No, I haven't had a brainstorm, nor have I taken leave of my senses. What I am trying to do is curb the habit I have of ordering far more books through the library system than I could ever hope to read in the time I'm allowed to keep them. Actually, I shouldn't call it a habit, it's far worse than that; it's an addiction. Not only do said books weigh down my book shelves until they are at breaking point, but while those books are sitting on my shelves they're not on the library's shelves available for other people who do have the time and the desire to read them. It has to stop.
Because of the way our library system works I have three different tickets which in total allow me to borrow forty books, most of them for up to three months at a time. Forty books, and that's not counting the ones that I can have on reserve. You can see the problem, can't you? The Booker long list comes out - I order the lot. One of the papers does a 'books of the year' or 'summer reading' article - another dozen or so join the list. And blogging! Oh don't get me onto the effects blogging has on this. Oh yes, you're the ones who are really to blame. None of this is my fault. It's you lot out there, leading me into bad habits, that are at the root of the problem. You're a bad influence, that's what you are. I should have known better than to keep company with any of you.
There is another side to this as well. I'm not really being discriminating enough in what I reserve. Instead of taking the time to browse through a book or really read the reviews thoroughly I'm ordering things on a whim and then finding that I've spent time trying to get into a book that was never going to appeal to me in the first place, time that could have been better spent with books I had taken the trouble to find out more about. Of course, some times there is a wonderful, serendipitous find, but not often enough to justify the continuation of my present approach.
So, I'm clearing the decks. The ticket and the books associated with it go back to the library tomorrow. I won't need more than one journey provided I pack the car boot carefully. And the new policy of keeping a wish list and only reserving book from it as I finish one in the pile begins. One book finished, one book ordered and no more than a dozen in the house at anyone time. I have the will power, I can do this. If I repeat that often enough I might even begin to believe it.
It is so hard, isn't it, to keep the queue down? E-readers just make it so much worse as the books are instant to obtain (and, if out of copyright, usually free). I have recently cancelled my netgalley account for similar reasons to you, so at least I have only one "stream" of e-books (as well as my library ticket, Amazon Vine (a recent one), my compulsive purchasing and the many review copies that seem to wend their way to me... whether or not I have weakened and asked for them..)
ReplyDeleteMaxine, I've given up on netgalley too. It was so easy to ask for something I really didn't want to read and then feel obliged to do so simply because I'd asked for it. If review copies come my way unbidden then I don't feel under any obligation. And I am not going to even ask you what Amazon Vine might be!
ReplyDeleteWell done, I'm also trying to downsize - though my problem isn't so much libraries (I have always felt too guilty about all the poor people who can't read the books I've got in my book bag to borrow more than 2-3 at a time) but bookmooch (which I have now cancelled after starting to request things I didn't really want or was only vaguely interested in simply because I had the points to do so), Net Galley (also cancelled) and buying books like crazy (which I am trying very much to curtail).
ReplyDeleteGood luck! (not intended in a cynical way - I know that it's a tough thing to do and I genuinely wish you the strength and single-minded-ness to walk into the library tomorrow and do that!)
ReplyDeleteI borrow books from three libraries - one is over the Border, but is the nearest one to where I live, one is the County Library in England and the third is the mobile library that stops just down the road from me every three weeks - how could I resist? Because my husband doesn't read as many books as me (!) I can use his tickets too, so like you I can borrow up to 40 books at a time. It's ridiculous, I'm forever renewing books on line and then taking most of them back unread. It's not as though I haven't got any of my own books to read!
ReplyDeleteBy the way I'm not taking any responsibility for your book borrowing habits - it's not my fault!!! I do sympathise though. :)
We ill have to form a support group, Bernadette, and have weekly confessionals to make sure that we are keeping to our resolve. Maybe we need a twelve step plan of some sort!
ReplyDeleteTea, thank you. One thing I haven't been able to do is stop myself buying all sorts of different teas to drink with my reading. Maybe I should tackle that addiction next!
Margaret, you'll have to join with Bernadette and I in our twelve step programme. We've clearly pinpointed a major need here.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that it may be impossible to give up my addiction - too much temptation when the library van stops outside. See you next week for confession, the van is due on Thursday. :)
ReplyDeleteI think You're allowed the library van, Margaret, on the grounds that everything should be done to make sure that the travelling library continues to thrive.
ReplyDeleteHi Annie,
ReplyDeleteIt must be the time of year, we are all doing the same thing.
After my mass clearout to Book Cycle last week, I am still left with about 300 non-ficion to dispose of and about 600/700 fiction.
My only problem with the non-fiction is finding someone who actually wants them, but the fiction I am having a real problem letting go of.
I know that the pile has to be substantially reduced, to something that is manageable, can be stored on shelves where they can all be seen, and of a realistic number that can be read, as I am sure to keep adding to them.
