Comments on: Borrowing books is good

By: lili

lili — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:13:59 +0000

Also, in Australia we get lending rights. So for every copy of my book held in a school or public library, I get a little bit of money each year. Hurrah for Libraries!

By: I can get that from the library!? « Teenagers reading?

I can get that from the library!? « Teenagers reading? — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:21:00 +0000

[...] a comment » Justine Larbalestier blogged about borrowing books from libraries and how authors benefit from this. On the big scale, [...]

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:07:13 +0000

Speaking as a librarian, whilst I try to read or at least read about every great book that comes out as it does, it’s simply not possible. However, I do find out what books are more popular, simply by working at the desk, and seeing which books come in and out more regularly. It’s one of the easiest ways of finding out what my borrowers like.

As for purchasing books for my personal collection… well, I end up spending possibly more than I should, but I do make a point of supporting Australian writers who aren’t necessarily best-sellers (yet…)

And yup, after I’ve bought and read them, half of them end up being loaned out to friends. I have the kind of friends who aren’t so good at returning books, but that’s not a big deal, as long as they’re spreading the love.

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:50:55 +0000

Wish i had more money!!!

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:38:29 +0000

But I like havign them 4 EVA!!!!

By: Brent

Brent — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:34:00 +0000

I loan out your books, and others, to friends and students. Especially students. I have a hard time not trying to be a mentor instead of just a teacher when I have an inquisitive bright student. The best way I can think of to mold them into the kind of person I think is “good” is to have them read books I think are good.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:46:54 +0000

Justine! I was surfing around Threadless.com (some of the most excellent shirts ever, and where John Green’s haiku shirt comes from) and saw this shirt:

http://www.typetees.com/product/1554/Zombies_only_want_you_for_your_brain

it made me think of you!

By: J

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:18:43 +0000

So, I’m nerdy and want to read a lot of books so I can keep a physical booklist. Well, digital booklist more accurately. Excel spreadsheet. Separated into three columns:
Number (As in, reading priority, which is, almost without fail, based on when it was added to the booklist. Exceptions are made when I attempt to read books before seeing movies, or attempt to read books before their authors show up at cons)
Title
Author
Source of book

Source is sometimes something like “own”, or, with Doctorow its “craphound.com”, but, the VAST majority of them, including #14 How to Ditch Your Fairy and #28 Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction, the source is “Franklin Library”. Really, what that means is, if a book hits #3, I go online, look up my library’s catalog, find it, and place a hold ONLINE. And, by placing a hold, it means either my library will hold it for me, or, they’ll order it from one of the libraries in their local network for free! (well, my tax dollars go towards it. I’m proud my tax dollars go to such a worthy cause). If that fails, I go on another website, and can search the catalog of EVERY LIBRARY IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. And, once I find it (I’ll have to get Battle of the Sexes this way. It’ll come from one of the University Libraries), they’ll send it to my Library, again, for free!

I feel no shame in the fact that I rarely pay for a book. Why pay and leave it on your shelf when you can borrow it, love it, and give it back, have a conversation with your librarian about it (<3), and let other people love it.

As soon as I get to college, I’m getting a job at one of the campus libraries.