On Book Borrowing: Do You Lend Out? I’ve Got Questions!
Last week I was thinking about the power of book ownership and wondered why it is I like to own books when I rarely reread them. The support that I got in the comments was fantastic and I loved to see that there are others like me that just like to look at their books and recollect the memories associated with the mere act of reading.
There were also many comments about how it’s so wonderful to have that perfect book on your shelf for that perfect somebody to borrow. I completely agree! Every time my mother-in-law visits she picks out a stack of books to take back home with her and then trades them out on her return. I have many friends who ask if I have a particular book to borrow and it’s always nice to say yes.
Recently, I bought some new bookshelves for my bedroom. During the transition of reorganizing my shelves, I was putting all of my memoirs together. It was then that I realized that my copy of Tears of the Desert was missing. I looked everywhere! I could not figure out where in the world it went. I was seriously at a loss. It wasn’t until a few weeks later that I realized that I let my Dad take it back home to Texas for both of my parents to read. Phew! It was one of my most highly recommended books of last year and I didn’t want to lose it. Just yesterday, Taylor reminded me that one of my friends has a book of his. I had completely forgotten. Which then reminds me that another friend has The Host right now as well.
Obviously, a lot of us borrow out books from our library. So, what are your rules? How do you keep track of what you lend out from your library? Any special tips? Right now I don’t have any type of system. And in addition, do you have any horror stories from anybody losing or ruining your books? What did they do, if anything, to make up for it? (Self-confession: Taylor borrowed a book from a co-worker. While we had it, there were layoffs and we never saw her again. Years later, we still have the book. Oops!)
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Category: Bookish Musings & Miscellany
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I really love having a great reference library at home (and I love looking at it, owning it etc.). I am interested in many subjects and my library has been built on the idea of being able to look up the answer to any question I may have at home, not on the computer, but rather in my books. I cannot lend my non-fiction books. The world does not recylce those so easily and if they were not returned to me, I would be bitter. Fiction books are not as much of an issue, since they tend to be recycled more easily in the world. We have a second-hand book shop and we see so many people who have lent books to people and have never had them returned to them…years later, still looking to replace the title. On the other side of the table : I always tell people, “Never lend a book to me”….the sudden pressure has a nasty effect….I just cannot read it but keep telling myself that I will.
on July 7th, 2009 at 3:14 amI don’t have much of a system…it is all up in my little head, and hopefully I remember! I don’t loan to just anyone though. My mom, for sure. To a very good friend, sometimes. There have been many a book not come back, so I am a little protective!
on July 7th, 2009 at 4:12 amI do lend out my books and I keep a journal with the name of the borrower and what books they have out.
Some borrowers are better than others – reading promptly and returning the books in great shape. These are the ones that are allowed to borrow any book of mine, even the signed ones.
What I don’t like is borrowers who return my books with noticable wear and tear or who keep my books for ages.
I know I am guilty of sometimes borrowing books for long periods, but I always offer to give them back, in case someone else is waiting for them.
Worst story: Daniel let a co-worker borrow a book of short stories. When we got it back, we let a friend borrow it. When the friend gave it back, she commented on all the strange notes that were inside the book. The co-worker had written in it – and they were ramblings of a mad man (or someone under the influence). I was so mad, though I can laugh about it now.
on July 7th, 2009 at 4:13 amI avoid lending out.
I only lend to people who are serious about reading and who know how to handle books. I had once given 3 of my books to a friend and she returned them to me with all the spines cracked.
One of my friends lost the book. Worse was when after 3 months I asked her if she got a chance to read it, she said, ‘What book?’
I mean is this the way you treat other’s books?
But I do lend out to friends who know the value of books, especially someone else’s. I’m taking almost 10 books this weekend for my friend. And I’m not worried because I know he’ll return them in a good condition.
I do maintain a list of which book I lend to whom and when. I follow up after 2-3 months in a nice way.
on July 7th, 2009 at 4:14 amI like lending books but also not. I like it because like you, it’s fun when friends ask me what they can recommend for their next read. I don’t like it because it makes me anxious if they’re going to return the books in the same condition, or if they’ll return them at all. It’s stressful! I now list down the names of the borrower and the books they borrowed in my planner, to keep track.
