Since I am so curious, I want to know who uses the library? Public library, school library, any library counts so long as you visit it.
I personally love going to the library and always get way to many books when I go. (If you want to read my confession about it, click here.) I have to use the library to feed my need for books. The people are always so friendly, and my school library usually gets books in faster than if I went to the bookstore.
The only downside to the library is when someone checks out the book I want. Then we have a problem.
Bottom Line: Do you go to the library? If so, how many books do you check out at once? If not, why? Let me know!
In Italics 
Suz @ A Soul Unsung
Aw, I love the gifs. *g* Beauty and the Beast was always easily one of my favorite of the Disney’s. And I LOVE the library like tons, but sadly I haven’t been in months. It’s probably because I went a little too wild and requested too many eGalley’s from Netgalley or received a few too many ARC’s for review, but I’ve been busy trying to catch up with that or just get to the books on my shelves, that I haven’t gone yet. That is my goal for this year, to at least read about 10 books checked out from the library or maybe 12, one for each month. 🙂
Arial at In Italics
Thanks! Beauty and the Beast is one of the cutest Disney movies. I am not really at the point where I am asking for review copies of books yet, but I can see how they make your reading schedule really busy. Luckily, it’s pretty easy for me to get to the library at my school. Reading 10-12 books from the library seems like a great goal! 🙂
Nina V
Although there are several libraries around me I signed up for the one across the street from my work because it’s HUGE! I walked in there and thought it was all one level but found out it was, I think like 5 levels! It reminded me of The Ministry of Magic.
They normally have all the books I want but I know how you feel when someone else has checked out a book you want. I love going in there and looking at all the books. Often times I leave with more books than I planned on getting.
Arial at In Italics
Huge libraries are fantastic! I go to the library a town over because it has two stories and a large area dedicated to teen books. I can’t imagine a five story library! That sounds magical.
It’s so much fun to go to the library and be able to grab all of the books off your wish list. There is no shame in getting too many books from the library. I always leave with more than I planned on.
Kayla Sanchez
I actually don’t like the library, because then I can’t keep the books. And even if I really loved it and want a copy for myself, I end up putting it off because I can’t rationalize buying the book when there are others I could buy that I haven’t read. So I locked myself in this awful struggle and eventually I just learned to stay away from libraries!
Arial at In Italics
I like to use the library to test out the books that I wouldn’t otherwise buy. It saves me lots of money. I agree that it doesn’t make a lot of sense to buy books when the library carries them and you can use the money to buy new books. But, if I really fall in love with a book then I will buy my own copy so I can read it when I want. I do understand your dilemma though. Hopefully, one day soon your struggle will be over!
Nikki (@thepapersea)
I always feel kind of ashamed when I admit this, as a book blogger, but no, I never use libraries. If I read more adult fiction, I think that wouldn’t be true. But there’s a big issue in England at the moment, or at least in Yorkshire, revolving around library funding and library closures. The funding they have is abysmal and unfortunately children and young adults seem to bear the brunt of that; the choice of books they have access to is criminally small (it’s really no wonder we have some of the worst literacy rates) and most of that is ridiculously outdated. As a primarily young adult reader, libraries just don’t cater to me.
Of course, I realise that if I did use the library more, they might receive more funding. Alas, it’s a vicious circle.
Arial at In Italics
That’s okay to admit! I had no idea that there were library issues going on in England. I definitely need to be more up to date on bookish news. Even in the US there seems to be more funding for adult books than for young adult or children’s. It sounds like it is much worse in England. I can definitely understand not going to the library if there really isn’t anything there to draw you in.
It is definitely a vicious cycle. I hope that some people in charge really start to focus on helping libraries since they are so important to communities and improving literacy.
Jessica
I definitely use the library! (the public one because I’m homeschooled, not a school one) I would estimate that 90% of the books I read are from the library! I don’t know what I would do without it! I know I’m lucky that mine has the amount of books it has, and that what they don’t have I’m able to get on ILL. I just love going there and browsing. 🙂
And by the way, those gifs are great! 🙂
Arial at In Italics
Public libraries can be more fun to visit than school libraries anyway. Lately, I have been buying books more and more, but it used to be that most of my books came from the library. I don’t know what I would do without my libraries either. I have read hundreds of books from the libraries and I can’t even imagine never having read them. I love going to the library just to look around and be without any expectations. 🙂
Thanks! I had a lot of fun picking them out.
orthodoxmom3
YES!! I try to take my youngest son with me to the library every 2-3 weeks and get a big stack of books! We get lots of picture books. I don’t usually get many others there though as I’m a bit of a book hog and the books I want to read are usually ones I know I want to keep. So it just depends whether I’ll get it out or not at the library. Of course….my book shelves are becoming full so maybe I should borrow more.
