I feel the same (and I have really easy access to a public library). I like having my own collection (it also means I can read them when I want to and keep them in the condition I prefer).

I buy books for mad cheap at library book sales. Best of both worlds! About 60% of my reading material lately has been through library sales.

I’ve started test driving the books via library, and anything reread or reference worthy can get a spot on my shelf, preferably off a used bookstore’s shelf.

I purchase almost all the books that I read or wish to read. Primarily because we could never afford to buy chapter books when I was a child and it’s a great joy to me now to be able to own books. But also because I wish to directly support authors and editors and all the folks who work on books. Every year or so I’ll clear out books I’ve read and donate them or sell them.

I used libraries so much more frequently as a child. I vividly remember trips with my mom and coming back with piles and piles of books. There was just so much more time to read! Nowadays I’ll check out audiobooks or, if I’ve purchased the audiobook, I’ll check out the print copy for those moments when I want to switch to reading.

I love books. I love smelling them, looking at them and collecting them.

Library - no point in spending money if I don’t have to!

I only buy books when I visit small bookstores. The rest, I check out. I'm a librarian, so that makes sense.

I almost always check them out from the library digitally. I take a pic of anything I see out and about that looks good and then check it out from the library. I purchase books that I know I will want to reread sometimes, or if something I want has a super long wait time or isn't available, but I read too many books to buy them all!

I love libraries. As a twenty year old with an incredibly scarce income libraries are a lifeline.

Library, why keep a book? If you are finished, hand it off

I don’t buy any books at all. I read literally everyday and have maybe 15 books in my house. I can’t imagine how much money I’d spend if libraries didn’t exist.

I used to collect books, but I purged them when we moved a few years ago. I almost exclusively use the library.

I know a lot of people like to own books, so own as many as makes you happy. If they ever start to feel like a looming TBR pile, then consider why you want to own them. I highly encourage people to set a limit as they start to collect books. The limit may be a number of books, a budget amount, or a specific space you don't want to outgrow. Too often people enjoy collecting but it becomes overwhelming, then there can be guilt over the amount of money invested in books not read or it starts to feel like an overwhelming to do list.

I ended up buying more books during the pandemic and I would have much rather read some of those from the library instead. Way less commitment if the book ends up mediocre/straight up bad.

I'm a collector type reader.

I have a huge personal library of thrifted books, but for specific series as of the moment I know the only way to read them is to check them from the library (looking at you star wars) as I usually dont want to buy them new unless I can get a discount and specific titles I've never seen in person or online in physical form.

I got spoiled on bag sales where I could get upwards of 20+ books tetrised into a bag and only pay $5 for it. I got nearly 300 if I remember correctly before they ended it for my area.

That being said I have so many that I've also concluded that I'll never read them all if I just read the physical, so I've had to start checking out audiobooks for the ones I want to read but aren't too invested in or high priority for paying attention. I've never really done audiobooks outside of when my classes would have them playing and we'd read along, so it's a minor adjustment.

I'll probably end up with a split of having read library checkouts and read frim my collection, while still owning all the physical copies (like the Maze Runner series. I'm listening on audio, but I have the physical books I'm annotating with little colored flags)

I do both, but I buy way more books than I rent from the library. I love the idea of having my own library in the house.

I can’t buy books… I’d be drowning in books if I did. And I almost never reread anyway.

I can’t guarantee I’ll finish a book of any length in 21 days. I buy on kindle or used, whichever is cheapest. If I buy a physical book, I generally donate it when I’m finished

I have a book stack at high as me (5 foot 7 inches) and I read them pretty often. I thought I wouldn't read The Black Sheep time and time again but here I am. Chapter 5 once again. Buy the books.

I rarely if ever buy books. Library all the way. I live in a very small house and don't have the desire to hold on to many books.

I am with you. While I do have audiobooks and occasionally will go to the library, I mostly buy all of my books. It's satisfying to own them, share them with my family and friends, organize them (I know I'm a dork), and build my own collection. I love reading AND collecting books 😊

i buy books. i don't get along with libraries at all, and i have real issues with returning things on time. it's best for both sides that we just each go our separate way.

