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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's selfish to not return your library books on time?

148 replies

floatinglily · 21/08/2019 10:30

I've got a reserve on a library book I'm desperate to read. The previous person is now a week overdue. AIBU to think this is selfish? If you can't return your book on time that you have borrowed for free from a public library you shouldn't have taken it in the first place. If you can't read a book in 3 weeks and are relying on being able to renew it you should blinking well buy it or just accept you'll have to finish it when it becomes available again.

OP posts:
NameChange84 · 21/08/2019 12:32

to everyone saying 'Just buy the book' - must be nice to live in a world where you can just do that and don't have to rely on free libraries

I take it you’re including the OP in this statement since they themselves were the first to bring up the idea on this thread?

It depends on your local authority but the libraries in my county charge just as much, if not more, to reserve a book than it would cost to buy it in one of the local charity shops. It’s £2.20 to reserve a book and £1 - £2 in the local (dozens of!) charity shops. Multiple copies of popular books make their way into the charity shops within the first month of them being released. It’s great if you are desperate to read something newly released but not able to afford the high street bookseller prices. Yes, the cost doesn’t help maintain the library but you still get to support a worthy cause.

FuchsiaG · 21/08/2019 12:37

@NameChange84 if the books were reserved then you wouldn't have been able to renew them so it's unlikely you inconvenienced anyone :) (at least that's how my library works.)

I also want to know what book it is.

LatteLove · 21/08/2019 12:37

I get your frustration, but if you don't have your own transport then it can be tricky, especially if juggling childcare etc.

Why do you need childcare to return a library book? You can take them with you.

I wouldn’t necessarily assume someone had a “legitimate reason” probably that they were just as disorganised and forgetful as me.

museumum · 21/08/2019 12:40

I wish public libraries had external book drops open 24/7 like university libraries do. They could require a library card to open the hatch. Books are all microchipped anyway. It can be hard to get there during opening hours.

iklboo · 21/08/2019 12:40

I realise that some people are very hard-up indeed, but it's not beyond the majority of people's means to be able to buy the odd novel - it hardly requires unimaginable riches

But if it's a brand new, just out hardback they can cost £15 or more - Jamie Oliver's latest one is £26. For some people that is a lot of money that can be spent on other things.

berlinbabylon · 21/08/2019 12:44

why don't you just buy it OP

some books are really expensive. I had this with one that cost about £35 to buy. The county only had one copy and there was someone in Gosport, and me, who kept borrowing the book. I played by the rules and gave it back after the 4 weeks, the other person did not (and always renewed it as soon as they gave it back, so I could only have it for the 4 weeks). S/he would keep it for much longer and I always had to chase my branch to get the Gosport branch to chase the other borrower for it. In the end I did give up and buy it.

It wasn't a book you just read, it was about how to put portfolios together for a specific professional qualification so something you want to refer to over time.

berlinbabylon · 21/08/2019 12:45

reserved not renewed - you can't renew a book when it has been reserved

berlinbabylon · 21/08/2019 12:45

I wish public libraries had external book drops open 24/7

my local library does

NameChange84 · 21/08/2019 12:46

@FuchsiaG She was in receipt of DLA and so she (along with Jobseekers and those of no fixed abode) could renew or be overdue without any penalty or triggering a notification. I know when I tried to renew one of my own books at one point I wasn’t allowed to, as you’ve pointed out. I’ve also been on the other side of reserving a book but not being able to get it because the person before me was disabled and had renewed. I thought it was nice that people in need were put first for a change and didn’t mind. I suppose it would get other people’s backs right up though!

StitchesInTime · 21/08/2019 12:53

I’d give people a bit of leeway given it’s the holidays.

I took my unfinished library books away on holiday with me with the intention of renewing them online during the holiday.

One of them had been reserved when I went to renew - not a recently published book or one with an existing wait list when I left for my holidays.
So I was unable to return it to the library until it was more than a week overdue, as I was away from home.

It’s not ideal when books aren’t returned on time, but it’s not always down to deliberate selfishness.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 21/08/2019 12:59

Alternatively if you’re that desperate to read a book, maybe you should blinking well buy it

What a brilliant idea. That will really support libraries and ensure they remain open.

