Do you lend your books?

No, it used to drive me mad I was finding it was me that was buying the books lending them out and either friends would say oh I lent it to my sister friend etc etc and another said oh I can’t find it, so I put a stop to it, I wasn’t going to be a mug anymore

No. I stopped lending books out years ago, due to the trouble getting them back again, including those the borrower denied ever having borrowed.

I have basically stopped lending anyone anything for the same reasons.

If I want, and feel I can afford to do so, I give whatever was requested. That way I do not feel disappointed over not having a borrowed object (or money) returned.

If I have no desire to part with the object in question, I just say I am sorry, but I cannot do without it.

There is a little scheme run locally that leaves a book in a public space, inviting you to read it and then pass it on. I’ve just finished the one I found and will take it out tomorrow and leave it for someone else. It”s called “The Book Fairy Scheme” ?

But yes I do lend out books.

Those I want back, I stipulate so, and they are generally returned to me. But I don’t mind too much if they don’t get returned. I like to think people have read a good book (well in my view?)

At Probus we all bring books we have read and swap them for another. There are always more books, people bring 2 or 3 and take home one. Some of them are lovely books but I guess we are all of the age to realise we can’t take them with us ! I still keep those I have a sentimental attachment to, though - they don’t hit the Probus shelf.

Maybe stick a label on the front saying 'please return to xxx' so they can't miss it! It all depends on whether you actually want the book back or are happy for it to keep circulating.

The same applies to DVDs which are not returned. I tend to collect movies and dramas which are not on TV and slightly rare so I do want them back.

Except for maybe close family, I haven’t lent any for ages.
I do sometimes give books that aren’t (to me) keepers.

I only ever buy (or borrow) paperback novels - I find hardbacks far too heavy to read in bed.
Most of my paperback buys do end up in a charity shop, which is where I buy quite a few of mine, too.

No, I give them away either to friends or to the charity shop. I also buy most of my paperbacks from the charity shop and new ones go onto my kindle which i share with my daughter so I get access to what she buys and vice versa.

no, I used to but they never got returned

i used to leave books i'd finished with on park benches/bus seats with a card inside asking the reader to do likewise.

My SiL and her friends have a little group where they each take turns to buy a few books every month, usually thrillers, which are then passed between them. When 5 sets of initials are in the back that means they’ve all read them and they are passed onto me (I’m 200 miles away) and I then donate them after I’ve read them.

Yes of course! It’s part of the pleasure, sharing. And the main difference from reading them on my Kindle. I write the ones I’ve loaned in a tiny notebook with the date & ‘who to’ then cross them out when I get them back. I often then loan them out to someone else!
?

Given my previous career, I never buy books - I use the library. Saved me an absolute fortune over the years.

I used to but so many from my collections weren’t returned so I don’t anymore. I read lots of books on kindle which are non transferable. Those books I don’t want to keep I send to charity shops, give away, or put in our village kiosk for others to read.

Bring and Buy Sale !!

timetogo2016

No, not anymore same as vinyl records.

I still remember the vinyls I put into the first Blue Peter Grand and Buy Sale!

No, not anymore same as vinyl records.

My friend used to say that paperbacks were meant to be read and passed on.
I do that but put my initials in if I want the book back.

Hardbacks I tend to keep and also some paperbacks I might re-read.

However, there's a limit to just how many books we can house!
We still have books from our childhood, books from our parents, reference books, books about hobbies.
We'll never be able to downsize.

kircubbin2000

Its Louise Penny. Has anyone read them?

Yes I have read them all and enjoyed them.

Except for my 'comfort' books that I read over and over and never lend to anyone I just give them away once I've read them. Unlike Mr A who keeps every book he buys and lends them only to me.

Only to a couple of people. I used to be less selective, and learnt the hard way that wasn’t a great idea.

I borrow books from the same people, and keep half a bookshelf specifically for those, so there’s no danger of them getting mixed in with
my own, or lost.

Usually give them away when we’ve read them, 99% paperbacks.

I happily lend/give books to family and friends, who always ask if I’d like them back. I would only ask for them back if I haven’t read it already myself (I have a Kindle, so rarely read books these days).

I'm re reading a book just now that I read many years ago...Its the first time Iv ever done this....I buy books and pass them on to friends or charity shop when I finish reading them...

why don't you just buy another copy.
it's easier than ever now, with the internet to trace even out of print books.
that's what i'd do, rather than worrying about it.
and never lend them again, of course.
don't put yourself in a position where your peace of mind is beholden to other people's behaviour.

rarely