Feb 27, 2009
The Daily Poverty Party.
You are looking at Bossy’s library card. Trust her.
Yesterday’s guess and press photo sparked debate in the comment section over the fact that Bossy was doing research in a bookstore and not a library.
Well. Bossy was in a bookstore because she needed access to a wide range of things that were published, like, tomorrow, and Bossy’s library branch doesn’t always have the most recently published books available at the fingertips — instead they need to be ordered from other branches throughout the county, but Bossy didn’t even know what she was looking for until she perused the bookstore shelves and listen, Bossy Is The Biggest Fan Of The Library System Who Ever Lived.
Just ask any of the women who used to be in a book group with Bossy, because they were only allowed selections that could be ordered en masse from the local library. Bossy could be downright tiresome as she was always all, “Haven’t read the book, still waiting for the book on the library’s queue,” at which point someone from book group would invariably point out that the thing costs only $3 on half-dot-whatever, and Bossy would be forced to be all, “What is the point of owning books?”
A long time ago Bossy decided not to be someone who kept and collected and didn’t dust books. It makes her sad sometimes that she passed her favorites on to other people, but then Bossy remembers those books are only one Library Request form away.
Bossy has passed this love of libraries on to her kids, who visit regularly and leave with armfuls.
Free armfuls.
Ho no. Books are too hard not to have. But I only want to fill my bookshelves with the best. So if I haven’t read it yet, and it hasn’t been given to me as a gift, I’ll borrow it from the library. But if I like it, then I have to go out and buy it so I can OWN it. Because there are a lot of pretty things that I can’t afford, but I can afford pretty words.
Speak for one for your kids –> half.com is my weapon of choice.
Bingo, Bossy! You hit the bookworm on the head!
I am developing exactly the same philosophy about owning books. With the possible exception of cookbooks…but even that is starting to wane with internet recipe accessibility. Still, library cookbooks and computer screens don’t have my notes and grease or chocolate splatters from the last time I made that recipe…
The library is my first choice, garage sales and thrift stores second and online finds after all that.
Our city library rocks. They have a separate section with all the books by contemporary writers that have come out in the past 12 months.
People donate magazines that are less than 6 months old. They are all piled on a big table and you can buy them “used” for 25 cents!
I am known there as The Lady With The Cape Cod Book Bag.
Yes yes yes. I gave up buying books for our budget. I have always loved the library, but we have developed our relationship. My DD is a huge reader and we leave lugging huge bags of books. My system allows me to place holds online and then they email me when it is in. Swoon!
I only buy books that a) I’ve already read, and love so much I want to read again and again, or b) I’ve read everything else the author wrote, and loved them so much I read them again and again. I still own a decent amount of books, but nowhere near what I’ve read. (Yes, I’m one of those people who reads books over and over and over.)
For everything else, I have a special backpack that is only used for library books. Because I always check out too many to hand-carry. Hubby, on the other hand, buys most books, because he reads cutting-edge research kinds of things that the library might possibly get 2 years from now.
Hubby is the most fiscally conservative person I’ve ever know. He drives a used Corolla, he finds the cheapest restaurants when he’s on the road, he wears holey socks until I have to sneak them into the garbage when he’s out of town. He never buys anything for himself – except books. His closet is full of books he’s read and wants read again. Under our bed there are stacks of unread books and the book shelves a full of his most favorite books.
He works hard and this is his one treat just for himself, so I strongly support it.
Oh, why can’t I go back into my comment and fix my mistakes, so I don’t look like the biggest idiot? Why, Bossy, Why?
Oh Bossy, you truly are a gal after my own heart…with one exception. I’m a Stephen King nut. Luckily he doesn’t produce very many a year, and as an added bonus my mom always buys them for me (birthday, Christmas, whatever holiday is closest to publication date).
I *puffy heart* the library. Ours even has an aviary to keep my 2 year old entertained.
Oh I am so with you on this one Bossy. I used to move often and would tote box after heavy box of books across the country. Then I said ‘huh?’ I really don’t reread most books and if I want to they’re at the library.
Now I give every book to someone else with the caveat they please pass it on.
I only buy books that I know I will read more than once or will need to look something up in often enough that I should own the thing.
Or I know the author, because nothing supports an author like, you know, purchasing their book.
We LOVE LOVE LOVE our library … but do purchase books when they become favorites (or when the library fine becomes so great that we may as well PURCHASE the book!).
We OFTEN use up our limit of 75 items each visit to the library!
I started trying (note the word trying) to declutter this summer. As much as I love my books, many of them had to go. When would I read them again? But if it’s a favorite author or something really special, I’ll still buy it.
I love the library…I’ve got 10 books out right now.
Books? Who has time to read? I drink in my spare time.
Yes, libraries are great. I lived at my small town library summers in junior high. Now though? I like to buy my books and keep them on shelves. I was always so impressed as a kid to walk into someones home and see lots of books on shelves. Something about the home-y-ness of it, ans also all of the knowledge they must posess from reading those books. I love the smell and feel of a new book, I love to read and re-read. I’ve developed quite a collection, and can’t bear to part with any of them. It’s like a legacy of sorts, what I’ve read over the years and how my tastes have grown and changed.
