Print This
Email This
I’ve been a bookworm all my life. If you ask my mom, she’ll tell you it’s the result of her reading books to me in utero. My older sister taught me to read when I was 4 years old, and before that I would memorize the books as they were read to me and recite them, pretending to read. My mom and I read Edgar Allen Poe collections every night before bed when I was 8, and my dad got me into Ray Bradbury at the ripe old age of 9. I had a voracious reading appetite. I would read anything I could get my hands on.
I don’t remember any Barnes & Nobles or Borders when I was a kid. Even if they’d been around our town, I don’t think we would have gone there. We grew up pretty poor, and my parents had to be resourceful with what we did have. With a kid who burned through books faster than most kids change television channels, even the used bookstores were pricey.
Enter the public library.
Now, somehow I forgot about the library. I love books, clearly. I love the covers, I love the words, I even love the way used books smell (they’ve got personality; they’ve traveled). My dad used to get mad when I left my books on the ground or got them wet in the bathtub – “You should respect your books, Holly,” he would say.
Once I’ve read a book, I want to hang onto it. It’s part of the family. I lugged my books with me all the way to college, then from Orlando to south Texas, and packed and unpacked them at – count ‘em – yep, six apartments in the past four years. Everything from Jane Austen to existentialist philosophy, Henry VIII biographies to Gabriel Garcia Marquez fill my shelves, my nightstand, the floors. I even love listening to books in the car.
It’s not like times haven’t been tough before. Sure, I could say it’s the rising price of gas or the fear of a soft job economy that led me to think of the public library today. Honestly, I can’t remember how I thought of it. But I called my friend Mel and asked if she was willing to go on a little adventure this afternoon. Off we went to La Retama Central Library.
Thus, I became a card-carrying member of the Corpus Christi public library system today. I checked out two audiobooks and two paperbacks. The Barnes & Noble price would’ve been $67.88 before taxes. My public library price: $0.00.
Needless to say, I was thrilled walking through the aisles of my new lending library this afternoon. I greeted familiar titles like they were old friends, and felt downright triumphant when I found books I’d wanted to read for ages, but didn’t fit into my budget.
Nothing’s been so easy as getting my library card. I simply filled out a half-page form and showed my ID. It took less than five minutes and I was on my way, clutching my new treasures. I don’t even have to return them to the same library – I can take them to whichever one I want when I’m done. If I need longer at the end of two weeks, I can go online to renew them.
Tough economic times, whether they are caused by a recession or an entry-level salary, can either keep us from continuing our lives, or we can get resourceful, much like my parents did. I have a theory that the most creativity comes when we have limitations or obstacles to overcome. What are your creative solutions to maintaining your simple pleasures? Have you been to your public library lately?
For more timely, relevant, and engaging articles, subscribe to Brazen Careerist.
Recent Comments
Popular Posts
33 RESPONSES TO "I'M ADDICTED TO BOOKS, BUT BUYING THEM ALL ISN'T AN OPTION"
I enjoyed reading your post. Seems like we have a very similar relationship to books. I started reading at a young age. My mom was a reader too, which I'm sure is how it all got started. I always had at least one book from the school or public library at home. I usually checked out the maximum amount. My mom hated those monthly Scholastic and Troll book order forms we were sent home with every month. I always wanted almost everything. I've had to curb the book buying in the past few years because it's such an expensive habit.
Libraries are definitely a great resource. I've always been a huge fan. I don't go much these days though because I still have books all over my apartment that i still need to work my way through. I had to stop going to library book sales. One summer during college, I bought about 30 books each month (and spent less than $30 each time). There are still some of those books I haven't even read - and those are from 4 years ago.
@Holly - I just finished Groundswell yesterday... It was fantastic! (And yes, it is covered in bright yellow marks.)
If you liked how the book used a lot of case studies, check out "We Are Smarter Than Me." $4.92 on Amazon. :)
Like I said, it depends on the library system. I've lived in a lot of different places and have had different library experiences in each.
