This Week's Topic
Library Loans
I remember a lot of people talking about no longer requesting ARCs or limiting ARCs because of the pressure related to due dates, but I have to admit, I feel more stress when all my library loans start rolling in. Sure, I am not obligated to write a review, but these books come with due dates.
If the publication date for an ARC passes, the book will still be on my kindle. I can still read it whenever I want, but I have no such luxury when it comes to those loans. I exclusively use the eLibrary, and unless I put my kindle in airplane mode, I am losing that book on its due date.
And can we talk about holds? No matter when I place the hold or how long the estimated wait time, they always come through all at once. I know I can have it delivered later, but do I really want to wait in line again? What will the wait be like? I get so anxious that I just download them all, and then it's a race against the clock. And never mind the way the app guilts me by telling me how many people are in line. It truly stresses me out.
I want you all to understand that I love my library and am grateful to have access to so many book. More than half the books I read last year were borrows, and many of those books were new releases. I am truly blessed, I just need to read faster.
Now it's your turn!
Do due dates stress you out?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
I know what you mean about getting it read, but I just put off the borrow date and let someone else read it if I can't get to it. I've done that a lot! I end up listening to most of my library lends so I'm able to get to them quicker. Best part is I don't have to write a review if I don't want to. I end up listing the book on my Sunday post, so I don't feel too bad.
ReplyDeleteI recently finished a book that I hit deliver later on at least 6 times. It was months and months. I am surprised to hear it's easier for you to get audiobooks. Those have way longer waits at my library. I agree that you can just read/listen and not have to review, but I still get stressed about getting it read in time or having too many to read at once.
DeleteBut. You read faster than anyone I know, so I don't think you CAN go any faster hahah. I do not do library loans for this exact reason- every single time I have taken a book from the library (physically or digitally), it is just a massive stress for me, so. I really do not do it anymore! I am also glad that libraries exist, but I never have the "free" time to read the books, so here we are.
ReplyDeleteMy reading got so slow during Covid. I think it's because I am not reading YA (which I believe read faster), and I am dabbling in more women's and literary fiction. Like you, my mother and sister will not borrow books either. They just buy them. I am cheap and read too much for that.
DeleteJamie (jannghi.blogspot.com): I love my library and am sad that starting next month, they will not be open on Saturday. I hope to get there this coming Saturday (missed getting to go yesterday), the last Saturday it will be open.
ReplyDeleteI don't go into the library, but I do appreciate all the services they provide for our community. I am really lucky. We have four libraries in my township and they are open all week during the school year.
DeleteWell I get why you would be anxious (also all your holds coming through all at once makes me think of Muprhy's law). I have the anxiety of ARCs not because I would miss the due date (I request ARCs without due date) but because I won't maybe be in the mood to read them!
ReplyDeleteWhen I am not in the mood to read an ARC, I don't. Do your ARCs expire? I remember an Italian blogger talking about hers having an expiration date.
DeleteI kind of like having the deadline because it forces me to read the book in a timely manner, but it does stress me out sometimes. And my library stopped giving fines, but that just means sometimes I'll hold onto them for "a few more days" and STILL not get to them - and then just feel guilty about it. LOL
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
It seems sometimes all the books you had on hold is suddenly all available - I couldn't read faster but sometimes start on all of them to see which one I might not want to read which usually happens. But I think having a set time for library loans does motivate you to read the books instead of putting off like you would if you own a book and can read anytime.
ReplyDeleteI'm also grateful for my library but we pay taxes so we are allowed to borrow books and we shouldn't feel guilty about borrowing them.
Have a lovely day.
That's one way to figure out which book to focus on. I agree, that time limit pushes me to prioritize my loans. I don't feel guilty about borrowing book. I feel grateful that I have as much access as I do.
Delete