The Next Best Book Club discussion

I did this at my high school library. I was always in there reading and checking things out, so the librarian knew me pretty well. When I asked about books that they didn't have, she said that they could order some new books every year and that if I recommended something she would get it. It was awesome. I wonder if my college library would do the same thing? Probably not. We're in the middle of some serious budget cuts right now. I wouldn't be surprised if they are selling books to keep the place open.

My library is actually really good about buying books that I've requested. I live in a small town, so our library doesn't have a huge selection, although I am quite surprised at how much they have, given the size of my town.

I've requested quite a few books over the years, and I think they've purchased all of them, except an out of print book, which they got for me through inter-library loan (free). I love that allow us to use ILL free, because a lot of the other libraries I've lived near charged for it, unless it's part of their broader county system, for 'handling' fees...

I've never tried, hadn't even considered it possible. Will give it a try though now that you've mentioned it. There are times I would have liked to in the past, thanks for posting the possibility! :)

the library I use will order books if they feel that the books will be universally interesting to a number of patrons. Having said that I have always been able to get the book I want to read whether they get it through interlibrary loan or buying the book.

i think it depends on the library and what you read. There was someone in another group that I'm part of who works in a library and tends to read a lot of romance, but her library won't purchase them because they want more thinking type books...I think its hard for them to suit the needs of all patrons. I'm lucky that where I lived we have a great library and its linked into 10 others for ILL, as well as the state consortium for ebooks/audiobooks (over 20000 available). I know not everyone can say that


something else you might consider and I do this routinely - if you have lots of books (like I do) when I do a clean out, I take the ones that are in the best condition and donate them to the library so that others can enjoy them also. Most libraries (at least the ones i've dealt with) can give you some sort of receipt for tax purposes

I didn'te realize that my library...or any library for that matter....could and would do this. I asked for Meat by Joseph D'Lacey and The Kult by Shaun Jeffrey. It totally blew my mind when they were like "Sure, we'll get it!" :)

Here in NYC we are shutting quite a few libraries down (good thing I am getting my MLIS LOL) but they are very good and quick with getting inter-library loans so if they don't have it then I am sure another library has it.

I know my library does this because when I took out a whole bunch of young-adult books through ILL, the young-adult librarian told me that they could purchase books if I request them. But I don't really take advantage of it because the ILL's are so great and they almost always have what I want.

I think this is a great idea! I've never considered it before. I've considered donating the books I've written to libraries, but never asking them to buy all the other random books that I want to read. The libraries around me will all do inter-library loans quite a bit, but I love the idea of them buying a copy also. Very cool idea. Thanks for sharing!

Well, the library I normally use has been closed for 5 months due to rennovations and the other one is closing but they mostly go through DVD's and their book collection isn't so great and now I am using the one in the city (rather than the Queens Borough) because I work there so it is perfect and I can return it in any of the other 3 boroughs (SI, Bronx, Manhattan). and having the 3 boroughs makes my selection much wider causing the ILL to be pretty sweet!

My library system seems to be spending a lot of money on DVD's. They can only manage to buy 45 or so copies of The Passage, but they buy all manner of cruddy DVD's. Like the library is some sort of free Blockbuster for people with zero taste. For example, they ordered 36 copies of MacGruber this week. No fiction books, but 94 different titles of DVD's.

Ugh, it sounds like they need a new purchaser Shay. Unless there's some trick to it that ends in more monetary income for them. Either way, that's depressing.

Our Parish Library and a few of the surrounding parishes have a swap. Like if I wanted to read something they could get it from another Parish by way of sending them something one of their patrons wanted to read, instead of purchasing it.

But then again our library just spent close to $10,000 on a baby grand...just think how many books are suffering so we can have a piano...uugghh.

I requested my library to buy a book for me, but they never did so I haven't asked since then.

