Musing Mondays: lending books
(Musing Mondays are hosted by Rebecca!)
This week’s question asks:
A few weeks back we had a question about borrowing books, this week I was wondering what your policy was on lending books. Do you lend books to anyone? Just friends? Only big readers? How long are they allowed to have them?
I’m very cautious about lending out my books, any more. I’ve been burned a few too many times. I’ve loaned out books where the people either never gave the book back (even though they told me repeatedly, over the years, that I’d get it back the next time they saw me), or they had a scatterbrained-moment and gave my book away to someone else without remembering it was MINE and not their’s. 
Then there are those who do return my books, but in crappy conditions — the covers are bent, the pages have spills on them, etc.
I’m very, VERY good to my books — in fact, I just brought some with me to Bible study, last Wednesday, to give away, and the ladies were commenting on how “new” the books looked — that’s how good I take care of my books!
So, when my books come back to me looking like they’ve been through world war III, then I just am NOT pleased, and I’m likely to make a mental-note that those particular people are never allowed to borrow my books again.
Then there are those who I KNOW will take the best care of my books, and will return them promptly. So, I go ahead and let those people borrow my precious babies. 
I’ve started to wonder, though, if I should set deadlines for when I want the books back by, as I’m still having to hound some people to get my books back from them. I don’t like doing that.
I’ve had one too many books never come back to feel comfortable lending again.
Hi!
I haven’t been burned like that before. But if I lend a book I expect it to come back the same way it left. Have a great day!!
Sherrie
Ooh I have never been burned, I’d like to keep it that way.
My post is up.
here’s mine! http://www.bostonbibliophile.com/2009/01/musing-mondays_26.html
I don’t really have anyone to lend to anymore so it’s not a big issue here. But I’ve had some pretty horrible experiences too, so would be very cautious if someone did come along who wanted to borrow one of my books.
Yeah, once you’ve been burned, it’s hard to loan out books again. Glad to know someone else treats and loves their books like I do mine!
It would be hard to want to loan after getting burned so much.
That is why I have become picky about who can borrow my books. In fact, when I helped a friend move, I found a book that she had of mine for years! I had already replaced it and did not say anything.
I work in a library…want me to send you the DATE DUE tags that go in the front of the book? I think it would be hilarious!!
I lend books the same way I do money – I don’t lend out anything I really expect to see again. Before The Stress of Her Regard got back into print I spend $25 on a beat-up used paperback and felt pretty fortunate to find it, b/c I had lent my copy to my dad, to whom books are meant to float through the universe unattached to anyone in particular, like ink pens.
Oh Dear! I guess if I had that happen I might not be so relaxed in my lending. I neglected to add that I very rarely lend out my very favorite books–usually purchased in hardcover–those are my treasures.
Staci — LOL about the “date due” pages! I actually have a date stamp and ink pad that I bought at a local dollar store when I was really frustrated with people not returning my books! LOL. But I haven’t used it.
Laura/sothernxyl — funny you should mention lost pens… I work at an office-supply store, where there should be a multitude of pens… but I’m constantly losing mine!