Horror story: My good friend’s daughter loves to read and my son lent her a signed book with dedication to my sons from our illustrator friend. They moved to a new house and couldn’t find it!! Luckily, my friend, the mom, searched for it and said she found it at last. But that made me a little sulky for months because of the sentimental value it held. If it wasn’t signed and given by my friend, I wouldn’t have worried.
Another horror story: A friend, to this day, does not realize that she borrowed a book from me. I don’t know how to ask her. It’s been over 2 years. It’s not an absolute favourite so I might just let it be??
on July 7th, 2009 at 4:46 am(I meant “what I can recommend”. Oops!)
on July 7th, 2009 at 4:47 am1. I use sticky notes that I put under the shelf with the person’s name and book title(s). I have a cute little book from BN that I received as a gift. One day I’ll use that!
2. When twilight first came out, I lent it to a kid who’s brother ripped it up!
3. If I really love a book, I may get the pb to lend out.
on July 7th, 2009 at 5:20 amI rarely borrow my books out since some of my friends are not gentle with them. They come out bent or mishandled, and one person had to buy me a new copy. Not fun!
I usually remember who has it, and when I talk to them they like to tell me their progress. It is really fun! If you do borrow out a lot, I think a notebook or spreadsheet would work for tracking.
on July 7th, 2009 at 5:42 amI don’t have a system, but I really do need to get one. I often lend to my mom and sister, who both have a very hard time remembering to return books…
My confession: Once, in sixth grade, I borrowed a book from a girl in my class. I didn’t read it in enough time to return it and she moved during the summer. It is still sitting on my shelf, and I still feel small guilt pangs when I see it!
on July 7th, 2009 at 6:08 amI love lending books out but don’t do it that often. I find that people keep the books too long or they come back messed up. I also have no system so I forget who I lend them to and I now have probably 10 covers at home with no books in them. I can’t remember who I lent them to and now will have to re buy them as they were some of my favorites.
Debbie
on July 7th, 2009 at 6:52 amI was thinking about this last week while I read your comments on the question about book ownership. I was surprised to see how many people give them away after reading or use the library and really dont hang on to books.
It made me wonder – why do I hang on to the books that in all likelihood, I may never read again?
You hit it right on today Natasha, I use my books not only for me, but also as a social outlet. I just had a girlfriend call last week to ask if I had any Karen Kingsly. I did… two of them. She came and picked them up. My sons girlfriend is a big Jodi Picoult fan. She takes one of mine, reads, returns repeats. I love that I can share this passion with others. I love that people know that they can ask me about a book or stop over and try a new author through my recommendation.
on July 7th, 2009 at 7:01 amI lend out my books mostly to family. Never a certain relative though. I once loaned her several books at once that came back all tattered and torn. It was a fight to get them back in the first place, which was another wrench in the deal. Never again. But my parents, in-laws and I regularly exchange books for loan. I keep the ones I borrow in a bag or box, separated from my own. I tend to have a good memory about what I loan out so haven’t felt the need to keep a list.
I do sometimes loan out a book to a friend or coworker. I am very picky though about who I lend too. One coworker gave one of my books away even after I impressed on her my strict borrowing requirements. Maybe she thought I was joking. And yes, I do have “rules” for borrowing my books. And those who I do allow to borrow know how fanatical I can get about my books. I don’t expect my book to come back looking brand new–wear and tear is only natural (but you get more points if you take care of my books and they do look just as good as when I lent them to you–and you get them taken away if the wear in tear is more than I think is suitable) and I do expect the book back. I’ve learned, of course, never to loan out books I wouldn’t want to lose–but still, I’d still like the book back unless I say otherwise. I don’t mind if a person keeps a book for a long period of time, as long as it’s reasonable. One friend just returned a book to me after a year. I don’t have a problem with that. I have to say though that what I especially like about loaning books to her is that she gives me periodic updates of her progress or the book’s position in her TBR pile. She gets me!