We love the library but love owning books, too. My boy wants to read them over and over. And over. And over again.
I used to buy lots o’ books, but then I decided food was more important. Apparently, one has to feed children continuously in order for them to grow. Who knew?
That said, I LOATHE bookshelves that don’t have books in them and are instead filled with knick-knacks that also need to be dusted.
It’s hard to be as neurotic (yet poor) as I.
I use the library for reference, but I love me a hard bound book, and I prefer signed ones if I can make it to a book signing. These are my jewels, and boy do I have some great signed pieces of literature and history. Otherwise…I swap or buy used on Amazon…..gotta check out the Great Getzby’s weapon of choice…half.com
I love the library! But I also like to take my own sweet time reading and sometimes take notes in the margin if something speaks to me. When I was young I wanted walls of books, maybe with a ladder on rollers, like the one in Ree’s pantry. I don’t quite have that urge anymore, but I do like to keep books around. The dusting though is ugh.
Alas, I’m one of those people who can never have enough bookshelves. The books are stacked up everywhere. I can’t help it…it’s what I grew up with. Our family was all about books, and when I was little it was my job to dust ALL of them. Every Saturday. And I still love them. And I give my library card a workout at least once a week. The only thing missing? Someone who dusts.
Mmm, libraries. And bookstores. I’m bi.
Amen, Bossy. We’ve taught our kids that with a library card, you can fill your day.
Our city library has a so-so library system. However, the county’s library is ooooooh! much better. Also, lots of classic and edifying and trashy DVDs-10 at a time and for a week too!
Sadly I must agree with you, re owning. I spent my youth collecting all those books-over the last three moves decided I couldnt do it again. I got rid of 9/10ths of them. I still pine for a very few but…when moving day comes around again-Yeehaw!
Love, love, love the books — from whatever source. Library, used bookstore, full-price — I love ‘em all. I draw the line at hard-bound books. For purchase I wait for the paperback. If I yearn for it right away — library!
Our library has a deal where you can check out a box o’ books for your book group — 15 copies of the book plus copies of reviews and discussion guides. They tend to choose current fiction, so you’re at the mercy of the librarians’ tastes — which tend to be fabulous so it’s all good.
Also, I’m with Lizzy — what is the point of BOOKshelves that are filled with items which are not books?!?
I am with you bossy. I read everything from biography to history to political to chick lit to romance to fascinating. and my im name is library slut. I read or listen to 6 to 8 books per week and wich Ihad more time!
libraries rock!!
Amen Bossy. I do work in a library, and love being able to order books from other librarys, and have them delivered literally, to my desk. I also purchase a book here and there – but always with a coupon, or at a yard sale, or goodwill or. . . well, you get it. And I love to visit the bookstore, browse around and . . . make lists of books to order from the library! ha! guess you could call that research. (but not like Bossy’s research, where I would think Bossy has an actual subject to research) I have always had a library card, as well as my kids, and we are a family of readers, like yours.
And I still say the library is a great Poverty weapon.
Erm…On his first visit to the US of A, Mr Farty had two suitcases. The empty one was folded up inside the other one. Then he found a second-hand bookshop. Mr Farty took two years to get through all the books he brought back in that fold-up suitcase. Sigh.
Libraries RAWK!!
My first “real” job, when I was in High School, was as a “Technical Services Page” in our public library. How cool! I had a title and everything!! I loved that job!!
I also love bookstores – but I find I use the library more. especially because I can reserve books online and get an email when they are ready for me to pick up at the drive thru (no unwanted calories from that drive thru!.) Of course, I still love to spend hours browsing the stacks.
I recently purged my Mom’s copy of the Thornbirds. She still thought there might be someone who hadn’t read it or seen the miniseries! I on the other hand, pass along the book love to appreciative friends.
I feel your pain about the library not having books that are timely and relevant. If I must purchase the book and I didn’t feel that the book changed my life, I donate it to the library. I feel like I’m doing my little part to help them.
I am so glad you wrote this! I’m getting ready to start the Well Read Hostess book club – Bloggy Style (although if I actually call it that my mother will be seriously displeased) and so far the only guiding principle I can muster up is that the books should be available in the library so people don’t have to fork over the big cashola for hardbacks at Borders or wherever anyone sane can find an independent bookseller any more.
Hooray for the library! (except that the last four books I’ve checked out were previously read by chainsmokers and, though I’ve now milked this line for more than it’s worth, I’m contracting the Black Lung).
I hate to say it but our local library sucks in it’s lack of NEW books. You know, the ones we want to read?! My kids feel the same way. Sure, you can electronically reserve books but who wants to wait that long for turn over?
If there is something I have to have I visit my used bookstore The Bookman and am usually indulged
Not to mention they will buy books back from me for credit! Win-win. Usually get my desired books for half off the half off the retail price 
In a world filled with well written yet emotionally unsatisfying books (Oprah, anyone?), I can’t recount how many I’ve fallen in love with that came from the thrift store.