All library; If I find something I fall in love with them I buy it for myself.

I, shamefully, have been consuming books digitally. I've reach the point where I'm out of shelf space for my books and moving have been a pain. I have reserve my shelf space for graphic novels, art and reference books, and favorites.

I've been using the "borrow" function for prime reading. The selection is wide enough fir me try something out of my comfort zone.

I do both! I have my own library and then if I’m unsure if I’ll love a book, I utilize the library. I also am in a couple of swap/sell groups online so I can get books I want for cheaper or by swapping a book I own that I didn’t love.

I also do BOTM which has been fun because I get a hardback book for like $17!

Personally I don’t like ebooks, I have ADHD so I feel like I have a hard time focusing with ebooks?? Not sure if that makes sense, but a physical book makes it easier to double check what I’ve read. Or when reading a thriller, I like to go back and see a clue I may have missed.

I have only bought one book in 3 years, and only because it was my friends. I read quite a bit. Over 250 books this year ( it’s a record for me). What I do instead is donate to libraries. I also offer suggestions if there’s a book I’d like they don’t have. I have only a few times not been able to find the book I wanted. I have 5 library cards all used with Libby. I have, but not used, Overdrive as well. BTW I’m terminally I’ll, so I have a LOT of time to read. ♥️

I buy my books but get into the habit of buying more than I can read in a given time period. Books were the way for me to end my relationship with weed and being lonely. I guess I'm still struggling a bit but I'm glad my budget is going toward something that is better for my health.

If I fall head over heels or just been really been waiting to read it, then I will buy it. Other than that I will borrow it from the library.

I probably have 500 books in my house, but I ran bookstores for over 20 years. Friends hate helping me move. I use audio books a lot, but still buy probably 25 books a year. A lot of them have sentimental value- from signings or special events. I haven't read them all, but I have a great plan of diving in when I'm old. Rocking chair, blanket, fireplace, big stack of books. Probably never happen.

I use both. The library is definitely a place I will go to for a book that I am not sure I will like. The books that I do buy are either Kindle books or used paperbacks. I haven't bought a new hardcover in over a decade.

Yup. I love libraries, which is why I'm building my own

I'm a librarian, so I gravitate to library books. Also, I am a librarian, therefore I cannot afford to buy all the books I want to read! I only buy books if I can't get them from my local library. Even then I prefer to ask for them as birthday/holiday gifts instead of buying them myself. I need that cash to keep my mortgage paid and the cornflakes on the table.

I have fairly easy access to a public library, and that's where I get my books from. I just don't have a lot of disposable income right now to buy more books.

Buy books you know you like, use the library to find more books to buy. This is the way.

I hate to admit that I don't like borrowing from the library because I feel rushed to finish stuff. Books aren't that expensive though so I don't have a problem buying them

I buy most of my books for cheap through used book websites (mostly Thriftbooks), but I'll get some from the library. I mostly get the movies that accompany books from the library though.

It was 60% library and 40% bookstore till the bookstore closed. I would look up the book I wanted, then ask the bookstore to order it. Not enough people did that. It was the jewel of the neighborhood.

I use the library first and keep a “to buy” list of the ones I love and buy them later to add to my home library.

For me buying books sometimes feels like its own hobby, separate from reading them. I buy a lot of books. Looking at my shelves makes me happy.

A good 80% of my books I get used, the other 20% are either series I’ve committed to, books I have very high hopes for, by authors I like, etc.

I’m a big Stephen King fan and I know I’m bound to find a decent sized amount of his books at most used bookstores, hence the majority of my King collection ends up being used.

When I know I’m not going to touch a certain book again, and I can’t find any purpose for having it on my shelf (I don’t have a huge amount of shelf space, so building up a big collection doesn’t appeal to me), I end up sticking it in a little free library or selling at a used bookstore, (you can often get a decent amount of credit as well, and the cycle continues)

I have a huge backlog of at least a hundred never read books accumulated over the past two years (mostly second hand) but am still using the library for both physical and e-books. If an author I especially love comes out with a new book I will buy it but for now, I guard my book horde in the event I am stuck at home for long periods or can’t use my Kindle,etc. Consider me a bit of a book dragon!