Hmm
scarbados · 21/08/2019 13:01

I always try to get my books back on time but sometimes my health problems get in the way and their limited opening hours make it difficult to get someone to take them back for me.

If it's such a problem, why don't you buy a copy of the book,OP?

JacquesHammer · 21/08/2019 13:01

What a brilliant idea. That will really support libraries and ensure they remain open

That was in response to the OP who suggested the person with the book should buy it....

Hmm
JacquesHammer · 21/08/2019 13:02

What would keep libraries with people using them is sensible systems.

Ours is so dire I’ve given up using it.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 21/08/2019 13:04

I can afford to buy books brand new, but I choose to support libraries.
My local area has different branches, so I can drop books off at pretty much every day of the week (even though many of them had to significantly cut their hours).

They also have a service where you can let yourself into the library after hours, if you register in advance. that's on top of options like phone, online and in person renewing and reservations, and late fees in the pennies for books that can cost tens or twenties of pounds.

TBH, with the appalling state of funding for completely free resources like this, we should count ourselves lucky. Libraries will only stay if people use them, even if it means taking a few minutes out of your day that isn't supremely perfectly convenient for you.

downbutnotout2018 · 21/08/2019 13:05

Gosh a swearing librarian!

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 21/08/2019 13:07

JacquesHammer "That was in response to the OP who suggested the person with the book should buy it....

You're quite right JH, I apologise. Yours was the comment I picked on after seeing several of the same thing in the thread. Flowers

JacquesHammer · 21/08/2019 13:09

You're quite right JH, I apologise. Yours was the comment I picked on after seeing several of the same thing in the thread

That’s very kind of you - not necessary though Smile

I was being a touch facetious given the OP thought others should buy the book so she could have the library copy.

I’m still interested to know what the book is!

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 21/08/2019 13:09

I took my unfinished library books away on holiday with me with the intention of renewing them online during the holiday.

I asked my librarian if she could manually extend the lend period for some books I had the same worry with; and she did no problem. I don't know if it helped that they know me or if they'd do the same for anyone who politely asked, but worth a try.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 21/08/2019 13:12

BTW, if anyone's a fan, the new Bill Bryson is out soon. My library already has it "on order" and available to reserve so yours might also. I am already in prime spot on the reservation list so even if you live near me I don't have to worry Grin

www.waterstones.com/book/the-body/bill-bryson/9781785175794

Ali1cedowntherabbithole · 21/08/2019 13:15

Our Library Bus (for which I’m incredibly grateful) visits every 3 weeks for half an hour.

I think you might need to consider that other people have different circumstances before labelling all late returners as selfish.

RedskyLastNight · 21/08/2019 13:19

My local library often randomnly shuts with no notice. So I'll turn up to return a book and it will be shut. And there's no other library that it's easy to get to, so it will end up being a few days late.

SoyDora · 21/08/2019 13:21

I think for some people there are genuine reasons. My grandmother for example borrows a lot of library books as she’s practically housebound, but that also means she relies on family to take them back for her and sometimes there won’t be one of us nearby at the right time. She’s also in and out of hospital a lot so sometimes it will slide.
I have two library books (children’s books) that are 3 days overdue and if I’m honest it is sheer laziness... the library is on a busy main road with no parking and is a half hour walk, so the thought of dragging the 5 year old, 4 year old and 7 month old there this week has meant I’ve put it off Blush. However if someone had reserved it that would be the kick up the arse I needed to take it back!

SayOohLaLa · 21/08/2019 13:22

OP, speak to the library. If other libraries in your county / city have copies of the same book, you should get the next available copy. If they only have one copy, it's a good reason for them to buy more.

And can posters please give up on the " you are funding libraries by paying fines" thing? Fines only ever go into central coffers, just like the charges from the leisure centre vending machines and parking meters. The libraries (and leisure centres) never see the money, but they tend to get their budgets cut if they don't meet fine targets though. Sad

Librarian (sweary wave to TrumpetyChump) Grin

BogglesGoggles · 21/08/2019 13:23

What if the person is still learning English/to read properly so read quite slowly? Or maybe they have a life which prevents them from reading the book in the time frame you deem appropriate.

It took me longer than three weeks to read Anna Karenina for instance (I remember this because I was very busy so read 1/2 chapters at a time). It’s happened with a few other longer books too. Shoot me.