Arial at In Italics
That sounds like so much fun! Going to the library was always my favorite thing to do when I was younger. It is hard to read a book from the library and know you can’t keep it. Sometimes I do end up buying books that my library carries because I want to be able to read them whenever I want. Libraries help keep my shelves from flowing over, but at the same time…. you can never have too many books!
Mel@thedailyprophecy
Credits for those gifs ❤ I don't use the library that often. Our YA English section is very sparse over here, so I just like to buy them myself :p
Arial at In Italics
I had so much fun choosing them! It makes me so sad to hear that a lot of people’s libraries just don’t carry a large YA section. Hopefully, your libraries gain some common sense soon and start carrying all the books. Though there is nothing wrong with buying them because then you get to keep the books for yourself. 🙂
Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity
Aw, man. The library is practically my second home, in all honesty. I make it there at least once a week, and always manage to leave with about five books (or more – most often more). I love the library because it means that I can try the novel before buying it. It means I don’t have to buy a book that I end up not liking. Pretty much: the library is an awesome way of feeding my reading addiction without spending any extra money than I already do on buying books. Which is awesome.
But then the problem comes in where I have so many books that I DO own, but haven’t read and then I go on a library spree and read those instead because they have a two week deadline. So the library is not always good, since the money I do spend on books isn’t being put to any sue. Some of my beautiful books just sit there, unread, because other books are taking precedence. It’s kind of sad.
But I will never stop visiting the library, though. It is too fantastic!
Arial at In Italics
I agree that it is so wonderful to be able to try books out without having to make a commitment to buying them. The library is great in that way.
I do the same thing of buying lots of books, and then feeling this urge to go to the library. So, I end up forgetting about the books I already read because I keep getting more and more. And then I tell myself that the books from the library need to take priority since I will have to return them.
Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity
Yes! 😀
Ah, you understand me, haha. I always prioritise library books because they have a return date, whereas the books I own do not. A vicious, vicious cycle.
Aly @ My Heart Hearts Books
Oh God, I love the library. My library usually has newly released YA and I think that’s so awesome. I can test drive books that I’m not sure about and if I like it, I’ll buy my own and if I don’t thank God I didn’t waste my money. I love the ability to shop the catalog online and then go pick it up when I’m ready.
Aly @ My Heart Hearts Books
Arial at In Italics
For a while, my public and school libraries were getting new YA books left and right. It makes me so happy, and I am glad that your library does the same. It really saves my wallet to be able to try books before I buy since I can then invest in other books. The search catalog is really helpful, though I still like just browsing the library with no expectations.
Nara
I definitely go to the library! Quite a large proportion of my books are borrowed (because I read a lot, if I bought every single book I read, I’d be broke lol). Because I usually borrow reserved books (our state has a one card library network, so you can reserve books from any library in the state. so even though my local library is small, there’s a large range of books to choose from) I’ll borrow about 4 or 5 books every time I go to the library. And I usually stop by the YA section of the library and pick up a book or two 🙂
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If I bought every book I read, I wouldn’t be able to buy another book for a long, long time. The one card library idea sounds brilliant! I would love to have something like that in my own state. (We can share from local libraries, but no where near the whole state.) The YA section of libraries are my favorite to visit. At my library, it feels like the YA section gets some of the most attention in making it look nice and inviting. 🙂
acps927
So the problem with the library for me is that most of their working hours are also when I’m working, so it makes it difficult to visit! I do love free books though and browsing through books in general when I actually have the chance! And I also sometimes check out e-books virtually through my library, which is not quite the same experience, but it’s something.
Arial at In Italics
That bites! I have to say that I would love the library to be open 24/7. More people, like you, would be able to visit the library that way. Plus, if I only grabbed the first of the series and NEED the second one, I could take a trip and get the book that same day. I do love the e-library that my libraries have, though I agree that it is a different experience than actually going and browsing in the library.
Kim @ The Nomadic Book Hoarder
I never go to the library. I live in the Netherlands and our libraries don’t have a lot of YA books in English and since that’s what I read, I won’t find anything I’d want at the library here. Also, my local library doesn’t even have a proper YA section with YA books in Dutch. So no, I never go. If I lived in the US, I think I would go to the library. It would be awesome to see a library with books I actually want to read, haha. But on the other hand I do like that I own all of my favorite books!
