Library or Book Store?

[Chip, A Former Ningmaster]

Pretty simple question. Which do you prefer, and why?

In theory, I love libraries. I mean, who can argue with free books?! Greatest concept ever. (I guess you might not like the idea of giving them back though...) But in practice I have to say book store because my local library is made of SUCK and doesn't have anything (not anything good, anything period! Stupid stupid tiny library) so I have to go to Barnes and Noble and spend all my money on books. (I would go to my local used book store, but they don't have much either. Grrr. Arizona is obviously not a reading state.)

[Sarah Rice]

This is a surprisingly hard question. I think before I went to college and became broke, I would have said bookstores. Especially ones with comfy chairs and couches. But I have a new found appreciation for libraries, as I can no longer afford my reading habit. So I love the library for giving me an affordable way to support my addiction. It is greatly appreciated. I think if I had to remove one or the other from existence I would erase bookstores, since libraries afford everyone the same opportunity to read, regardless of economic status, but the second I have money again, I will probably abandon my local library and return to frequenting bookstores.

[Bumble Bee]

OH!! i cant decide!!

[Niki]

Book store I get to keep the books from there forever.

[Christian the Heretic]

Reading this thread was mighty amusing.
Some people said the exact things I was thinking.
^.^
Nerdfighters♥

Anyway, down to business. I have skipped entire days of school just to spend the day reading in my school's library. Yes. I walk to school, don't go to classes, but stay in the library the whole day. I've done this many times, and I enjoy it every time I do. I'll be honest, my school library isn't especially huge or amazing, but I love it. So. Much. I'm friends with the librarian (Mrs. McGlone) and we talk about books together. (I told her to order Paper Towns! I mean, I already own both Margo's, but still.) I'm not a huge fan of my local library because they have sucktastic books. Like, okay, you can have three aisles full of those cheesy harlequin romance books, but you can't have quality literature? What?! On the bright side, they do have a fairly nice selection of dvds and cds that I like to watch and rip, respectively.

I do have a Borders that's relatively closeby, but I'm not a huge fan. There used to be a Barnes & Noble nearby(ish) that I'd force my dad to drive me to all of the time, but they got beat out by fucking Borders. (Can you tell that I'm bitter?) Anyway, while I certainly do love owning my own copies of books I cherish, they cost so damned much! Fifteen dollars for a freakin' paper back that I'm not even sure I'm going to like?! Consequently, I only buy books that I KNOW that I'm going to enjoy. (John & Hank Green recommendations, great book jackets, engaging first page, etc.)


Sooo...I guess I'm going to say libraries.
Even though library books usually have that scary, weird stain that you're careful to avoid whilst reading them.


fap fap
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[Alanis Moore]

Yeah, I agree with you on that. I love libraries, even though I have to wait for a lot of my books. D:

I love your picture. x3

[super librarian]

as a librarian, reading all the comments about poorly stocked libraries saddens me. I also wonder how you can all afford to actually buy all the books you read. I certainly couldnt when i was younger (and no way would i even atttempt to now). I read way too many books to even consider buying what i read (except those special, gotta own books and used books at Library Book Sales). But back to poorly stocked libraries. I blame the government. We'd gladly buy 15 copies of Paper Towns, if we could afford it. I wish I could buy 20 more copies of Twilight and Breaking Dawn for our libraries, but our budget won't allow for that (unless I don't buy the latest Fruits Basket and the new Gordon Korman).

I also think it is a matter of being ok with waiting. If you don't expect instant gratification, the library is, hands down, your best choice. Like someone else said, put your books on hold (from home, on the computer) & wait for it to arrive. I just have to remind everyone about the FREEness of books, and that many libraries have librarians who like the same kinds of books you do, who buy them, and that the reason they aren't there when you want them is that someone else is reading it!

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox. My vote, is of course, libraries. (Though Powell's bookstore is one of the best places to spend an afternoon, I'm not saying no to bookstores.)

[Elizabeth Brooke]

I love libraries, but I dunno... my father and I have always operated under the saying "A book worth reading is a book worth owning." This means I spend most of my allowance on books, most gifts given to me are bookstore giftcards and I am just lucky that my dad essentially lets me buy most of the books I want- he thinks it's worthwhile.

He and I have bought a massive number of books, used and new, for our private home library. I'd wager that my Father has about 2,000-3,000 books. I have about 300 that I actually own.

[Pam]

library... i can't afford all the books i read

[Andrew]

Wow...that's a really good question. Obviously I love libraries, but I never have time to read the books if I've just rented them, I always end up renewing them over and over again until the library people are all mad at me. I don't know, all the libraries in my neighbourhood are small places in schools and community centres...but then when I venture into other parts of the city, places not made up entirely of bunagloes and strip malls, I find bookstores. These huge wonderful places with music and cafés and such an amazing selection...I think I prefer the stores. I just like owning a book, I never get around to reading it otherwise. And it's not like a movie, when you see it once and it's in your memory. I like owning a book, so I can have it with me, at all times, and be able to look up any word or sentence or passage I want, forever. And plus, I just a giftcard to Chapters for Christmas, so the bookstore is pretty much my library now anyways.

[Cheesemaker867]

I feel like I have to own the book, but Libraries do have free books, but that new book smell, oh I'd have to go with the bookstore, just have a hard time affording it.

[Stephanie Steadfast]

I prefer book stores. I like the feeling of new books (and I especially enjoy not wondering whose hands have been touching it and where) and I like the feeling of owning it. There is no stress on when I have to return it and I don't have to worry about dogtagging. I have a habit of highlighting lines that I like and I can't do that with a borrowed book. Book stores have a wider variety of books and I can order a book if they don't have it. People will walk into my room and see stacks of books which are all mine. Bookshelves completely filled.
There's a sense of pride in owning a book that you enjoy as well.

Plus, it's not like I spend my money on much else anyways.

[Brit]

I love my library! They have some pretty good books. When I lived in Salem, I loved that one too, because it was huge and had alot more books. I love bookstores, mainly borders and paper back exchange ones.