Other than the books my parents and in-laws loan me, I tend not to borrow books very often myself. With my already overflowing TBR room, stacks, piles and shelves, not to mention review commitments, I just don’t feel the need. A friend of mine who occasionally will loan me a book is well aware of this and so usually will loan me the book last of all her other friends, knowing I may not get to it immediately. Still, I feel guilty if I don’t read it sooner than later and get it back from her.
on July 7th, 2009 at 7:09 amI rarely loan out my books. I would, if people asked, but no one does. Most people know I’m kind of a weirdo about the condition of my books, but that’s just me. I don’t expect other people to adhere to my high standards.
When I was in high school, I borrowed an entire series of books from a friend. I read them quite quickly, then brought them back to school to give to her. Whenever I told her that the books were in my locker, she’d say ‘oh, I’ll get them another time’ ‘maybe later’ until finally, it was the last day of school and she never came to collect them (most of the year had passed and I was moving away). I donated them to the library.
on July 7th, 2009 at 7:22 amLibrary: I go every week on the same day (so I don’t mess up by having overdue DVDs), I keep a separate basket for the kids books (so they don’t get mixed up, although we sometimes turn in books from home), and put my library books in a separate place. That, since everything’s on the internet at our library, I obsessively check due dates. (Our library is also good about sending out email reminders when a due date is coming up.)
As for lending out… Hubby hates it when I do it, since he’s very obsessive about the books. He likes them to be in perfect “working” order. And in their places. I’ve not had many bad experiences, although a few have disappeared. If that’s the case, and I really want the book, I just pick up another copy (probably at Half.com or Bookmooch). Otherwise, I don’t sweat it. Someone else deserves to enjoy that book as much as I did.
on July 7th, 2009 at 8:26 amI actually don’t hold on to many books once I’ve read them. I don’t lend my books, I give them away
on July 7th, 2009 at 8:46 amNot much help here in a good system. My sister-in-law borrowed a book and never gave it back so I ended up buying another copy. I also lent a book to my brother’s girlfriend and haven’t seen it in a few months but she did return another one I lent her so there is still hope
For books I borrow I usually try to read those first although I have one lingering in my piles. My friend is moving though so she told me to hold onto it so one less book to pack
on July 7th, 2009 at 9:50 amI lend without really keeping track of who has what–but I’m careful to only lend books to close friends or family members. I trust them, so I don’t really bother to keep track.
The only problem I’ve had with this was when I loaned a copy of a book to a friend–and she gave it to her sister, who gave it to her friend, who gave it to her friend. By the time I got the book back, it was a year later and the spine was broken, the front cover creased, and the pages all ruffled at the edges. My friend never saw anything wrong with this. I didn’t say anything–our friendship wasn’t worth a paperback copy of Twilight–but I am a bit more selective in lending it out.
on July 7th, 2009 at 10:16 amOnce again my massive TBR spreadsheet is where I note who has one of my books. It’s usually not too big of a problem for me to remember, though. I only lend my books to a select few family and friends. I learned the hard way to be extremely cautious about lending books. I once loaned a book to a co-worker and it came back from her vacation water damaged and I ended up having to throw it out.
on July 7th, 2009 at 10:40 amHere’s my rule: Sorry, I don’t do it. Books go missing or are returned damaged. Okay, my family (not my in-laws, though) can borrow. No one else. I’m mean.
on July 7th, 2009 at 10:42 amI don’t lend that often, but mostly because I don’t get many requests. I am always very nervous about lending out my books. I loaned a book to my Brother-in-law several months ago and have heard or seen nothing of it since then. I’ve been in their house and car often enough to know that I am probably going to have to replace it. Even if it comes back, I fear for the condition it will be in.
on July 7th, 2009 at 10:47 amMy mom and I read a lot of similar books but I don’t like lending to her because she believes that books you read should look read and I try to keep my books in really good condition. I am just kinda obsessive compulsive like that.
I usually don’t lend out books that I know I’ll keep forever. After losing a couple of my all time favorites and having to replace them, I’ve become a lot more selective about lending. If I don’t care too much if I get it back, I’ll lend it out. Really, though, except for my kids, I don’t know many readers. Most people I know seem to think my love of books of an odd little quirk of my personality. That’s why all you bloggers make me so happy! I know there are still lots of book-nuts out there!
