Would it be weird to ask the library to do this for me?

[ShelfObsessed]

I’m moving home in a week and I’ve recently taken out some library books. I’m a fast reader so I was hoping to finish them next week but with so much packing to do it’s unlikely.

Would it be weird to take them back to the library one day before I move, return them if necessary and ask them to reserve them for me so that I can collect them the day after I move? I am moving literally next door to the library so I could even collect them on vthe evening that I move.

I don’t want to take them with me during the move for fear that they’ll be damaged/lost. And they are themed books for a book group read so I don’t want to put them back in the library pool as I want to read them with my book group.

Apologies for the very boring post.

TIA

As soon as you return them they will likely be allocated to the next waiting reservation by the system if there are any. If you get a nice librarian they might just label and hold them for you, or you might get one that likes to stick to the rules!

Overall, I think you're overthinking the whole they will get lost/damaged thing. You can't be moving far if you're going to be nearer your local library. Can't you just pop them in your glove box or tote bag or similar?

I am so jealous of you for moving next door to a library.
Just get an extension on your loan for the books.

Leave them with a friend for the day?

Just take them in your handbag when you move?

It isn’t my current local library but it is within the same county. I don’t drive so I’ll be going via taxi most likely but perhaps they will be ok. I’m just so worried about losing them with so many boxes and bags around but perhaps unnecessarily so.

Just keep them very safe when you move

Why would you lose them??

Stick them with your passport, birth certificate and all the other stuff you don't want to lose.

They’re going to be the best neighbour I’ve ever had.

I realise that many people love the "heft" of the printed page in a proper book, but have you signed up for Borrow Box OP? The books are downloaded onto your phone/tablet and you can read away, reserve, return etc. Same for audiobooks. I'd be lost without it.

If you're worried about the books going missing, put them in ONE PLACE, i.e. a specific bag. Give bag to friend who brings it to you. Or just make sure to put that bag on your shoulder before you leave. A backpack is good for heavy stuff.

Good luck with the move, and stay calm!

Just keep them in your car/backpack/box with kettle and loo roll and essentials that you will need for moving??

Put them in the box with your kettle.

The perfect neighbour. If you are really, really worried you could post the books to your new address, but I think myself it will be ok.

Library assistant here. I would happily do it for you, so long as there isn't a waiting list for them.
So many people lose books when they move!

FWIW if you came in the library where I work and asked me to do that for you I probably would. And I'd think it rather sweet you were so worried about losing them, bless you.

Thank you! I’ve checked and none of the books are reserved at the moment so perhaps I’ll talk to the local library staff when I visit my new home early next week and if not I’ll take them with me and just be extra careful with them.

I’m autistic and dyspraxic and have an additional neurological problem and I’m very scatterbrained as a result and there’s so much chaos and clutter when you’re moving but perhaps it’ll be ok.

Then you have bigger problems than potentially lost library books.

If you can't put all the important things in a cross body bag, you'd be better off asking a friend or family member to mind them.

The library might look after the books, but they're not going to be minding your passport and other important documents.

As nobody has reserved them why don't you reserve them online, then return them to the library, and collect them when you have moved.

Thank you very much and I’ll definitely check out Borrowbox.

Thank you to everyone else who has responded too. I appreciate it.

@ShelfObsessed The library actually runs the Borrow Box scheme, so ask about signing up when you're in there.

Not all libraries use borrowbox, Libby is a similar platform though if you want to use ebooks.
Just ask in the library or check out the website.
It is useful especially if you have trouble keeping track.

Thank you! I definitely will. I think that I used it once before but then there was a problem with my online account and I couldn’t use it again and I’d forgotten all about it so thank you very much for reminding me of its existence. I will definitely be using that to save some money on Ebooks.

I have one of those new-fangled horseless carriages. If you have one of these, could you store the borrowed tomes in there for a day or two?

I am sadly sans horseless carriage so I’ll have to rely on the public version to move me from A to B or that would be perfect.

Surely you can keep a few books safe during a move. I've never lost or damaged anything when I've moved.