I want to use the library more but I have so many physical books on my TBR that I’m afraid I will ignore my shelf for so long I won’t be interested in the books on it anymore. But I’m also a huge mood reader. How do you go about making sure you read the books you own as well? This might be a silly question but I’m curious on how you all use your libraries to save money if you have a large physical collection already
by coffeeamie
7 Comments
Make a commitment to not buy anymore books for a while. Then for every library book you read, go and read a book from your TBR pile. If you read multiple books at a time, just have one of each. If you’re on a wait list at the library for a book, that’s also a good time to read from the TBR pile.
If you’ve already bought the books there is no money saved or lost reading from your collection vs the library. I don’t see why it really matters.
I don’t. I read what I’m in the mood for reading.
I have books I’ve owned for a decade I haven’t read, it’s all good!! They will be there for me.
This is my dilemma because I’m a neurotic weirdo who HAS to alternate between fiction and non-fiction. If I’m in the middle of a long novel and one of my holds becomes available for another long novel, I have to panic-read the rest of my current book and then find a short NF book to read in between the two so I can grab my hold and finish it before it’s time to return. Could I solve this problem easily by just not caring about the genre of book I’m reading next? Yes. Tell that to my dumb brain who has to split everything evenly or the world will end.
The books on your shelf aren’t going anywhere. You’d actually save money by not buying anymore and growing increasingly overwhelmed with your TBR list. Take a walk round your local library and see what you’re in the mood for, then take a walk around your own book collection and see what you’re in the mood for. That’s how I decide what to read next. Sometimes I read a review and I take something out of the library instead of reading the next one on my TBR pile by my bed and I just see that as what I’m in the mood for. They’ll still be there. Don’t overthink it.
I don’t buy books unless I have already read and loved them and plan to read again. The library decideas what I read and when by my on-hold books becoming available.