What I do sometimes is to go to the book store and see what book(s0 I would like and see if the Library will do an Inter-Library loan.
@Andy Drish: I loved, loved, loved "Eat Pray Love." A total Holly book if there ever was one. I enjoy a lot of non-fiction, too, and actually found that my library has the best selection in that area... especially in historical biographies (uber-geek, I know!).
I feel you on the highlighting. When there's a book that's worth buying, I'll buy it. (I'm currently reading "groundswell" on social technology - hightlighter-tastic!)
@Jen: Yeah, I switched to Amazon not too long ago. But again, there are just some books I'd like, but can't justify spending money on. That's what the library's for. I don't have to give them up altogether, or wait until I have the money (and hey, sometimes $30 is just not there).
For example, I've been wanting to read "The Google Story" for forever but it always gets shoved to the bottom of the list. Now it doesn't have to!
@KateNonymous: I live in a mid-sized city (300,000 pop.) and haven't run into this issue. I'm not sure how long it would take to get books ordered. My friend who accompanied me, for example, looked for "Skinny Bitch" and couldn't find it, despite two requests being logged for it.
A lot of it depends on the quality of the public library system. I grew up using the library, but fell out of the habit when I lived in an area where my access to the county system was very limited (long, bureaucratic story) and I could get new releases pretty cheaply from the Quality Paperback Book Club.
Now I live in an area that has a much better library system, and I almost never buy books. I have to have a little more patience, because there's invariably an enormous waiting list for new releases, but I'm okay with that.
Although, Holly, I would say that buying a book on sale and not reading it is, for a woman, like buying a book on sale and not reading it.
@Janssen: Agreed! The public library is awesome. So much so, that I had to write a post about immediately. ;)
@Anna: I suppose I'm more of a browser. The esoteric stuff I'm really into, I'll buy that. I've even been known to buy books I've already read, but have lost to moving, loaning out, etc. But when it comes to stuff like fiction, I can't bring myself to purchase it. I want to read it because it's fun, but it's not worth the $10-$15 and wasted shelf space.
@Josh Schroeder: I feel your pain, I do. I have tons of books I haven't read, but when I'm in the mood for reading, for some reason, I don't want to read them! For a woman, it's like buying a top that's on sale but never wearing it. A bargain, but a waste nonetheless.
It doesn't get better than a public library; I'd say I average 4 visits a week. But then, I'm a grad student in library science, so I'm clearly a giant book nerd.
Holly - I feel the same way about books as you do - they are a part of my life, sort of like another limb and I hate to part with them.
I'm always torn between supporting a local book store or buying books at Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com. But, when it comes to being economical - I typically will give myself a $25.00 budget and then go to Amazon and buy the books I want at the lowest price I can find and then do the cheapest shipping option. You can end up for 4-5 books all under $30.
Having worked at Barnes & Noble throughout college, I'm just too spoiled for the library. It's terrible on my budget, but I like knowing that generally, the bookstore will have what I want. I went to the library recently, and it was so frustrating to see that everything I had wanted to read was either checked out or impossible to find. In my opinion, it's much for difficult to "discover" a good read in the library, where the selection is so limited. Perhaps it's just that my county library is not as good as other libraries may be.
I do agree that I love the smell of used books. My college town had an antique and vintage bookstore that made my heart flutter every time I went in.
My problem is that I buy lots of books and then never read them. So now that I'm in the process of moving, I'm loading up tons of books that I've never cracked open once.
I'd say a fair share of these titles are from the bargain bins of Borders and Barnes & Noble.
@Holly - What's the best book(s) you've read recently?
I would use the library more... but I tend to read a lot of non-fiction.
I'm also a giant highlighting geek and I love having a personal library of good books to reference whenever I'd like.
But one way to save money and still keep the good books is through: http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php
If you get a book you don't ever plan on reading again, you can swap it with someone else for a new book.
Great post! Although I love the library, I've also recently found that thrift stores carry great 50 cent books, if you care to keep the books you read.
I, too, am a relatively recent public library convert. My husband is more into games than books, so he has a bit of a tough time satiating his thirst for new games.