I’ve also really changed my book habits in the past 10 years. I used to keep everything I read, and my! but the piles and shelves were over-flowing. I even moved two huge bookcases of books with me when I moved from Montana to California 20 years ago. Maybe it was age, but I just started to want to have less stuff. At that time, I developed my own personal criteria. If its a book I want to read more than once, I own it in hardcover, it doesn’t have to be pristine, just a hardcover that I can read again if I want. Pretty much everything else can find a new home and I’m fine with it. I still have piles of books everywhere, but most of them haven’t been read yet.
on July 7th, 2009 at 11:13 amIf someone asks to borrow one I don’t hesitate to let them. But as soon as it is in their hands I have complete anxiety. I worry the whole time they have it that I won’t get it back or they will ruin it. When I give it to them I take the dust jacket off because I want it to stay nice and I give them a post-it note for a bookmark(no dog ears please). To ensure I get it back I have a list on my book shelf of who borrowed what. My sister in-law has my copy of What to Expect while your are Expecting and has had it for 2 years. I’m not too attached to that book so I have let it slide.
on July 7th, 2009 at 11:38 amI have a friend who has a very stringent book borrowing policy. If you bend or rip the cover or pages or do any damage no matter how slight it may be, you have to buy her a new copy of the book. Needless to say, because I carry books around in my purse and fall asleep while reading them, I never borrow books from her. I’m too afraid.
My rules on lending out books really depends on the person. I have one person I no longer loan books to because she never returns them and then will give them out to people I don’t know for them to read. That’s fine with books I didn’t enjoy, but I really don’t want to lose the books I love. Other friends I just need to gently remind them to return the book, and with several I always make it a point to be the one to pick it up. If I rely on them, they often forget or throw it into the car. Now that first friend I have no problem lending books to. (My book always magically comes back in better condition than it was before hand.)
on July 7th, 2009 at 12:01 pmI don’t have a system, and I have kept books by others too long (which reminds I have a stash of books I need to return to a neighbor) and have considered books loaned out gone forever.
on July 7th, 2009 at 12:02 pmI loan out books frequently. I think I’ve gotten most of them back, but I don’t have a system really, although I’d love to have a system at some point. Most of the books I loan out go to the same people over and over (rather: a few people borrow books from me regularly, lots of books), and I know what to expect from that experience. The ones I worry about (although not too much usually) are the new borrowers. The people who I don’t know how long they’ll have the books, etc. But really, I don’t worry about it too much.
on July 7th, 2009 at 12:18 pmI have had books fail to return to me. I hate losing books. I still am sad that my copy of The Time Traveler’s Wife never came back to me.
on July 7th, 2009 at 12:58 pmI have started only lending to those I know will give them back.
I loan out books all the time and don’t really expect them back (it’s nice when they show up, though). As much as I like to keep my favorites and think that I’ll read them again, I also enjoy sharing books with friends enough that the risk is worth it.
on July 7th, 2009 at 1:03 pmWhile living in Okinawa, and possibly having one of the best personal English libraries on island, I had a few friends that loved to come over and browse and borrow my books. I always write my name on the inside cover of my books and I really should look into having labels made. I also kept a notebook of who borrowed what and when.
on July 7th, 2009 at 1:18 pmNow that we are back in Virginia and near family, I know my MIL (Mom-In-Law) will be borrowing books from my library. I am happy to lend out books but just ask that they are returned in a timely fashion as well as in as good condition as it was lent out in. Is that too much to ask?
I normally don’t make a habit of lending out my books after one too many times of them coming home in worse shape then when they went out. Bent pages, cracked spines etc and I know for one they didn’t go out like that as all my books go out looking brand spanking new.