I've always been a collector so for something I know that I'm gonna want I like to buy my own copy. Additionally, I'm a slow reader as I often end up putting down books for a bit before getting back into them. I can't read a book in a single week like many can. I know I can just check the book out for longer but I often forget.

I have been wanting to read more comic books lately. But the re-read-ability for a comic book is kinda low for me...mostly, and they are kind of expensive. I would much rather check them out from the library, but i have trouble finding them at the library.

I like those neighborhood little free libraries. I’ve found some real gems there I otherwise wouldn’t have stumbled across and it’s fun paying it forward.

I work at a public library, so I use it literally daily. But I also buy books regularly. I try to buy from indie stores when I travel, as my souvenir, and I have a local indie that I order books from when I particularly want to support an author. Sometimes I order if the library doesn't get something and I don't want to wait for the interlibrary loan period (our ILL usually doesn't work with brand new books, and there is a standard 6 months wait). I also love used book stores. Finding long-forgotten treasures on dusty shelves is the best...so yeah. I do both (and also borrow from friends or use the Little Free Library boxes or peruse the swap shelf at the coffee shop). I just want books everywhere, lol

I have a medical memory issue so if I book gose back to the library I’ll never know I read it so personally if I read it book it has to be bought. Just so I can remember the stories and the joy by seeing it. Plus owning the books is good for me because I forget the books after some time and can read them again. And I’ll forget if there’s a book I wanted to pick up if I don’t own it.

Usually if I can't get it from the library and really want to read it, I'll buy it. Usually if its a new release I want to read ASAP or something a little more obscure and is unavailable at my library.

I like collecting books, just don't have the money to buy every book I read. I also ask for books for Christmas and my birthday.

Overt the last few years, I've been exclusively getting my books from the library. I'm also lucky enough to have a library card that accesses like 15 libraries in the area. However, if there's a book that really spoke to me, I will buy it and keep it in my collection. Olga Dies Dreaming and Crying in HMart are two recent examples. I used to have hundreds of books, but I donated a larger portion of them because I never picked them up

I use the library to check out the first couple of books in a series and if I'm feeling it, I buy the set.

I do both equally

I don’t have a library, so it’s buy the book in whatever format I want if I want to read it. I’ve been thinking about what to do with my books; when I move I’ll often post stacks that I’ve read and won’t return to on social media and give them away or sell them (a dollar or two or if it’s a friend they’ll get me a coffee or some candy I like). Other books I just donate to goodwill or the local shelter/youth center. There are only a few books I’m holding on to because I love them, that I haul with me from home to home.

Both. I absolutely do both.

When I was younger, I had more time than money, so most of my books were from the library. Today, I have more money than time, so I buy most of my books. I also seem to have less time to read them, though.

I use the library most of the time, unless they don't carry the book or I find it on sale for a really good price. There's no way I could afford to buy all the books I read.

I buy books if I am fairly certain I'll enjoy them and use the library for books I'm not as sure about. My only problem there is if I love a library book I'll want to buy my own copy - but then I also have a mental block about spending money on something I've already read! 🤦🏻‍♀️

I used to have a huuuge physical book collection, but meeting my minimalist wife and having to move around pushed me to donate most of them (I have pack rat tendencies so this was a big deal for me). I made a list of the books I donated for any future needs (to rebuy, to borrow, etc).

My setup is now this: -I have a list of books I want to buy/rebuy in physical format someday, ideally very nice hardbacks - books I can read and display really nicely. Most of these are series and I have ebook copies of them, so I can read them at any time. -I use the library for a lot, both physical and digital. Some books I borrow and then realize I want my own copy; I might buy the ebook version now, or I'll put it on a list to purchase some time.

Ebooks have really helped conserve space while also allowing me to "hoard" the books I want or need!

Buy books at charity shops, and give books to them too. It's hit and miss, but i can buy a book for £1.50, so I can try different things.