Shay wrote: "My library system seems to be spending a lot of money on DVD's. They can only manage to buy 45 or so copies of The Passage, but they buy all manner of cruddy DVD's. Like the library is some sort of free Blockbuster for people with zero taste. For example, they ordered 36 copies of MacGruber this week. No fiction books, but 94 different titles of DVD's. "

I work at the library, and I know that the majority of our crappy DVDs are ones that patrons have donated... Hopefully your library is the same—not wasting precious money on crap!

Nope Sarah, they're actually ordering them. Paying real money that could be spent on books. At first, I thought, well it'll get people in the library and maybe encourage people to read. No. See people all the time returning only DVD's and only checking out DVD's. The saddest thing is seeing people who come in with kids and only leave with DVD's.

That IS sad. Have you commented at all to the librarians? The main purpose of a library is NOT to be free Blockbuster, after all!! (We have quite a few DVD people as well...)

Erika wrote: "I'm curious to know if people here have ever asked their library to buy a book for them because the library didn't have it. What did you request and did they buy it? I only discovered the joys of l..."

I was stunned the first time I noticed the button on my library website allowing me to request that they purchase a book - they call it "recommend a purchase." I requested, and within 2 weeks I had an email that the book was on hold for me. I've requested about 5 books now, and the library got 4 of them - they said the 5th wasn't available. They typically put a message in my inbox on the website within a day or two, letting me know whether they can get the book or not.

I especially like the fact that when I request them to purchase a book, they automatically put a hold on it for me, so I get it as soon as it comes in.

I've twice asked a library to buy a book for me. The first time I requested a book by a local author and it took them months to order it and they didn't bother telling me, I found it in the catalogue one day.

The second time I asked was for them to buy a copy of my book. They didn't. I didn't ask why. I imagine they feel an author asking for their own book is a bit much. (Though my thinking was that only one local would have to buy a copy and then many could read it - hardly a huge revenue spinner for me so I didn't think it was too much to ask). I've considered asking a friend to put in the request to see if it makes a difference.

Yeah well Laura, I assume you have a copy to read already!

I've heard of this mythical requesting-books-from-the-library thing, Erika, but I've never tried it! I would probably have to make charts explaining the my reasoning to get up the courage. But this thread is so very encouraging.

(Though I think if people want to check out primarily DVDs from the library, and if the library wants to provide DVDs, that's their own business. Unless it's an inventory issue. But Shay, 45 copies of The Passage, you must live in a gloriously humongous city! My local libraries are much more humble, I'm afraid.)

As a small town librarian, this thread is very interesting to me. Different libraries have different policies, it seems. Our library fulfills most requests, though I'm not sure if the budget cuts in the just-started fiscal year will change things.

But in this day of big spending cuts even we have to weigh a request in comparison to the rest of the collection: Is the subject area one in which the library already has plenty of material or does it fill a hole in the collection that needs to be filled? Is it something other patrons are likely to read or will the item languish on the shelf once the requester reads it? Also, sometimes we just can't get a decent copy of it. For example, we don't purchase mass market paperbacks because they are just too flimsy.

We automatically put an item gotten by request on hold for that person. But I also qualify for membership in another library in the state and when they got an audiobook I requested, they did not tell me.

I'm surprised Laura's library would not buy a book she wrote. Our library almost always acquires books by local authors. It may be that some clerk just perused the items requested without looking at who did the requesting. My suggestion to you and any other author is that you make a personal visit to the library with a flyer about your book, highlighting that you are a local author and ask to speak to the person in charge of acquisitions. Many libraries will also host a talk and/or signing by local authors.

Kaion wrote: "Yeah well Laura, I assume you have a copy to read already!

I've heard of this mythical requesting-books-from-the-library thing, Erika, but I've never tried it! I would probably have to make charts..."

My objection is that prior to this upsurge in DVD acquisitions, a book that had as many requests as The Passage would have had at least a 100 copies. So, book purchases are about cut in half while DVD purchases are increasing. Not really acceptable to me for a library, especially when the DVD's they buy are largely garbage.

