Book borrowing etiquette

[mattjo1]

I don't loan or borrow books at all, mostly because I don't have a lot of book lovers that I know.

[primrose777]

I have to say I do not like any of my books leaving home. I have had one to many occassions where the page corners are turned over ( to mark the place of course), or the covers damaged where they have been stuffed into a bag along woth the kitchen sink. If I have a friebd over and they spot my bookcases and ask to borrow I am in a dilema.... saying NO will offend but I do not want to say yes. What to do???

[Fran]

I have to say I do not like any of my books leaving home. I have had one to many occassions where the page corners are turned over ( to mark the place of course), or the covers damaged where they have been stuffed into a bag along woth the kitchen sink. If I have a friebd over and they spot my bookcases and ask to borrow I am in a dilema.... saying NO will offend but I do not want to say yes. What to do???

Put up a sign over your bookcase like they use in shops .... "Please don't ask for credit as a refusal may offend" or you could say that your books are all fitted with a self destruct mechanism & they will explode if they are removed from your house.

[primrose777]

I have to say I do not like any of my books leaving home. I have had one to many occassions where the page corners are turned over ( to mark the place of course), or the covers damaged where they have been stuffed into a bag along woth the kitchen sink. If I have a friebd over and they spot my bookcases and ask to borrow I am in a dilema.... saying NO will offend but I do not want to say yes. What to do???

Put up a sign over your bookcase like they use in shops .... "Please don't ask for credit as a refusal may offend" or you could say that your books are all fitted with a self destruct mechanism & they will explode if they are removed from your house.

Oh I do like the self destruct mechanism idea.... "Warning, this book will distentegrated in 5 seconds once it has left the house" Very mission Impossible like.

[Fran]

I have to say I do not like any of my books leaving home. I have had one to many occassions where the page corners are turned over ( to mark the place of course), or the covers damaged where they have been stuffed into a bag along woth the kitchen sink. If I have a friebd over and they spot my bookcases and ask to borrow I am in a dilema.... saying NO will offend but I do not want to say yes. What to do???

Put up a sign over your bookcase like they use in shops .... "Please don't ask for credit as a refusal may offend" or you could say that your books are all fitted with a self destruct mechanism & they will explode if they are removed from your house.

Oh I do like the self destruct mechanism idea.... "Warning, this book will distentegrated in 5 seconds once it has left the house" Very mission Impossible like.

I'm surprised Jasper didn't think of that before me

[Ant]

I find the book borrowing etiquette quite simple, I go to the library, borrow the book, read it then take it back, simple

[Tralala]

I have to say I do not like any of my books leaving home. I have had one to many occassions where the page corners are turned over ( to mark the place of course), or the covers damaged where they have been stuffed into a bag along woth the kitchen sink. If I have a friebd over and they spot my bookcases and ask to borrow I am in a dilema.... saying NO will offend but I do not want to say yes. What to do???

Put up a sign over your bookcase like they use in shops .... "Please don't ask for credit as a refusal may offend" or you could say that your books are all fitted with a self destruct mechanism & they will explode if they are removed from your house.

Americans have never really grasped the concept of tact...I think a comparable US sign would read something like "Screw you, deadbeat".

I've found that "I'd love to, but the fact that you're an irresponsible twit prevents me from loaning you anything more valuable than a ball-point pen" works quite well.

[Fran]

@Tralala
I love the "Screw you, deadbeat" .... leaves no room for ambiguity.

[Felana]

I find the book borrowing etiquette quite simple, I go to the library, borrow the book, read it then take it back, simple

That's about how mine goes too!

On the rare occasion I lend out a book I just take a few things into consideration before I do. Do I want this back soon? If so I'll mention they can borrow it but I would like it back in [insert timeframe], usually a month...I'm pretty flexible. Will I be heartbroken if it has folded corners and a smudge or two? I only had one friend really disappoint me with returning a book in poor condition, most people seem to respect that it is not theirs to mistreat. I moved and don't know so many people here (esp. people who read similar things) so it's not a real issue anymore, sadly.

[primrose777]

My Mother in Law has been visiting. Asked if she could read a few books while she was here. Of course I had to say yes, but did she look after them???? NO Could I say anything?? NO Do I feel really mean feeling Mad??? Yeah a little My books are my babies you know?

[graveljl]

Ugh I lent out a book previously and got it back in poor shape It is frustrating ...please take care of them when lended

[samsmum]

I didnt/dont like lending out my books, as i'm rather protective of them ... however, a while ago when a friend asked to borrow a book i tried to tactfully say no by saying it belonged to a friend so it wasn't mine to lend. she then asked to borrow another book that was far more valuable ... and i couldn't say no!! i was rather mad at myself for being so pathetic ... and i never got the book back

[michelet3005]

I'm very cautious about lending books to people. I'm one of those really padantic readers that keeps their book in perfect condition. I never bend the spine or cover of my books if I can help it. For this reason I don't really like to lend people books. I've done it in the past and they've come back trashed, one even had mud on it. I've made someone rebuy a book for be before because it came back in such a disgusting state. If I really trust the person I would. The other problem is people read at different paces. I wouldn't lend a whole series at once. I'd only give them one at a time to make sure I got back each book before they borrowed the next.

[MelMariah]

I'm currently reading a book I have borrowed from my boyfriends mother! :S
Haha, so I'm trying to read it as fast as possible!
I struggle because I have little time on my hands, hoping she won't be having the same problems as everyone else on here!
I think you've just got to expect them to take their times, you never know what's going on. They could generally be a slow reader, or like I, have little time.
Folding the top of pages is also my pet peeve, I've lent a few books in which this has happened. Very frustrating.

[Phoenix98]

Of the few that I've loaned out over the years, I've usually had to ask to get them back. As a result I don't loan many.

On a slightly related issue, my wife sold a $600 set for $50 once at a garage sale. Losing books in that way was quite upsetting.