When I lend out books I have a paper that I attach to my desk wall with the person’s name and books and when they bring it back I scratch it off the list.
on July 7th, 2009 at 1:25 pmAll of my books are registered through BookCrossing so I just make release notes if I lend out a book.
on July 7th, 2009 at 1:29 pmI only “lend” books to people I know will read them soon and get them back. This way, if one of my books turns up missing, there is a limited number of places it could be. But most of my books move on when I’m done with them if I know I won’t read them again.
on July 7th, 2009 at 2:06 pmI lend to my family only. Not because I don’t want to, but because no one else really asks to borrow from me. I have one book that has been taken and not returned. It was my paperback of Twilight, and I’ve been meaning to talk to my sis-in-law about getting it back. Good thing I have a hardcover copy as well, just in case I need to read it again.
on July 7th, 2009 at 2:24 pmI tend to more freely lend those books that I have already read. I find that most of the books I lend are never returned even if I make it clear that it is a loan and I’m not giving it away. If I’ve already read it, I’m less bitter when it isn’t returned. With that said, I do make a note in LibraryThing to let me know where a book is either shelved, stored, or to whom it was loaned.
on July 7th, 2009 at 3:01 pmI record loans in my LibraryThing account, but there’s not that many people to whom I lend books – mostly it’s just one couple, and they don’t keep books they read, so if there’s a book in their house and it doesn’t have a library sticker on it, it’s almost certainly mine. Other bibliophile friends don’t really share my reading tastes, so it’s not an issue.
I did have another friend that I would lend to, but then she lost one book, and spilled a full glass of water over another one, and never offered to replace either. When I brought it up, all she said was “well, when you’ve got cats, sometimes these things happen.” She doesn’t get to borrow books any more.
on July 7th, 2009 at 3:11 pmI very rarely loan books to people. This is partly because I don’t have many friends who are avid about reading in my vicinity and partly because I’m afraid I won’t get them back. I had a few bad experiences in high school with friends who cracked spines and lost books, so I’m much more careful now. My mom and my fiance can read my books and that’s about it.
on July 7th, 2009 at 3:28 pmI loan books to my mom all the time, and vice versa (we live in the same house, so we pretty much just share all our books). But I don’t really loan books to people unless I don’t care if I get it back or not. Not that I don’t trust people, but if I didn’t get it back for whatever reason, I’d be upset.
on July 7th, 2009 at 4:18 pmI own a lot of books – and I do mean a lot. I have one room dedicated for nothing but books & it has 8 bookshelves in it and they are mostly full. There are 3 book cases in the bedroom, 2 in the living room, 1 in the kitchen & 2 in the computer room. I will on average reread each book within 2 years, most faster than that.
My lend out policy depends upon who is asking – certain people (antisocial) can pretty much borrow anything she wants – but I have to label them as my books & keep the jackets or she’ll pass them onto someone else, as she just has a TBR shelf & hates clutter. Other people – I will loan a massmarket, but wouldn’t dare loan a hardback. I do believe that you should finish what you have out before asking for the next book – except in special situations.
That’s my 2 cents worth.
on July 7th, 2009 at 5:34 pmI’m with Terry B and Nicki – I make a note in LT if one of my books are “travelling.” They rarely do, though, unless the borrower is a bibliophile as well, who knows that books are important.
on July 7th, 2009 at 5:37 pmI rarely lend books. I’ve had some terrible experiences in the past. Friends kept books for years, or returned them with their covers torn, or didn’t return them at all. I eventually clammed up completely and refused to lend anything to anyone, but I’ve loosened up a bit over the past couple of years. I’ll let my parents and grandparents borrow books, since I can hassle them if I don’t get them back. I’ll lend them to a couple of coworkers who I know will get them back to me in a timely fashion. And I have one lone friend who I’ll trust with the occasional book. That’s it.
Since I don’t lend too many books, I don’t really have a system for keeping track of them. I mostly just remember who has what.
on July 7th, 2009 at 5:44 pmI don’t lend out books. Period. The few times I’ve done so, the one borrowing them has ruined them or lost them. Because I only keep the books that I truly like and want to read again, the fact that someone takes them and trashes them is more than I’m willing to bear. Granted, in some cases, I’ve received new copies of the destroyed books, but I’ve lost many as a result. Therefore, I will give away those that I don’t plan on reading again or will highly recommend that others need to get a copy of a certain book. Books are like prized possessions, in my opinion. You don’t lend them out to just anyone.
on July 7th, 2009 at 6:47 pmI’ll only lend books to people whom I know will handle the books with care. I cringe whenever someone returns me the book in a not so good condition – wrinkled cover, cracked spine, dog-earred pages etc etc. So after a few bad experiences, I told myself I couldn’t just lend a book to anyone else, I’ll have to be picky with who to lend it to when this is concerned.
on July 7th, 2009 at 6:56 pmI reread my books continuously and lend them out freely. Most of them come back, and I’m not too picky about what shape they come back in. They’re for reading, not for decoration.
