Buying Or Borrowing
By kel1483
@kel1483 (986)
United States
June 27, 2008 11:20am CST
Which do you prefer buying a book or borrowing it from a library or friend?
For me it really depends on the book.
There are certain authors that I really enjoy and I know I will want to reread the book, so I will purchase it. For example, I really love Dean Koontz books. I like to buy his because I know I will like it and probably be worth reading more than once. Also, books that have a more personal nature I would like to buy, maybe if they are inspiring or something.
I love libraries, though. I love having that kind of selection at my fingertips. I particularly like libraries and borrowing books, if it's a new author or genre of book. That way if I don't like it, I am not out money. Maybe I'm just cheap :P
So, what is your preference when it comes to books? Buying or borrowing?
2 people like this
17 responses
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
28 Jun 08
I had rather buy my books. I love to keep the ones I read. I might go to the library and check some out, if we had a library near us. The library in my county is too far away and you can't check out books from another county. So that is out for me anyway. I am a book reviewer and get lots of free books to review. But I consider the ones I like as though I have bought them and will probably read them again some day. I also like the idea of E-books, if they aren't very long.
1 person likes this
@kel1483 (986)
• United States
28 Jun 08
That's cool that you get a lot of free books so you can review them. I have yet to try the eBook thing. I spend a lot of time on the computer reading sites, but sitting at a screen to read a book still seems kind of weird to me. I need to find a nice short book to try as an eBook to see if I would like that.
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
28 Jun 08
Yes, the problem with me in reading E-books is sitting before the screen and trying to keep my interest in reading through one. I have done it only in short children's books. Even the PDF files I get sometimes are hard to sit and read.If my printer was still set up on my laptop via wireless, I would occasionally print out the material to read.
1 person likes this
@guybrush (4658)
• Australia
30 Jun 08
I used to visit the library every day when I had to wait for my daughter to finish her ballet lessons in town. I haven't been for many years now, and buy books instead. There are some authors I can't resist buying - Stephen King, Victoria Clayton, Ruth Rendell, Joanna Trollope, Tim Winton ... there's nothing nicer than having a lovely new book to take to bed with you - my idea of bliss!
1 person likes this
@idowrite72 (2213)
• United States
29 Jun 08
Now that you bring it up, it has been a long time since I have been to the library and I used to go all the time. I would prefer to borrow a book, except for certain authors whose books I keep. I have not been to the library for a very long time and as a child I was there quite a bit and the one I visited was recently closed and relocated and I would love to visit the new one which is very much larger than the old one was. The last several years I have visited the main library, which is located downtown and I would visit the computers too.
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1 person likes this
@lloydbelleza (1227)
• Philippines
27 Jun 08
Well, I prefer to borrow a book especially if i dont know yet its content and if i will like the book or if it's worth keeping or buying or not. I only buy books if they are really necessary o if the class instructor requires us to do so.
1 person likes this
@pkc3000 (1266)
• India
27 Jun 08
hey kel1483 I prefer both but buying books are costly. Always it is not possible to buy hence some times I borrow books from my Office library where I am a member. The books which I like very much I preferably buy it as it will be an asset for me and I can use these books at regular interval. Reading book is my hobby. Hence I buy old books from the market.
pkc3000
1 person likes this
@creative_genius (992)
•
28 Jun 08
I like both for different reasons. Borrowing is great as it costs nothing so you can pick up something that you may not normally read. I always borrow crime and suspense books as I never reread them.
I agree with your view, and I was blown away by Koontz's Intensity- that book would make a great film.
Buying is good as there is no pressure on you to read the book within a certain amount of time. Also I'd only read my own books in the bath as I can be clumsy!
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
28 Jun 08
i prefer to borrow as much as i can rather than buying... unless if the book is really really nice and i like it so much... then i will buy it... i think there is a waste of money if i buy a book that i am only going to read it once... no point in buying it... may be i am also a cheap person as i live on a tight budget... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
@smartbrain69 (2790)
• Canada
28 Jun 08
Earlier i was in favour of purchasing book and now i am really happy to see the lots of books in library. Now i feel if library provide you flexible time to keep the book than there is no harm in borrowing books from library.
@AshleyHasan (1024)
• India
28 Jun 08
I read very less books which ever book I like I buy it from a book store.
@curious888 (1212)
• Malaysia
28 Jun 08
Previously, when there was no library in my area, I used to buy books. But now there is a big library here , I just borrow from it. I buy one if I can't find it in the library or I really need it .
@kel1483 (986)
• United States
29 Jun 08
It seems that a few people have said that their weren't/aren't libraries near them. I know here where I live there are tons of libraries. You're pretty much never more than ten miles from one. Even the tiny little town I grew up in had one. I didn't know there were so many places where it was uncommon to have a library around.
@kadosa (16)
• Philippines
28 Jun 08
It depends. When theres a book that i want to read that can be found on the libraries or theres a friend who has it... then i will just borrow it because you will just read it once. Or If it is not available for borrowing or renting maybe i will buy a book if i want it so bad. Sometimes is nice to have your own book.
@lazeebee (5461)
• Malaysia
28 Jun 08
Buying only if it's cheap. New books are so expensive; so I'd rather wait for secondhands. Borrowing from friends or a library means that I cannot keep the book. And I love books, so can you imagine how much I must spend if I were to buy new books!
@ariluv80 (43)
• United States
27 Jun 08
At first i would prefer to either rent it from the local public library or borrow from someone I know, because if after I read it, I would decide whether I liked it or not. When I like a book I tend to go out and buy it even if i already read it. In teh event I do not like the book, I don't feel so bad having spent the money to purchase it when I will probably never pick it up again.
@shamashemnice (482)
• Egypt
27 Jun 08
I prefer to buy the book so that the monarchy and repertoire at any time I need, and I think this is the best.
@celticeagle (165954)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Jun 08
If I am broke I go to the library. If it is a book I know I will like I will want to buy it.Same as you. And like to promote it to my friends and let them enjoy it also.
@Kanutchie (343)
• Philippines
28 Jun 08
buying or barrowing may do, during my colleges day i really buy books of all my major subject Because i know i really need it all the time with me to buy. so i buy books, in terms of barrowing i barrowed books from the Library for my minor subjects only ... and i agreed that depends on th ebook you really need or Like or when is really worth to buy Because you really need it to buy.
