library.

[elkiedee]

I buy - secondhand and new - and borrow - and acquire books in exchange for reviews rather than money.

Most libraries do charge for reservations - I'm in London and where I live the library charges £1, where I work it's recently gone up from 45p to 60p, where dp works it's free. So I see if the borough he works in has the books I want first and make online reservations on his card. It helps that although not a library worker his office is in their building, and they have a loyalty card scheme where they stamp your card each visit and after 5 you can borrow a DVD - so I give him any loyalty cards I get (I also occasionally go there to look for books or when I've filled up his card).

I've calmed down a bit recently but I sometimes end up maxing out all 8 library cards at once - 3 mine, 3 dp's, 1 ds1, 1 ds2 - and the children's cards mostly have picture books but they do have the odd chapter book and YA novel on (they're 4 and 2!) That's rather more books than is sensible and my work libraries have more than doubled the amount you can borrow.

[wineforthelady]

I use mine, I choose books I want then go in and reserve them online :)

[wineforthelady]

Reserving here is free (Essex)

[pointythings]

Our library doesn't charge for reservations and membership is free (Suffolk) but are under threat from County Council (Tory). We are all heavy readers and use the reservation service a lot when we find a series or author we like - I don't think charging would be unreasonable, as long as people on very low incomes were protected.

I very much use the libraries as a 'try before you buy' sort of thing (and of course to get lots of trashy paranormal romances that I would refuse to pay to buy )

[munstersmum]

Big fan of our library service. Ordering is free here. No fines on books kids borrow.

If you want a book & they do not have it on their stock list, you can put in a request & if it's in print they consider buying it. Did it for a book on managing GoogleAds I was after