HELP!!
Yvonne
Yvonne, I think you pinpoint the real problem here. The moment we think we've been really good and got rid of half our books we change perspective and see it as permission to buy some more. We should practise some sort of mantra every morning. "Today is the first day of my non-book buying life," perhaps?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good decision, although a hard one. I find it hard to give up the illusion that I will be able to read way, way more than I'm actually capable of. I think, oh, I'll be able to squeeze that in! Surely I'll start reading faster or find all this extra time I didn't have before. Uh, no. I need to cut back on Netgalleys for the same reason you describe in the comments -- it's too easy to request something and have it turn into an unwanted obligation.
ReplyDeleteThe illusion, yes that's what it's all about, Dorothy. I have this illusion that I'm going to be able to read every book out there and it isn't possible. Don't you wish we were like the poet, Milton, who apparently claimed that he had read every book available to him. And, no one questioned his assertion.
ReplyDeleteWith grad school soon to be finished I have started putting in requests for library books. Oh how I've missied it! No doubt all the books will arrive at the same time and I will stress out over having so much to read at once but it's been so long that I am looking forward to it. I figure I'll give myself the summer to go wild in and then reassess after that. And I agree, book bloggers are a very bad influence! ;)
ReplyDeleteI am so impressed that I am very nearly speechless. I should do something similar, as currently I use both my mother's ticket and my own.One day, when my life is more settled and I need the therapy of frequent library visits i will. For now though I am helping book statistics by bringinging so many to and fro on multiple accaions before reading or ditching.
ReplyDeleteMore seriously, I do find that carrying a dedicated library notebook helps, to note those one day or maybe books rather than bringing them home.
I am always borrowing more books than I can read and getting stressed about it _ which sometimes takes away from the joy of reading.
ReplyDeleteBut I do love being a member of a library and its amazing how it allows me to experiment with different types of literature
I am just a member of one and am sure couldn't handle another library's membership
Stefanie, I definitely believe that there are times when you should just let yourself go wild and if anyone was ever due one of those it's you. The trouble with being retired is that if you're not careful there's nothing to pull you up and make you go back to more considered behaviour.
ReplyDeleteFleur, I'm going to go back to creating a realistic wish list on Goodreads. My real downfall though is that my library system allows me to make reservations at home on the computer. I only have to see something on a blog and I can have it ordered in a couple of minutes.
Vipula, you remind me of just how lucky we are to have a library system in the first place, which is one of the reasons I don't want to abuse it by taking out books that I can't read.
I have the same problem so thank goodness I work in a library and am there every day! I can shuffle books back and forth without any guilt since I can always use the excuse that it is for the purpose of enhancing my job skills.
ReplyDeleteThat's cheating, Anbolyn:) Although having said that, I used the same excuse when I worked in the book department of a large chain of stationers.
ReplyDeleteOh I absolutely understand this. I only borrow from the university library, so that's not where my weakness lies. I have a compulsion to buy cheap books from amazon marketplace sellers. When they are under a pound, I find it irresistible to get them, even though I know there is then the £2.80 postage and packing to pay. Ahd eventually this adds up - but books! so cheap! I really should get a grip. You are being very brave....
ReplyDeleteI was looking forward to the library van coming today - as you say Annie, it's important to make sure the service continues. But I've just heard it's not coming round as the van has broken down. This is not good news - in the current climate they're more likely to stop the service than replace the van - this is not the first time it's broken down!
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem with eyes being bigger than... I always take out way more books than I can possibly read. I think I take comfort from their simply being around!
ReplyDeleteLike Anboleyn, I have the luxury of working in a library but I alos buy the books so temptation is ever present. I have a conscience so I don't keep library books too long. Every now & then I go through the pile & take back the ones I know I'm never going to read. I also buy too many books for myself but I justify that by knowing that I will read every single one of them when the time is right. I love reading a blog or a magazine like Slightly Foxed & realising that I have that book on the shelf & can get it down & add it to the tbr soon pile. Every now & then, I decide that I'll buy no more books for a while. I'm at that point now. The exchange rate (Australian $ to pounds) has been so good lately & Amazon started offering free shipping to Australia that I went a bit mad. But, I've paid off the credit card & I have quite a few books preordered so I'm having a breather for a while. Good luck with your no library policy.
ReplyDeleteLyn, I expect working in the library sharpens your conscience. You have disappointed borrowers to face every day. It's the 'going a bit mad' that I have to guard against. I can be good for just so long and then I go on either a spending or a borrowing spree. But, I have been good this week. I did what I promised myself. I've got the reservation lists down on my remaining tickets and I'm trying to operate a one off, one on policy. But you should see my wishlist!
ReplyDelete