Library. The amount of books I read would have my home looking like an episode of Hoarders and my bank account in the negative if I bought them all. And there are still well over 1,000 books in my house.

I buy almost all my books. I like to re-read and it’s worth it to me, to have my books available at my fingertips at anytime. I got as tired of waiting on books to be available and having a timer to read them as I did asking my parents for a ride when younger and having them tell me no.

I became even more hard core on that when I went to kindle. I can have them all at my fingertips in so I can read on multiple devices and I can get them cheap, get them on audio cheaply for re-reads, and between sales and get real cheapness, I can take chances on series I never would have before. I’ve discovered and loved some series I wouldn’t have tried either because of price/interest or because of shelf space.

I just buy and if I could do it all over it again I would only buy one at a time. Instead I now have a whole shelf of partially read books!

I would say that I definitely use the library a lot. Of the books that I have read this year about 70% of them have come from the library. It is honestly done out of both convenience and a desire to save money. I listen to a lot of audiobooks and I do not have the kind of money to buy that many of them.

I do also have some light rules for myself in regard to buying books.

- The first thing I take into consideration is theater or not the library is likely to get the book, for example, if it is a manga or light novel series then I will likey buy it myself because it is not something the library would normally get.

- Second I consider if it was a book I really really liked. I usually buy my favorite books after reading them so that they can be added to my collection. When I do this I will often try to find it second-hand first. I love buying books from pangobooks because of how cheap the books can be.

These aren't steadfast rules because I do love a good birthday book-buying spree at Barnes and Noble but it does help keep my collection manageable.

i usually purchase books that i seem interested in from the little blurb on the back, depending on the price point. or i’ll get it from the library. if i like the book after i’ve read it from the library then i’ll go out of my way to buy it and re read it a couple months later so it’s almost like i’m “re-reading” it!

I tend to use the library. For books I know I’ll fall in love with or books I fell in love with I buy them. If I know I’ll read them over and over or they made an impact in my life I like to have them. :)

It really depends; I will read anything that comes my way from whatever source (bookstore, library, a friend's house etc.) And if I greatly enjoyed it, I'll buy it. With series I only purchase the 1st book if it's good and borrow the rest.

I tend to get most of my books from the library. I prefer audiobooks so I’ll occasionally buy books from audible if I can’t get what I’m looking for from the library.

I usually only buy a book when I decide I want to read it a second time 😅 Unfortunately that means I miss out on the hardback and have an increasing paperback collection.

You can do both, if you really really want to read a certain book, buy it but if not support a library

I read through the library first. If I really like it then I go purchase it for my collection.

If there's a book I specifically want to read (author I like, friend recommendation, bookclub etc) I tend to buy it. If I just need something to read (I'm between books, have extra time etc) I go to the library.

There isn't room in my apartment for any more books. I also tend to prefer using an ereader app these days so I try not to buy books at all. Of course, I occasionally get drawn in, but would prefer not to have physical media from both an environmental and space perspective.

I use the library for my kindle, but I also buy physical copies of every book I read that I enjoy.

I never plan to reread most of these (lord of the rings and Dostoevsky are the exceptions), but I want to have a massive collection of books for my kids to read whenever I have them.

This is the rule I made for myself: if I know and love the author, I can buy. If it’s totally new I have to library it first. Sometimes I cheat though ;3

I buy every book that I’ve read or am going to read. Sometimes new, sometimes used at a much better price.

I love having physical copies of all of the books that I’ve read, and I love building up a little library that I can display, refer back to, read again, lend out, discuss, etc.

When I was in high school, I bought my books secondhand, now that I'm in college I use the hell out of the public library. Trying to transport all of my books is just a paint atm. But personally if I had the option id still buy them because I hate having to remember to return them.

I tend to find books from Goodwills or thrift stores for cheap so it just pays to buy them over have to go out of my way for the library.

Both.

Read library books. If you love them, buy them.

Definitely the library. I have a couple kids and am there at least once a week for activities.

I usually go with the third option, but Rule 6 doesn't let us discuss that here.

