BTT: Own or Borrow?
This week’s Booking Through Thursday question asks…
All things being equal (money, space, etc), would you rather own copies of the books you read? Or borrow them?
I would definitely rather own the copies of the books I read, because then I would have longer to get through them — not that that often matters any more, what with me finishing 1-3 books a week. 
But, I still would like the luxury of knowing I don’t have to return them by a certain date.
Mind you, that might not be the best thing, either. I seem to read things faster because of having a “deadline” — that’s why doing blog tours works for me. I have always seemed to accomplish more when there’s a deadline to meet.
And, this is probably why I own 1200 or so books yet haven’t read a lot of them. Once they’re here, I tend to think I have time to read them whenever… and so I end up reading everything else first. And, my “owned” books end up languishing on the shelves for a while (okay, a LONG while).
I would still love to own the books, though. When I was done reading them, I would donate some of them to the used-book stores, and then others could enjoy them. Others –the ones I really loved– would stay, and become part of my future in-home library. ((this is what I do, currently — I give away the ones that weren’t “keepers”, and the others I save for my “library”)).
I enjoy donating books to our public library, it makes me feel as if I’m helping them because they sell the books in a Labor Day book sale to help the children’s programs and other extra things they do.
If space were no option in my own home, I would love to own all the books I read, but I would still miss out on donating to the library.
I’m the same, deadlines work wonders.
Here’s mine:
http://carabosseslibrary.blogspot.com/2011/06/booking-through-thursday_09.html
I prefer owning my books, I too, donate some of them to the local library. I like reading books at my own pace.
Great question! I’m the same way, in that I like to own books!
http://amylunderman.blogspot.com/2011/06/booking-through-thursay-book-tour.html
I mostly borrow my book, but buy those I really like.
My BTT post.
Yeah, that’s how I am, too. Can’t afford to buy ‘em, in reality, so I borrow a lot of the books I want to read from the library, and then add my favorites to my wishlist, and buy ‘em when I can.
Here’s my answer: http://worldofbookreviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/btt-own-or-borrow.html
I agree MizB. That’s why I don’t like getting books from the library. Because I have to finish them and return them by a certain date. Buying them, I can take as long as I want cuz their my books.
Definitely own. Although in saying that the number of books of which I own that I can actually say I’ve read is pretty slim… but I’m slowly working my way through the collection. I just seem to add to it at a faster rate than I read!
This is a tricky question because if money and space aren’t an issue, why wouldn’t we all want to own our books instead of borrow? But in the real world, money and space definitely do come into play. I borrow books from the library because I can’t afford to purchase most of them. Maybe what this question should really ask is “What benefits are there in owning books over borrowing them?” For me, that includes the ability to mark in the book – underline words I don’t know, highlight quotes or passages I especially like – and being able to see the books lined up on my bookcases.
Good answer
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2011/06/booking-through-thursday_09.html
I am all for selective hoarding. I already own more than 2500 books!
Here is my BTT: Own or Borrow post!
Good point about the deadlines — both helping and hindering the experience of reading.
I prefer to own as well, unless it’s a genre or topic that I don’t particularly enjoy, then I’d rather borrow (ie. assigned reading, book club, reviews).
Booking Through Thursday
Good point! Would rather not “waste” the money on something I’m not sure I’ll enjoy… a primary reason why I will always still LOVE my local library, even if I could afford to buy all of my books, and/or store them.
I hear you on the unread books thing. My unread list is almost two hundred books, most of which have been there for at least three years.
Great answer! I think that I would do something completely similar.
I’m a big re-reader so I like to own my books but I’m running out of space. I have loads that I haven’t read I keep buying new ones and getting distracted from all the others on my tbr pile.
Sally.
http://theelifylop.blogspot.com/2011/06/booking-through-thursday-21.html
Interesting answer!–I have kind of the same answer, but for different reasons. I wouldn’t have thought about deadlines–I have to be in the right mood to read a book, or I won’t get into it–so I don’t usually buy a book, or borrow one from the library unless I *really* want to read it *now*!–My problem is that I hate returning books!–Especially if I love them! It just seems ten times harder to find the time to make the return trip! (unless there’s something else I want to check out! lol) I also have the space issue with books I own–It’s helped tremendously since I switched over to ebooks! Although, somehow I still end up picking up some real books often enough–but now, they’re mostly second-hand, or ones that I’ve won from giveaways.
And in the same vein, I LOVE my library’s digital branch!!!–I can borrow books anytime I want, don’t have to worry about library hours–And I don’t have to worry about returning the book, either–It just “expires” when my checkout time is over!–Super easy!!!
ABSOLUTELY OWN. I HAD ENOUGH HAND-ME-DOWNS AS A KID. LOL
I am a bit of book snob. Borrowed books make me squirm. I much prefer to own my books. Like you, I don’t feel rushed to read the books I own. The downside is I am running out of space. My bookshelves are full and I can’t stop purchasing new releases. Another downside is the books I own get pushed further down the TBR pile because there is no deadline.
I would love to own the books, but as I’m finding my book buying turning into an addiction (LOL) I am running out of space and sometimes I don’t find the books worth re-reading so then I feel guilty about spending the moeny on a book that takes up space that I don’t want anymore. So sometimes borrowing isn’t such a bad idea on books you are unsure of in the first place. I do plan to sell or giveaway those that I didn’t find “OMG I must keep this so I can re-read it again and again”.