Where do you get your books? Do you use the library?

[Bbq1]

During my childhood through to about age 35, I regularly used the library. When ds (now 20) was young, we used the library at least monthly. I haven't been in years. I'm 52 now, a voracious reader, have 2 huge overflowing bookshelves and for years have bought my books from Amazon/Waterstones Nothing beats receiving a lovely pristine new book through the door or browsing and buying in a bookshop. However, with the col I'm considering returning to the library again to save money. Does anyone here who reads use the library as opposed to buying books new?

I don’t use the library often as my local ones are tiny and closed half the week. To keep costs down I will only spend max £1.50 on a book - so this is either charity shops or the 99p monthly deals on kindle. I can read good books all year with this strategy and not overspend. New books are only if somebody buys me one as a gift or I am buying for someone else.

I still use mine as does my stepmum. My daughter did aswell when she was a bit younger

Yes I do. Started last autumn as I realised how much money I was spending on buying books. I’m usually gifted one at Christmas and my birthday so I still get a ‘new’ book to keep a couple of times a year.

I use our local pay what you can bookstore primarily. Though I love a browse in other bookstores. I try to use independent as much as possible to support them. I use the library for kids books a lot. For me it’s more a case of if I use the library I then feel like I’m on a timeframe (which I am) to read it. Sometimes I’ll buy a book and then not read it for months for example.
Book buying is my luxury though. I don’t have any nails etc that I do. So this is my treat 😂

I use a kindle and buy books for 99p on it, including well known authors.

Yes, I very rarely buy books (both because of the cost and also the space required to fit the number of books I read). I mostly go the library (and libraries these days also offer ebooks and audiobooks online; you don't even need to physically go there). The books I buy tend to be favourites I read again and again.

My DD also uses the library but supplements what's available there by buying second hand, read once, good as new books from FB marketplace or Vinted, normally for next to nothing.

As much as I love an actual book, storage space sort of dictates that a kindle makes more sense. Plus kindle unlimited works out cheaper than endlessly buying new books. Otherwise I sometimes get a charity shop bargain.
I do take the kids (4 and 1) to the library, generally every couple of weeks. It’s more for the outing than anything else, they’ve got hoards of books at home already, but the eldest so loves to have a good rummage and the librarians set up colouring and Lego for them. The little one just scoots about and looks at the felt-flap books. It’s a nice way to spend a couple of hours.

I love the library app. I order a few books for myself and both of my DCs and pick them up once they’re in. I don’t have much time to browse in the library, but I have a list of books to read to each of us and order them on the train to work.
it’s so simple and free, plus we have so many books at home I can’t keep buying them.

I use the library all the time but will buy books occasionally as a treat and usually get some for birthdays/Christmas.

We have a lovely local independent bookshop which I try to support and also get books from charity shops.

Use the library often for paperback easy reads and recipe books. Also use the borrobox service they manage for audio books

I use the library about 5 times a month.

They are brilliant at ordering books in and if I'm in Waterstones or Amazon recommends something to me, I just whip out my the library app and order it to my local library (I would not do that in an independent).

I use my library weekly but I am in a London borough so that gives me access to the London Library Consortium catalogue.

https://thelibrariesconsortium.org.uk/benefits/

Where are you based? Have you looked online to see what stock is available to you both through online borrowing or physical stock?

Library and use hold service from catalogue to order and read books, sign up for BookBub with free or 99p offer, Kindle unlimited, EBay have good hardback titles and magazines bundles for cheap. Ebay, prefer to Vinted as wider book range £3 or under for hardcover retail at £25 and good condition.

I love the local libraries in my city. I order books and use BorrowBox for audio books.
I love browsing in a book shop, but I try to buy from independent shops rather than Waterstones. I also love second hand books.

Kindle mostly, and charity shops. Occasionally the library. I'm a member of a book group that meets at the library - those books are provided by the library.

I get books from a mixture of places but use the library all the time! Where I live, there is a huge consortium of libraries across several counties who all share the same reservation app so you can order a book and it will end up coming via the interlibrary system from miles away. I’ve read so many newer releases this way. It’s true that sometimes you have to wait quite a while for something to arrive if it is popular, but let’s face it there’s no shortage of other books in the world to read via my Kindle or gifts or charity shops.

I can also order books which haven’t yet been released and will go on the waiting list for them. Today I’m off to collect a new novel, published in January this year, and which has just arrived in library stock so I expect I’ll be the first person to borrow it so I’ll get the brand-new experience anyway.

@Yuja & @Silverbirchleaf you can save your 99ps and get ebooks free with your library membership.

I'm inspired by everybody using the library to get down there and renew my card as its long gone. I live in Liverpool and both my local library (10 minutes walk away) and Central Library in the city are very good. We have 2 independents which I would like to support more but unfortunately, I find them quite expensive. I am definitely going to try the library again.

Library, world of books (online second hand) and the free bookshelves dotted about my town.
I only keep books that will either be read or used again, so most books get passed on.

I buy most of mine from our local charity shop, they have a very good supply. The. I keepthe ones I want to & donate the others back.

Another post just reminded me.i also order online if im after something specific, sometimes that's second had (works if books type thing( & sometimes it's not. There are no independent book shops near me.

It's like a library but I get to keep the ones I want, there's a better choice & in much better condition (the library books are manky) all without overdue fees!! 🤣

I hate reading on screens! Mn is my limit)

I use the library. There are a lot of dreadful Mills & Boon type books, but I can order in from other libraries in the county, using the reservation system.
They must consider me a Good Risk because they allowed me to sign up for the out of hours thing so I can pick up / drop off at my convenience.

I hate reading on screens! MN is my limit)
Me too.

library. saves money and space and keeps the staff in a job. I have bought on ebay but the library can order books in

I am also a voracious reader but haven’t used the library in decades as it’s not a nice experience. It was s nice quiet place but now it’s more like soft play!

I used to buy my books second hand. However I now read ebooks exclusively and either get them on Kindle Unlimited or for less than £2.

I much prefer to use the li rary as I never re read so it feels like a complete waste to purchase a brand new book only to read it once. More recently I have been using my Kindle to read titles not available in the li rary, but borrowing from the library is always my first choice. It is many years since I purchased a physical book, and I read most days.

I use Libby and Borrowbox - both library apps. Libby, particularly, is excellent