Oh, and our library only has 55 copies of The Hunger Games, a YA book. Because popular kids books can be checked out for 3 weeks instead of 2 weeks for adults and there are no fines for overdue children's books this normally would have had 200+ copies. I think it's horrible that they are taking books away from children to give adults the option to check out DVD's of questionable worth. Getting children to read more should be one of the primary functions of any library.

Shay wrote: "Oh, and our library only has 55 copies of The Hunger Games, a YA book. Because popular kids books can be checked out for 3 weeks instead of 2 weeks for adults and there are no fines for overdue chi..."

Wow, you must have a huge library! Our library has maybe two copies of each book, if it has the book at all. Where on earth do you live that has libraries like that? I need to move there asap.

But yeah, it is lame that they're cutting back on books to by movies. It's a library, not a Blockbuster, and getting kids excited about reading is the best thing a library can do! Libraries are, at least in my opinion, the most wonderful democratic institution in the world. No matter who you are or how much money you have you get to check out books for just as long as everybody else, and you get just as much of a chance to better yourself by reading and learning. That's why I think that if libraries are going to have any movies, they should have educational DVD's and documentaries. It's especially nice for home-schooling families, or for people who want to learn things but can't afford to rent the movies. And if you have educational shows like The Magic School Bus, Bill Nye the Science Guy, or Reading Rainbow, kids can learn even more!

Geez... Las Vegas, eh? That WOULD be a big library system! Our system has 2 branches with 7 copies each of The Hunger Games and Catching Fire... Good thing I own them!

At our library, all books check out for 3 weeks and kid's books don't have fines, but The Hunger Games is a YA book, which rounds up to adult, I guess, which DO have fines. Our patrons, in general, are pretty good at getting books back on time though. And they seem to understand that there are other people anxiously awaiting the popular books, so they try to get them back in ASAP. We really do have great patrons, overall!

Ellen wrote: "As a small town librarian, this thread is very interesting to me. Different libraries have different policies, it seems. Our library fulfills most requests, though I'm not sure if the budget cuts i..."

Ellen, I'm travelling now but will be back home in late August and may get the courage to walk in and ask for the person in charge of acquisitions. This self promotion thing is tough. Not that it would kill me to be rejected, but because I feel sorry for the poor person who might have to reject me face-to-face. That would be 10 times more uncomfortable. But if as a librarian you think it's okay, I'll go for it!

Our system has 14 urban branches and 11 rural branches (Clark County, Nevada where Las Vegas is). You know what the big irony to our lack of funds is? We are funded by a percentage of property taxes collected, good for ten years. I think we would have another 4 years to go on that bond issue. It would have cost an extra $27 per property, per year, to fully fund the library each year. It was defeated because many people, who don't own property, voted it down. They did a demographic study and found that if only property owners were allowed to vote, the people who would have been the only ones paying the tax, it would have passed. So, it appears as if a lot of people didn't read the ballot well or they would have realized that by voting yes, they could have gotten something for nothing.

An easier approach might be to go up to whomever is on the desk (I suggest the reference desk but it probably doesn't matter) and ask if the library has a policy for buying local author's books. If they say yes, you can ask what's involved and go that route. As someone who has been approached this way numerous times, it really helps if you have a flier or some other material to leave along with your business card because there's a good chance the person in charge will not be available right then and there.

I suggest you not do what one author recently did when I told her the director was out but would be interested - she scribbled an unreadable note on one of our bookmarks and told me to look up the rest of the information! My boss may have ordered the book anyway because, as I said, we almost always do it, but believe me, she did not help her cause!

The same is true for others who want libraries to order books. Best practice is to supply ALL the information (correct, complete title; author, publisher, year, etc.) legibly and a little note about why it would be appropriate for the library to purchase it.

I do not think that I have ever asked my library to buy a book for me. Most of the time, the book I want is already owned by them, or I can get it from a different library. Nonetheless, the librarians at my local library are awesome, and probably would buy a book that I asked them to buy (or at least try to).

I live in a super small town and have a small but fabulous library. They have maybe 1 copy of each book. They do ILL but the person requesting has to pay for shipping for it to come from another library in our county. (usually a $1 or $2..no biggie) I have had good luck when requesting a book if it seems like one many people will enjoy or is on a bestseller list the librarian will purchase it for our library.