Once I borrowed a hardback book from a high school friend when we were both back for the summer. I never got it back to her at the end of the summer, and I haven’t seen her since. I still have it at my parents’ house, and still feel guilty. I’ve looked for her online, but I’m afraid she’s married and changed her last name.
on July 8th, 2009 at 7:47 amI don’t lend my books anymore. Too often they never came back to me- or were damaged. I won’t even lend to my husband- he treats book very casually and they get beat up! If he wants to read a book, I make him promise to only read it at home (where I can pick it up when it gets laid face-down, rescue it from hovering glasses of water, etc) or I go find a library copy for him to borrow. It sounds terrible, but that’s how it is!
on July 8th, 2009 at 9:15 amI lend out. I have a spreadsheet that I keep track of who has what. Most of my friends are pretty good about returning in a timely manner.
Some of them don’t ever come back, but I figure, so what?!? It’s no skin off my back, and I probably won’t re-read it and hopefully it was passed on to someone else to enjoy. If not, I believe in karma.
on July 8th, 2009 at 12:26 pmWhew, I thought I was weird for not wanting to loan out my books, especially when they don’t come back in the same condition they went out in… I’m anal about the conditions of my books. Even the mass market paperbacks are pristine after multiple readings. The only books I own that are not in perfect condition, came that way.
on July 8th, 2009 at 1:12 pmI didn’t get a chance to respond to your other post but I’m not one who keeps books I won’t reread. However I also rarely lend out books, other than to my mom. For example I lent out two books to a friend and she hasn’t been coming around lately. I’m getting nervous, I want my books back. One is my fav book ever and the other is one I want for sure.
Hubby and I have decided not to lend ANYTHING out (like movies or items) except my parents because they lend stuff to us all the time.
on July 8th, 2009 at 1:28 pmI used to not lend out books, for fear that they wouldn’t come home. But now that I have everything in LT, I just add a “lent @” tag and keep track that way. Still, I only lend to people I trust.
on July 8th, 2009 at 4:38 pmIf they are books I want to keep, I am very careful about lending them out. My dad isn’t allowed to borrow paperbacks that I love anymore because he destroys them… seriously cracked spines, bent over backwards. The books have to be contortionists to survive him! My mom is a little better, especially after the first cracked spine incident. My sister just forgets to return things so I only lend her books that I don’t have any plans for.
As for books I don’t want, usually I tag them at http://WWW.BOOKCROSSING.COM and then send them into the wild! Very rewarding when you get a little notification that someone found it and went online!
on July 8th, 2009 at 5:37 pmI have trouble letting go of books once I’ve read them and being willing to loan them out seems like the best way to justify keeping them to my non-book-loving husband.
That having been said, I fret about books that I loan to others until they return back to me.
I used to simply keep a mental note of who I had loaned books to, but I now keep track in a book database program that I was sent for review from Collectorz.com. The program is the Pro version of BookCollector.
Nat at Book Line and Sinker has posted recently about a system she uses in her classroom for borrowing books and the book embosser she uses to label her books (which, by the way, I am not-so-secretly coveting).
on July 8th, 2009 at 8:55 pmI used to lend out books, but three years ago, I lent out two books to two friends. I haven’t seen the books since. One was one of those 2$ books you find in the bargin bin. But the other was a 21$ trade paperback, and its one I really enjoyed, and would read it again. I’ve reminded her about it before, and keep reminding her about it, I’m begining to get rude about it, but I want my book back.
Also, I do loan or I did to family, but one family member had the book in their hands for two minutes and the first 20 pages are no falling out, and again this was an expensive book, that costs more money, because the binding is better quality. Other family members crack spines, bend pages, spell,…… shudders. I don’t lend out books, if I do its only certain books that are lent out.