Arial at In Italics
It sounds like you are in a predicament like Mel! It’s so sad for me to hear that you guys overseas don’t have the same selection we do. If I could give you guys all of the books I would. It makes sense that since nothing appeals to you at the library, you have no reason to go. But, I like how you looked on the positive side about how you own your favorite books!
kezia1098
To be honest I don’t visit library that often because libraries over here suck so bad. Like, they mostly have educational books like medical textbooks for example ;_; And considering that bookstores here don’t have a large collection English books…I’m usually stuck with waiting till the books come out in here — which takes AGES btw — or order them online.
Arial at In Italics
It sounds like libraries outside of the US have a very lacking YA section. (What? You don’t want to read dry, medical text books? Sounds like so much, um, fun. I’m trying to be positive.) Have you ever heard of Book Pond? I know they usually ship books internationally so you can avoid the wait. It takes a long time to get the books, so you might be better off using The Book Depository, but I’m not sure.
Kelsey @ Verbosity Book Reviews
Absolutely! I don’t get to go as much as I’d like, but it’s where I get most of what I read. I don’t have a lot of reading time, but I check out about 5 books each time. I’d love to be able to do more, but it’s just what works for me right now. The library has been my best friend since I was about 10 or 11.
Arial at In Italics
I could never go to the library as much as I would like! I think I don’t realize just how many books I’ve read have come from the library, though it is probably the number one source of my books. I need to learn how to check out only 5 books at once since I normally check out more than I have time to read. It makes me so happy to hear that libraries have been a big part of people’s lives since a young age.
lhettler
I work in an elementary library and I do check out books from there sometimes. I don’t visit the public library too much because I usually buy the books I am interested in reading. I do have a Nook and so do utilize the program Overdrive through both the public library and my school district.
Arial at In Italics
I can only imagine how fun it would be to work in an elementary library. I visited the library every chance I could in elementary school, and the books always seemed so much more fantastic back then. My e-reader makes it really hard for me to resist buying the books instantly instead of waiting for the library to get a copy. Both my school and public library have Overdrive, which I think is pretty fantastic and useful.
mrsdork
I’m at the library every day. But really. It’s only a few minutes from where I work, so that’s where I spend my lunch break. They all know me there. The other day, one of the librarians flagged me down because I tried to return a book that wasn’t theirs (I have library cards to two local library systems). I frequently check out like six books at a time (from both library systems), and then return them in bulk and they laugh at my book pile.
Now that I’m thinking about it, I’ve always spent a lot of time in the library. When I was in middle school, the librarian taught me how to check out and log books in to the computer and let me be her assistant during study hall. Then in junior high, I also spent all my study hall classes in the library. (My teacher got so tired of signing a library pass for me that she told me to start forging her signature.)
In high school, I had a really awesome librarian who made it her goal to make the library a place for everyone. She served hot chocolate in the winter and snow cones in the summer, got lots of comfy chairs and bean bags, and had no problem with us eating lunch in there. She’d also give me books that she hadn’t added to the system because she knew I’d only have it a day or two. As soon as I finished my work in my classes, that’s where I went. (Basically my teachers got used to it and kind of just let me leave after turning in my worksheets.)
So yeah, I not only visit the library, I’m there all the time. And always have been.
Joséphine @ Dudette Reads
Definitely! I can safely say that 80% of the physical books I’ve read the past 15 years, I borrowed from the library. Public libraries here are very well stocked and also offer great refuge any time of the day because they’re open Mondays through Sundays (except on public holidays) from mornings till evenings around 9 or 10 p.m., depending on the location. So if I’ve an hour to kill between activities or meeting people, I often venture into the nearest library as well.
Besides the public libraries, I often haunted the university libraries too. Either for new non-fiction releases, books related to my course, or just to sit down and study.
Jackie G.
I don’t really visit the library that often, but maybe I should change that this year. I mean, I used to visit the library all the time, but after I graduated college, I just stopped. Then again…the last time I borrowed books from the library, I ended up racking up $25 in late fees. Yikes! I’m so forgetful.
I do make use of their e-book services though. They have a good selection of books available, and I definitely don’t have to worry about late fees.
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DoingDewey
I love the library! I always leave with more books than I should, probably 5 or so on most visit. Occasionally I manage to just pick up the books I have on hold, but it’s so hard!
Charleen
I typically visit the library once a week. How many books I check out depends, but I’d say it’s typical for me to have roughly 10 books checked out at any given time. I try to only check out about as many as I return, so I don’t get ahead of myself and end up with more books than I can read before they’re due back. And some weeks I’ll go and spend time there even if I don’t have anything to return or any holds to pick up… and in those cases I’m usually pretty good about not checking out anything new, but it’s still a good place to go and spend a few hours.
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