What works for him is buying used games and then exchanging them for new used games. It invariably costs a little bit (because used used games are worth less) but it's a much better option than buying new or keeping old games he'll never play again around.
@Andy Drish: Thanks for the recommendation! I'll definitely check it out.
@Scott: I'm not familiar with the Inter-Library Loan. What is that? I'm a big fan of the browse, then find cheaper options thing. I browse B&N, then hit Amazon.com usually. The library as an even cheaper check-first, then Amazon is even better!
Our public library is great. We have an awesome web-reserve system so I can just log in to my account and reserve any book from our system if they don't have it at our branch, and it e-mails me to come pick up my books! That's what I call my tax dollars at work!
It's funny to me how many people I know seem to have forgotten libraries. A friend and I started reading the same author this summer, and when we met to chat about some of her books, my friend suggested we swap titles. I confessed I only owned one of the books, but I gladly borrowed her five! But I was so happy that she stopped by the library and got a card - she'd been complaining that her hubby wasn't too happy with how her new book reading zeal was cutting into the family budget. :)
Holly, I love to own a copy of my favorite books, but I LOVE the "transaction" at a library. There is something so special about placing holds on all the bestsellers, and then my public library calls to say that my books have arrived. It's like CHRISTMAS! I also love knowing that other people have a "shared experience" with the books that I have also read from the library.
@Tiffany: How awesome! I love book swapping, except that I tend to be the avid reader among my friends, so I finish, but they don't. 7 of 10 times I don't see the book again! That's how I've ended buying (and losing) 3 copies of On Love by Alain de Botton. (Amazing if you can find it!)
I think it's awesome that our tax dollars pay for it, as I can definitely see when I'm in there that it is enhancing the lives of many, many people.
@Amy: That's so funny! While I'm reading library books, I think about who might've read them before me, too. It's the same thing I love about used books. They've got character; they've been places.
Holly,
You've just reminded me of an experience I had last summer TA'ing for an old English professor of mine. We were reading Howards End, and the campus library had run out. My professor loaned me an extra copy from her library to read, and the experience was so much more enriching than reading a new book. Not only had she marked and made notes in it, as English professors are wont to do, but a previous reader had marked and made notes in the book as well. It was so marvelous to read the book not only through my mind, but through two other minds as well. You can't get that from a new book. Then again, you can't get that from a library book either, unless someone isn't playing by the rules!
My town is just big enough to have a great library, but too small to have more than one... I work and live on the far N end of town and just never get downtown to the library!
I use bookmooch (similar to paperbackswap) and that helps me with the getting rid of books for 2 reasons. One is getting a point for giving away a book so I know I get a book I want to read. The second reason is I know the book is going to someone else who WANTS to read it! Kind of like giving a puppy to a good home :)
I still buy my fair share of books, do plenty of swapping with friends and check out sales wherever I am, but book mooch supplements that. Occasionally the library will have a getting rid of inventory sale. I picked up a whole bag of books for a donation at the local library and the same deal at a small town museum when I was visiting last week.
Be sure to talk to your local librarian if there's ever a book that you can't find! Many libraries participate in inter-library loan (as Scott mentioned).
The librarian can put a request for you to borrow a book owned by another library system. That system will send your library the book and loan it to you free of charge! Usually, they can access books from around the country. I recently checked on a book that is available in only 5 libraries in the U.S. I can still borrow and read it for free if I like, though!
You may be surprised by the high tech systems your library has. Many also have large movie and music selections as well as books on CD.
I love to buy and own books I love and refer to often, but sometimes I like to test-drive them first! Your post is a great reminder...Check out your local library (pun intended) - you may be surprised by what you find there!
Miriam Salpeter
I've read entire books at B&N and Borders. Actually, I've read a lot of books at the bookstore. It's better for light reading and skimming than a long novel.
I actually have more books than a couple of the local bookstores. I generally won't buy/give shelf space to most novels. Most of my books are NF/reference, some humor.