Overall, I’m a book packrat, I keep almost all my books, unless I bought a book and disliked it a lot, then its hauled to the used bookstore. If the book is well loved/worn if I by it used thats fine, if its well used/worn because I’ve re-read it 50 times, again thats fine. If I loan it out and the person I loan it to doesn’t respect it then I get angry.
on July 8th, 2009 at 9:08 pmI used to lend out books, but now I don’t! I’ve just discovered that many people do not respect my books like I do . . . and I am VERY picky about my books!
One horror story . . . my brother-in-law who borrowed a copy of one of my favorite books. He ended up taking it with him to fight forest fires and completely destroyed it! He replaced the copy, but it was not the same one that was ruined. I was so frustrated! I had THAT copy for a reason . . . it was the movie cover. My husband then realized that I had other copies of the book and he was wondering why I was so angry when I had multiple copies. I tried to explain to him that the cover art was different . . . one was hardcover, one paperback, etc. He just didn’t get it! Am I the only one that likes to have multiple copies of her favorite books?!?!
on July 9th, 2009 at 12:58 pmI’m okay with lending my “lending” books out, but WILL NOT lend my collectibles: British Adult version of Harry Potter (shipped from Scotland), signed copies, antiques, or ones I haven’t read before. My best friend is really the only person I have to worry about, and she’s always trying to push me to loan her the books I just picked up. It makes me crazy! I love her to death, and I’m really not a scrooge, but I have hidden books from her before so that she didn’t swipe them and return them on the sly…yes, she’s done that before! She’s a book person too, so I have to keep my eye on her!
on July 9th, 2009 at 2:48 pmI have no problem with lending books, but normally I prefer to just give them to people and ask them to pass them on to someone else, when they’re done. That way I don’t have to keep track of anything, or feel bad if it doesn’t come back.
My husband’s college housemate lent him a huge book of all of Shakespeare’s plays, when he was taking a Shakespeare class. Somehow it never got back to the roommate before he moved away. We still have it, over 20 years later.
on July 9th, 2009 at 11:54 pmI keep my books until I can’t stand it anymore and I give them to the library. I always say I won’t buy more books, but I see something I want to read right now…and oops I am buying a book again. I am always lending books to friends and those in the office. Do I keep track…no!
There are a few books I really love, some from my childhood and some women’s outstanding travelog…those I don’t give out. Too difficult to track them.
on July 10th, 2009 at 7:32 amI love to buy books – but like you I rareley will re-read a book – it would have to be super good and even then I would only re-read it 5-10 years later – there are so many books to read it is hard to find time to re-dead something.
I have not done a lot of loaning of books yet – so far no space for a nice big book case – all my books are in boxes in the basement – not easy for someone to come over and say – oh, can I borrow that one. But, for the rare books I do loan out, I write down who took what book and the date – that way I know if it has been on loan for 2 weeks or 6 months. Once it gets to be a long time, I will ask for it back. I would hate to lose a book.
My question though – do you write your name in any of your books? I have not yet – I always think I might sell them at some point in time and wonder if that would affect their re-sale value??
on July 10th, 2009 at 8:36 amYes – I will sometimes let people borrow my books…if I feel that they will cherish them as much as I do.
I keep track of loaned books, in the same way that I keep track of everything else. 3×5 cards. I have several boxes of them, and all have dividers. In the “Book Box” I have lists of books that I have read and loved, books that I want to read…and books that I have loaned out. I right down the name of the book, who I lent it to, and the day that I lent it out. If I can’t find a book, the first thing I do is head to my “Book Box” to see if I loaned it out. Hope this helps!
on July 10th, 2009 at 4:36 pmBTW – I do know the difference between right and write! Sometimes I just get in such a hurray and I don’t proof read my comments;-)
on July 10th, 2009 at 4:37 pmi love lending, scary sometimes as i love my books. my collection used to be huge and then while i was on a road trip my ex moved into my apt and got me evicted. i lost books of all orgins and ages. it killed me to know that such rare and also just good books were in a dump. so my collection is small now, mostly gaiman. but i still lend whenever i can because i know the right book can forever change a life and plant a seed. i belieive that without the right books my life would be so diffrent. i guess it just one small ting i could do to help others. i had one exception though. my copy of american gods is beyond special to me and my husband lent it out…still sweating over that one.
on July 14th, 2009 at 10:19 am