Do you lend your books? Are any out on loan right now? Do you have any that have been loaned to you? Do you put a time limit on these? Do you think people should make an effort to read the loaned book quickly?
I will own up to being that “mean” friend who won’t loan books out. Not even family members (except just my mother—even with her I write down on a post-it that she has it, with the date, and I put the post-it on the shelf in the book’s place). I’ve had too many experiences of never getting books back. And in fact, I’m extremely hesitant to loan anything in general. Part of it is that I have the spirit of a collector so I like to have/see all my books lined up on my shelves and I do like to revisit beloved books after a while.
Mostly though, I don’t like to loan books because I know how I am with loaned books. I rarely, rarely will accept a book on loan. Instead, I will write down the title and save it in my TBR list. As I’ve said in previous posts, it can take me a good long while (sometimes years) to get around to reading a book, so I don’t like to borrow books because I’m afraid of holding onto it too long and being the person who doesn’t return a book soon enough. I love the library, but I hesitate to borrow from there too (at least, I haven’t in a long time). I do all right with checking out audiobooks, but this year I’d like to make myself get back into it and borrow at least one book.
What is your answer? How do you feel about loaning books?
my little heart melodies 
I don’t have that much money, so what few books I own, I take enormous pride in. I don’t loan them, ever. I love seeing them lined up neatly in my office bookshelf.
Yeah, same for me. Unless I’m doing a donation or giving a gift, I can’t really afford at this time to “give up” (so-to-speak) something I bought for myself.
It takes me a long time to get to books, too! I’d much rather borrow the library’s copy.
I definitely want to get back into using the library, especially for books I’m curious about but not sure I need to own. Thanks for reading!
I’m not a fan of loaning books. I’m a greedy, greedy girl 😉
Samsies!
I found your blog through AMB! I love to READ!!!! My problem is I have 10 books going all at one time…I may need organizational skills to get me out from under my stack of books and my Ipad! I loan books all the time when I am done with them..I do not know how to loan on my Ipad though…
Thanks for checking out my blog! I usually read just one book at a time—I just feel like I slow down a lot with multiple books at the same time. The best thing for me with tackling all my unread books is signing up for reading challenges this year! Yeah I don’t think I’d loan out my iPad either (if I had one) 🙂
You have a much better reading plan than me for sure. In regards to loaning the Ipad–its actually that the kindle app will let you loan some books. I have just not figured out how to do it. yet! I am slow with technology.
I’m the opposite. I don’t mind loaning out books. In fact, I think books make the best gifts. Yeah, I know, crazy, right?
I definitely agree that books make great gifts… but a “gift” is usually given without the expectation of eventually getting it back, right? 🙂
Correct.
I should also add there are some books I won’t even loan. Ever.
I hear that! 🙂