I have been a book buyer my entire life. But, previously, I only read fiction. Now that I am a History undergraduate, I have begun reading history books apart from my syllabus. The lack of public libraries in the city is quite challenging, as these books are quite expensive (plus I don’t have enough space in my house to hoard books anymore). I am relying on my University’s library, but they tend not to have a lot of the books I look for. Do you prefer buying books or borrowing from libraries?
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Great question! I read so much fiction that I make good use of my library app. It’s a bit challenging to buy books where I live, but I try to buy copies of my favourites or books I need to read that I can’t get from the library!
My problem with library books is that so often they’re sticky to the touch. I just can’t handle that, so I usually buy. Also, I hate reading with glasses, so I’ve now switched to mostly reading eBooks with huge font. 
I love the convenience of the library. Our school library is well-stocked so I’m maybe a bit spoiled. Also, not many sticky books in our library!
I buy books, even though i do go to the library to have an auld read sometime. But to borrow? I would like too, but i don’t because. 1. Ownership, i like to own books. 2. I do care for my books, but i feel they’re a need of extra care when borrowing from the Library. But of course the problem is space, the times i had to make book cases so i can get more books. Maybe i am a book goblin 
I used to say that if a book is worth reading it is worth buying (considering the hours you need to read it) and I would make sure I’d keep only the best books and get rid of the rest, Not anymore. Now I prefer to download books from Anna’s Archive (pdf or epub). And I have created my own private local webpages with the books I have read and the books I’d like to read. The problem is that by now my books I’ve read private library webpage has grown fartoo long (over 200 books), so I plan to divide it in 2 webpages, my 100 best and the rest.
Hello Roy,
Having begun life with dyslexia, books became trophies of achievements. In my youth more novels. But I soon decided that novels took up space and unless I was going to read it again they went out. History books become irreplaceable, until updated; philosophy, sciences, politics and biographies take time and space, but handling them, page markers etc make them special and your own note books, scraps of paper added between pages, little flags saying “ this is great, read again!”
EBay, Amazon second hand, abebooks and loads of second hand platforms make many lines accessible. Good luck. M
I am a book buyer! I have been told multiple times to get a Kindle, but I refuse, even if I am running out of space to put all my books.
To be honest, I haven’t borrowed books from the library since I was in high school.
I just want to point out that many (but not all) of the books linked in Anna’s Archive are in fact illegal downloads. As a publisher ourselves, we highly discourage illegal downloading of content.
I’ve always bought books. There have been times I’ve borrowed from a library for research but I wound up regretting that because, later, I didn’t have it when I was writing on the same or a similar topic. Every time I’ve moved from one place to another, the biggest pain has been moving all the books.
Benefit of that is having your own personal library at home, which is admittedly very cool to have. 
It is immensely cool to have. It was cool to have long before I wrote for WHE but it is pretty much essential to have now.
Well you’re our walking and talking encyclopedia of history… isn’t the full library in your head by now? 
HA HA HA HA - I suppose so. I do still periodically have to check dates though.
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