I buy my books for the most part but I only buy used and from organizations like BetterWorldBooks that resell former library books for charity

Libby app: connects to my library card and I can read or listen to any audiobook I want. I allow myself one bookshelf so if I buy a new book at this point then another one has to go

Neither, I pirate all my books. I don't believe in buying any form of literature so I try to find any and all types of books online.

Probably 90-95% library here. Unless it's a religious book the library doesn't have or I really feel strongly about supporting the author. Or it's a book I want to read more than once.

Primarily I use the library. I love to own/ collect books but we are trying to live simply and like the idea of shared resources. I feel bad about not doing a better job of supporting authors more directly. I am fortunate to have convenient access to an excellent County Library.

Primarily I use the library. I love to own/ collect books but we are trying to live simply and like the idea of shared resources. I feel bad about not doing a better job of supporting authors more directly. I am fortunate to have convenient access to an excellent County Library.

I’m a slight germaphobe and I read in bed. Just got back into reading and would like to use the library, but I get a little paranoid about how dirty library books might be. Do they get cleaned? Lol

I love buying books, but having too many books overwhelms me. I’ll buy books (mostly used, rarely new), read and enjoy them, and then stick them in a free little library box in my city. I mainly use my library for audiobooks.

I used to mostly buy books since I’m a big time re-reader but at this point I use the library more. I don’t really have any shelf space left or really any space for more shelves and I work at a library now so it’s very convenient to check out books since I’m always gonna be there anyway.

I’m avid reader and have read most of my life. I began reading James Bond books in HS in 1963..Her Majesty’s Secret Service, at age 14. Now 75 yo, I switched to a gen 2 Kindle abt 10 years ago. Ran out of memory, switched to a Kindle Fire abt 4 years ago. I find that the Kindle is easier to deal with, transport, and I prolly have 500 books on it. I have a dictionary on it so I can learn new words and British slang. I can get my emails on it as well. I get my books from Amazon, and they know my reading habits, so they email book summaries that I might like. So after my formal retirement in 2012, I began reading even more. This is not specifically a plug for Kindle or Amazon. But for me it’s worth it to preorder books, lot having to wait on library list for new releases. Now my wife reads as much as I do, probably more, but she wants, needs, to hold a book in her hand. Good luck….and keep reading.

I read anything that interests me from the library and decide from there if I want to buy my own copy.

Im 100% digital, so if I can find them at a library (or libraries) digitally then I will. If not then I will buy,

I use wattpad or buy my books

I use a tablet and Libby for my books. I do not have to drive to the library. If I ever want reread a book, I just have to check it out again. Then the money to buy books, read it and then donate it. If I keep it, then I have to store something I may never pick up again.

I did buy books for my children. I did store them. When they had kids, I gave the books to them.

I love checking out the books from the library, mostly because I'm a cheap bastard. Also it gives me incentive to finish them quickly by the due date.

I love having books in my home, and I enjoy the library home decorating aesthetic, so I like to buy books. But, I don’t always buy, and periodically I will let go of books that I’m not loving anymore.

There are some instances where I do like to own a physical copy of a book/series, but for the most part I have a lot more audiobooks and e-books than anything

I bought a LOT of books in 2020/2021 - likely read a book or more a week. Realized this was a great healthy hobby so I started using the library - going 2-3 times a week. 2022 I bought a kobo specifically to use the Libby app. I'm in love with it. Punishing a book every few days - I adore the kobo. I will still order Reece book club for purchase if they look good. Love getting it and passing it along.

I prefer the library. I find that when I buy books I just keep putting them off because I know I don’t have a deadline to have it read by. With library books I feel more pressure so I start reading them when I would otherwise feel too lazy too and then find myself enjoying them.

That being said I do still buy books but they just sit on my shelf half the time

I'm super averse to owning a lot of stuff, mainly because I have been relatively nomadic in my adult years.

Because of this I don't like hanging on to things that don't have recurring use value. For me I hate the idea of owning a bunch of books that I will never read again. If I am going to own a book for a long period it would have to be something that holds value either in use (i.e a reference book that I will use over and over and over again such as a Sibley Bird Guide), have sentimental value which is greater than the memory itself, or is something that is rare (signed copy, but I only have one of these at the moment and I'm thinking of selling or gifting it).

