SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Long story short, I recently moved to Nashville from Boston. In Boston I could basically find any book at any time at the local library and if a particular library didn't have it I could usually request it within a few days. I move here and the small library closest to my place tells me they are closing in a few weeks and I have to go to another library. The closest one is 20 minutes away! Not to mention this library is in a nice neighborhood and looks fairly new !!! Why does it need renovating ? Transport is hard for me so I might as well just order USED books online and sell/Renew them. I can also use the ebook and audio versions from the library but most of the time they don't have them or they have fewer copies!

What do u do for books ? Used copies or wait for library ?

I agree with John, a Kindle seems like a good solution to your problem if you are willing to pay for books and travelling is an issue.

If you can work out your travel issues, the bigger library probably has an on-line feature, so you can reserve your books ahead of time and they will be there when you arrive. Most big libraries have an inter-library loan program. You will just have to plan ahead for your books, much like grocery shopping. Perhaps make it a monthly or bi-weekly event. Find something else worthwhile to do while you are in town, so you are not just going for the library.

Personally, I am spoiled. I work in a High School that has an exceptionally up-to-date collection and a librarian that will get a book if I recommend it. Plus I own a Kindle that I share with my best friend. We take turns with purchases.

Also, many library systems offer e-books. If you have an e-reader (kindle, nook kobi, or tablet) you can check out e-books. No travel necessary, and you won't end up with fees. Once the tome period expires, the book disappears on your reader (although I'm sure there are ways around that). That's the way my library system works, but, to be honest and fair, only a relatively small selection of the total books are available as e-books at my library.

QueenAmidala28 wrote: "I can also use the ebook and audio versions from the library but most of the time they don't have them or they have fewer copies!"

I’m very attached to my e-reader, so I primarily purchase e-books from Amazon. Occasionally I will borrow them from the library if the e-book is excessively expensive, or borrow the physical book if there isn’t an e-book format available. When I first got my Kindle, a LOT of publishers were offering free e-books so I’m still digging my way out from under that backlog. I mostly alternate between reading free books from my backlog and buying newer e-books that I’ve been wanting to read.

Have you looked into some of the sources of free books?
* Baen books has a free library here where you can download some books for free: https://www.baenebooks.com/c-1-free-l... and there is a tribute page that has an even larger selection: http://baencd.freedoors.org/. These books are primarily science fiction, with some fantasy also.
* Older classics that are no longer under copyright can also be legally downloaded for free from various places.
* There are usually free books on Amazon, although I think these days they’re indies more often than not.
* http://new.ereaderiq.com/ is also a site that can help you find cheap or free e-books.
* I don’t participate in it myself and so can’t offer any advice, but there are giveaways offered on various sites including Goodreads and I think some publishers offer early releases of books to bloggers.

Maybe some of these options could help supplement your reading in-between library trips and/or while you’re waiting for a hold on an e-book.

Xan Shadowflutter wrote: "Once the tome period expires, the book disappears on your reader"

Just a reminder for anybody who may not know… it’s very easy, not to mention considerate to your fellow library patrons, to return an e-book early if you happen to finish it early. It also helps your library get more bang for their buck. Most major publishers don’t offer unlimited e-book licenses for public libraries. If you’re borrowing for your Kindle, you can return a book from the Amazon page where you manage your digital content.

Good point.

Can you get the ebooks from a large library in your state? I live in Rochester but in New York anyone can get a library card from the nyc library system (which has a huge selection) - I download ebooks and audiobooks right to my phone from nyc even though I live six hours from nyc

Just an idea

I think the first problem was moving to Tennessee. I have cousins who live in Oak Ridge, which supposedly has one of the highest per capita number of PhDs in America but has not impressed me much.

Well, other than having a doc-in-the-box on every corner, but that's probably due to all the strontium-90 in the ground water. :p

I'll generally read from the library, as I have limited funds. Salem has a really good library and I make good use of it. I only buy books I'm going to want to keep and re-read.

There's a little give and take library box nearby as well, but all I've done with that is drop a couple of my novels off in it.

I'm familiar with Nashville, so I'll let you know what I do.

The Nashville Public Library has both e-books and inter-library loan. You can fill out forms for the inter-library loan online, and also get e-books online. The inter-library loan is hit and miss; they always find a book for me, but sometimes it takes three days, other times two months. You can send in a request for a book to be sent to your nearest branch, though, unfortunately, it sounds like they're renovating it.

There are some used bookstores in town too. Mckay Used Books is giant--warehouse sized. There's also Rhino Books and Bookman Bookwoman, among others.

The public transportation system sucks. The bus system is MTA, if you want to try it out.

I do a combo of buying used at Mckay's, checking books out at the library, buying e-books for my kindle, and buying used from Amazon.

I buy used books online. Then I can keep them.

Also check out the websites for Little Free Libraries and for Bookcrossing. There could well be another avid reader in your neck of the woods and you could meet up and trade books you're done with.

Also Project Gutenberg for oop older books to load on your tablet (I use my android Samsung).