Having said that, I will read almost any genre (except most romance novels).I get most of my recreational reading from yard sales,swaps with friends/family.The main reason that I don't use the library is that I work third shift--lose track of days,then wind up with late charges.
Peace and Blessings
Just wanted to chime in, this post, combined with a few others I had come across, contributed to me going to the library for the first time in probably 6-8 years.
I'm a voracious reader, and on a hunch, after checking to see that there was a copy of the novel I wanted to buy at the Chapters closest to my work, I figured I'd check the city library's catalog as well. Lo and behold, it was checked in at the branch closest to my house, so I stopped in on my way home from dinner and saved myself the $12 I would have spent on a book I'd read in 3-5 days.
I figure the library won't necessarily replace all my book purchases, but for those that it can, why not?
erika,
Your husband should consider a subscription to gamefly.com; it's like netflix for gamers.
Holly,
Have you considered getting an Amazon Kindle? Hear me out. I am a huge book reader and my shelves are also bursting at the seam with them. I have moved so many time sand also experienced the frustration of so many book boxes. So several months ago I bought a Kindle and I have never been happier. Sure, the upfront price is a lot ($360) but I have already saved so much with it. So many sites, such as Manybooks.net, have all the classics in text files for free. You can access the internet on the Kindle for free, and actually download the files, in the correct format, in just seconds directly from the site onto the Kindle. I'm reading some Jane Austen on my Kindle right now. Everything public domain is available.
The things that do actually cost money are still cheaper than buying. I was dying to read Ken Follett's new book, World Without End, but it was $30 and the size of an encyclopedia. I bought it on the Kindle for $9.99 and it's so tiny -- I was able to take it with me backpacking through Europe and it hardly took up any space. Only the new ones are around $10 -- I've found many older books for just a few bucks -- tons cheaper than had I bought at the store.
Yes, the public library is awesome and free, but sometimes I want a book longer. If you can stomach coughing up a few-hundred up front (you could always ask for Amazon gift cards for the holidays to go toward it), you can get a really cool device that is fun to read on, SO lightweight, reduces the need to fill up more bookshelves and heavy boxes, AND allows you many free and cheap books....it's so worth it.
i love to read, too. books eat up quite a chunk of my budget. the books i've been meaning to purchase i.e. biographies, history are a bit steep. so what i do is to check out booksales first. i also bookswap with my friends.
haven't been to the public library for ages... maybe it's high time to pay them a visit.
Just out of Curiousity, From one bookworm to another, How many books do you have in your personal library? Not counting Textbooks.....They tend to multiply like bad weeds if you're in college...LOL...
Personally, I had over 1000 at last count.
Most of my freinds give me their old books when they have to get rid of them.
Not fond of our local library, as I have a better collection of the genre's that I read, then they do.....
A great search engine for finding a used copy of a desired book is http://used.addall.com/ . You find great prices and you're usually buying from independent bookstores, not Amazon or Barnes.
I approve of this message.
I LOVE to read. When I moved to another state, I had a library card before I had my driver's license!
The library system in north FL seems to be fairly decent. It doesn't take long for a book to become available if it's on a wait list and they have fantastic book sales several times a year. That's where I normally get into trouble.Sunday is what's called "Bag Day" where you can buy a brown grocery bag filled with your choice of books
for $8. What a way to get your book fix!
Check with your library and see if they offer something similar in your area. (Ours are run by a group called Friends of the Library and the sales are offered 3-5 times a year.)
Public Lib's are good. Yard sales are good too. The books are not free, but often are very cheep.
Around here I find good hardbacks go for $1 and paperbacks for 50c each.
Sometimes people want to much money but other times, if you take a bunch you get even more discounts, especially if you learn how to bargain.
You also often get to meet the person who read them. They can often be a useful guide to which ones to read.
Sometimes I have been just given bins of them.
Last week there were some very good books, but he wanted $3 each, which is too much, so I put together a pile of what I wanted and ended up getting the hard backs for $1.50 each and the paperbacks I wanted for about .35c each.
It's good to re-cycle the books.
GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?