For this reason I don't buy new books. I do however buy cheaper used books, but with rules:

1. I have to read them within the same year
2. Once read, I donate them to a little library
3. I can't buy more used books until there are spaces on my shelf for them (which limits the number of books I have at once). My shelf capacity is about 25 books.

The vast majority of the books I read (probably 80% or more) I borrow from the public library or my University library.

I’ve been using the library a lot recently because it’s far too expensive to buy new English books in Japan…or they’re almost impossible to find at second hand bookshops.

For authors I like I’ll tend it buy them if I can. Other I’ll use the library if I can.

I’m not a collector so my books will most likely get sold eventually anyway.

I’ve moved a few times in the last year and it’s a big “stick to the library” for me! I love all my books but moving around with them and all my other possessions makes me want to downsize.

But for people who want/can keep a growing library, it’s a great hobby to build up towards!

The library I belong to does a great big county co-operatives with the other libraries in our area, so there’s not usually something I can’t find. If I really like it after I’ve read it, then I might buy it.

I’ll definitely buy books that are more like coffee table/cookbooks/etc because you tend to want to re-look at/use them over time. Field guide books, some comic strips, etc

I disagree, because I've spent so much money in the past on mediocre books and it wasn't fun. I feel like everything nice in this world costs money, libraries are the only thing that is free/almost free. Why not take advantage? I get why people buy a lot of books, it feels nice to own things. I think it's just not worth it. I buy books I've already read and know I love.

I am using library a lot when I dont know what to read next. There are hundreads of books and if something interests me, I read it. However if some of those books really gets me into reading and I start to adore it, better if its book series, I start buying them. It is such satisfaction seeing my library grow and seeing the old titles that I wont forget, luckily my kids will read them. It is maybe just sentimentality, but I love to buy series of books. Some of them even read again, but most of them are just nice for look. And whenever I look at then, I remember the great stories and they make smile on my face :)

I do both. It's not like you have to choose only one, unless you want to of course. I buy books I can't get from my library (where I also work so I know it rather well) and books I really want to own. The rest - library.

I like buying because it helps the author. Any book I know for certain I will never read again gets donated.

I rarely buy books. I have my favorites and some that I bought on impulse, but otherwise I'm fine with just borrowing them from the library, though that's partly because I don't have lots of place & money is a little tight for constantly buying.

Since I always have a book I am reading, I prefer to buy my books rather that get them from the library. Two reasons. One, I am proud of my own library and love decorating the shelves with knickknacks to compliment the books. Two, with my ADHD, I tend to stumble across a title that interests me, but cannot get to reading until my latest book hyperfixation is satisfied. (I have a huge TBR pile lol!)

Library

I usually use libraries and buy books only if I want to have them in my collection. The main problem is that sometimes libraries don't have the book I need and in such case I buy digital version of it.

If there's a book that I'm interested in I will usually just get it from the library. If I really enjoyed it and I'll want to read it again then I'll buy a copy for my own collection. This has saved me a couple times from wasting money on books I didn't end up liking.

I buy most of mine. I am dyslexic and have a hard to impossible time finishing a book before I have to return it to a library.

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Both, but mostly buy books (of purchased books, I’d say roughly 50/50 new vs used). My library seems to have a very limited selection of newer titles so I’ll buy newer physical books and borrow available ebooks from my library. Saves a trip to the library and I have a nice waitlist of books shaping up

My wife and I mainly use the library. I only buy new if it’s a book I feel like I’ll revisit or I know friends or family may want to borrow. If I see a book at garage sale or sometimes the library does a book sale I might pick up some just because they’re incredibly cheap.

I like to buy them personally, but I buy them used more often then not. I’m pretty particular with my books and have a steady handful of authors I target 90% of the time. The other 10% are books people gifts me or that get recommended. Because I buy them used I’m not worried about the cost, if I don’t end up liking it I’m out very little and maybe my husband will wanna read it or I’ll give it to a girlfriend.