Also thrift stores and charity shops. Never know what surprise gems you'll find.

Trike: I am under the impression that it is Los Alamos. It could oak ridge or champaign county or ann arbor as easily. :)

If you live in the PNW ... Powells.

There are a lot of options - depending on how your library system is set up.

- I use my library's interloan system - it pulls books state wide and ships them to your local library.

- Borrowing ebooks is a great tool as well. Normally your state system allows for statewide borrowing.

- If you are willing to pay, Philly has a library card for $50/year.

- You can join one of the myriad GR lending groups. These are groups full of people who lend personal Kindle books to each other. There is a two-week limit *IIRC* on Kindle book lends and they can only be lent to you once. No renewals.

Margaret wrote: "I'm familiar with Nashville, so I'll let you know what I do.

The Nashville Public Library has both e-books and inter-library loan. You can fill out forms for the inter-library loan online, and als..."

http://reads.lib.overdrive.com/FD5303...

My stats for the books I have read/listened to for the past 2 years ~120 books total

Paper book owned - 8
Paper book borrowed - 16
Kindle owned - 14
Kindle borrowed - 25
Audio CD - 56
Audio Download - 20

I have not yet paid more than $4 for a kindle book so clearly I wait for sales. I would say 1/2 of the borrrowed books, Paper, CD and download were inter-library loans.

Kindle borrowed were all my local library. I don't own any audio books so all CD and Download were via library.

I typically am a planner and have a 10-15 book request list at the library that I (sometimes) patiently wait for. It usually means I am a month or two behind the book club unless (back to the planning) I can get a read on the polls and requst early.

Probably tmi and doesn't try to solve your problem but one more data point...

That sounds frustrating. I've never used the library much - don't like borrowing and returning, I always was a big used book hunter though, so I rarely need to borrow things for reading.

With your situation, sounds like e-book downloading through libraries may fit you if you don't mind e-books over books. That way you wouldn't have to worry about library distance.

Two other possibilities are trading books at http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php. Can be expensive for mailing and fees: $3-4 per book.

Also, you can get an idea of where to buy a book the least expensive way if you go here: http://www.booksprice.com/

I consume mostly audio and digital books, but my sister loves PaperBack Swap.

ereaderiq.com was mentioned. It has a great free service where you can choose one of those ebooks you really want but is priced too high, set the price you would be willing to pay and they will email you if it drops to that price (such as a Kindle daily deal).

I also have some non-New York friends who recently paid $50 each to join the Brooklyn library because their ebook/audiobook selection is so good.

Chris wrote: "I consume mostly audio and digital books, but my sister loves PaperBack Swap."

Paperback Swap also trades audio books and hardbacks, in addition to paperbacks.

QueenAmidala28 wrote: "Long story short, I recently moved to Nashville from Boston. In Boston I could basically find any book at any time at the local library and if a particular library didn't have it I could usually re..."

You sound much Like I am, a paper reader. Ereaders are very good if you have issue with leaving the house or travel. However, if you are paper reader and you are having trouble with the local library access, then used books are the way to go. I have a great library system in my area and I have total access to the NYC Public Library System, so I am fortunate.

However, I buy used all of the time because I do not want to be on a timeline for the reading I do. I can be like a butterfly and float around as I se fit. There are plenty of used sellers and Amazon has a great network you can work from. I have bought plenty of books at pennies. The only issue I have with all of the books I buy is that I am out of space and that can be tough.

We don't use the library, very unlikely to have what we need/want. We read/buy mostly paperback and trade paperback. Not a fan of hardcover (price or size). Not a fan of Ereaders. Tried it, hated it. Will always be a physical book guy. My wife reads a little on her Nook, but not a lot. She also prefers real books.

We buy new, some used, some on sale. Almost exclusively from Amazon. Though there is a VERY good local used book store with a HUGE selection of science fiction, especially a lot of older, hard to find things We keep almost every book we buy/read.

We have a ~2000 book dedicated reading library in our home. Physical books will always be a part of our life and home.

The library will buy most any book you request.

Usually they're flying nearly blind as to what their patrons want, so any time someone speaks up they love it because they rarely get feedback.

I like the idea of buying used books either from Amazon or Hastings and selling them back again. If you read popular books Hastings will usually buy them, otherwise you can sell on Amazon?

Trike wrote: "The library will buy most any book you request."

It used to be that whenever my local library got a book I requested, they would send me an email. Now they've stopped. I think I've just requested so many books that they got tired of me.

I do live in Hong Kong, so I guess I'm one of the minority who request books in English...

My first avenue for author's I'm unfamiliar with or reticent about tends to be the library. Luckily for me I have access to a few university libraries plus a smattering of municipal libraries that engage in interlibrary loans.

Barring that, the next avenue is the 1 cent used purchases from Amazon. Last resort is an ebook if its reasonably priced.

I've never actually considered asking the library to get a copy. I should be entitles to at least one request, considering I've donated over a dozen books to them. I just gave them Catch 22. That's gotta be worth a Glasshouse or the like.