I just requested one! It's obscure, and they say since it's a large library they won't let me know, I just have to check back. So we'll see. :)

I work at a library and this is actually my job. I answer the email account where people send in purchase requests. As long as a book is less then a year old and can be bought from one of our two regular vendors, we almost always buy it. Sometimes people think they can be sneaky and have us buy their textbooks for them, but those are always rejected, based more on cost then anything else. More people need to use this service. It's one of the best ways for a library to have an awesome collection!

Oh, and to the person who asked their library to buy their own book, we generally do not do that because we can't find them from our vendors. But we do accept donated copies!

SF wrote: "I work at a library and this is actually my job. I answer the email account where people send in purchase requests. As long as a book is less then a year old and can be bought from one of our two r..."

SF - that was me. If they can't buy my book, I might offer them one. Sure I'd love to get rich, but it's also nice to think people who want to read my book can.

I'm curious to know if people here have ever asked their library to buy a book for them because the library didn't have it. What did you request and did they buy it?

I do this all the time if I can't find the book at the library or if the inter-library loan falls through (unless I'm really anxious to get the book).

Printed off my tbr list and took it to the library. Very proud as I've been overspending on books lately. Already received three - Mudbound, Shanghai Girls, and Gods Behaving Badly. Now it's finding time to read all three before they are due back!

I have started going the way of the library lately. I have just received Mudbound, Little Bee, U is for Undertow, and Neverwhere. I hope to get them all read in the time allotted, including two renewals for each one.

I am a librarian and I will always purchase a book a patron requests unless it is out of print or really old. I figure their tax dollars support my job so the least I can do is spend their money the way they ask me to.

I also purchase entertainment DVDs. Unfortunately, DVDs are what a lot of library users want so again, I spend their money the way they want. I'd rather not spend $100 on multiple copies of MacGruber and put that towards books instead but when there are 10 holds the day after I put in the order I can't really argue. It really isn't my job to educate them or tell them what they should be doing with their time even though I think I have better ideas than they do :)

I think that as our intake of information changes and our enjoyment of various stories grow, the library has become a place where they carry a multitude of stories in a variety of formats, whether it be book, magazines, newspapers, computer time, music, or movie.

I too would prefer all the money be spent on books, however the library is offering a service to increase knowledge and information and they need to move with the times. Our librarian is not a librarian - she is the media specialist now...

Most of the DVD's we acquire and nearly all of the "sheer entertainment" ones are from donations. Even then it pains me to add many of them as just cataloging and processing them takes up my time (I'm the main cataloger of them) as well as library materials and space.

However, public libraries are political entities as much as they are institutions of learning and access. So we have to cater to the desires of our taxpayers who, when I think about it, have just as much right to view Die Hard 4 for free as anyone interested in William Shakespeare or Abraham Lincoln.

My consolation is that our patrons' DVD appetites are so great that they also check out some of the more substantive material that I have personally requested for the collection.

Whenever I clean my room, I donate all the excess DVDs, CDs and books to the library. If I hadn't re-watched the DVD or re-listened to the CD in about a year, it gets donated. I'm not going to fool myself into thinking I'll watch/listen in the upcoming year. HEE! My tastes are all over the place so I figure someone down on their luck will enjoy the freebies at the library. In the end, I feel better about that. I mean isn't the library not solely for books?

I don't think though that a library should spend the bulk of its funds for DVDs and CDs unless they're tied to learning or other books.

And that baby grand? WHOA! I recommend auctioning the baby grand and using those funds for MORE BOOKS! ;)

I have done this a few times. I ordered a Tole Painting pattern book, when I ordered it I thought it was a full book, I didnt know it only had patterns and instructions and about 12 pages! but they still ordered it for me.I am in the uk and it took ages to arrive lol I also ordered a few fiction titles. Although I have been lucky recently in finding brand new books and I am the first to take them out! If I really want a book they will order it in for me. How great are libraries!!