Use the library. You’ll have save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, plus the due dates give you deadlines. That’s helpful to someone like myself who has a tendency to read very slowly and get hung up on one passage for many minutes. Plus moving a massive physical book collection is no fun. I did it three times before I changed my ways. That’s just my two cents. Do what makes you happy

I get nearly everything from the library. I honestly don't re-read anything. If I absolutely love a book, I might buy it to proudly display on my shelf, but even that's rare because I try to save money.

I've also DNF'd enough books from the library that I know buying everything I want to read would be a huge waste of money. Or they're just okay--worth finishing but didn't amaze me.

As a bonus, I find that the "pressure" of having a set time by which to read a book helped force me back into reading more.

While I do love my public library, a good used bookstore is a game changer. There is no wait list for holds, no due date & fines, and no "oh sorry you live two blocks out of district" just browsing and finding great reads at significantly lowered price than MSRP. Bonus you can sell back books you don't need on your shelf anymore.

Would highly recommend building up your personal library. Even if it's just one little bookshelf of your favorites. Usually what I do is either read the ebook or get a book from the library, and if I'm a fan I go buy a hardcover.

I've read 137 books so far this year and maybe 30 of those have been books I own, whether I bought them in years past or this year. I love to pick up books at independent bookstores when I'm traveling and also joined BOTM at the beginning of the year so have bought quite a few books this year. There's definitely been books I've bought and hated but also been just as many I've enjoyed that I'll reread or lend out to friends in the future.

The library serves most of my needs but does not always have books I'm looking to read. Also for long books, it's better personally to own a copy so I can read at my own pace rather than need to return it to the library. There's only been a couple books I've checked out at the library that I've gone on to buy later so I can reread.

I use the Library. Then when someone asks what I want for my birthday or Christmas, its usualy a book I've already read.

I use the library a lot but when I buy books I almost always do it at used book sales. It's hit or miss of course but you get some rare finds, some "I've been looking for this" moments and it's amazing how often you find hardcover versions of bestsellers from only a couple years ago that people got rid of. My favorite is to go to the bag sale on the final day, books may have been picked through but I've never not come home with at least one sometimes two or three bags that I packed so tight with 20-30 books in each that they looked like some weird tetris game .........To me the "as many books as you can fit in the bag" rule is like a compliance challenge.

I both go to the library and buy cheap used books. I mostly buy them at flea markets and thrift stores. There is one local bookstore near me. I will buy online, used, if I can't find something anywhere else.

I always start at the library.

It doesn't matter how much I KNOW I will buy any 1 book i will always try to get it there first and read it.

If I like it enough I'll just buy it too before i return it to the library but most times I'll finish it first.

I'm there already and it helps circulation for the library.

Part of my process of engaging with the thoughts, ideas, and my observations about characters is pausing to highlight sections, right now down reactions in the margins.

So, it's not compatible with library books, and doesn't work well with kindle reader. Kinda means it's either physical books I can mark up, or kindle on desktop so I can take notes and write down my little giggles, gaffaws, and upsets as I go in the margins.

Most everything I read I get from the library. I buy copies of books that I really love or can’t find at my library.

But but i really want to use the library more

I usually just use the library. If I really like a book after I've read it I'll buy it so I can lend it to people based on my recommendation, also it can serve as a conversation piece on my bookshelf. Sometimes I'll pick up clearance books at half price that I haven't read, but I generally don't like to spend money on things that I can get for free.

I mostly use the library. I usually raid my husband's or son's stash if I can't get to the library, or if the book is incessantly checked out. I am also considering buying my own copy of Don Quixote, due to the fact that it is only available online and the library only allows you 2 weeks to finish it, and I think I will need 3 or 4 weeks to do so.

I have a mix of Kindle books, library books and books I own. I am slowly on my way to my own little library!

I borrow books and manga from my local library. Very happy with doing it this way.

Combination of both. Nothing wrong with building up a home library. I like having one. They're all like my little trophies.

Wow damn that's just plain miserable

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