Thrifty Thursday - Week 4 - Libraries Are Your Friend

THRIFTY THURSDAY - WEEK 4 

Libraries Are Your Friend

The world of books can be a beautiful place but it can also be a competitive place, especially when 'BookTok' and 'Bookstagram' are involved. I regularly post bookish content on Instagram and I also SEE bookish content regularly. It can make it seem like, to be considered a 'real reader' you need to have a home library, colour-coded, and own every book you have ever read (multiple copies of some, if the editions all have gorgeous covers). I am not particularly creative or aesthetic and I certainly don't have the funds to create a home library or buy every book I see. This doesn't mean that I don't enjoy that content, or that I would say no to an entire room full of beautiful editions of my favourite books, complete with a rolling ladder and cosy bean bag chairs everywhere! Oh boy, would I love that! 

This post is simply a reminder (to myself and to you!) that reading books makes us readers, not how we store, display, or obtain them. 

That's the great thing about libraries, we can fulfil our every desire (at least from a reading perspective) without spending a penny. In the city where I live, I can reserve books online, and collect them when they are ready - they will even transfer books from a library further out to my closest one so the range of books is far greater than what's just in the local facility. Libraries aren't just about the books either, they offer a range of services, social clubs, and initiatives for the local community to get involved. 

My library also has its own 'TBR' shelf on my online account (currently there are 48 books on there!) which is handy for adding book recommendations from friends or online. I can work through that list one at a time, based on the book's availability, without having to buy every one I see. Perfect for my thrifty mind (and my purse!). 

This week I have reserved the first Lord of the Rings book, The Fellowship of the Ring, as I have finished The Hobbit and am moving on to the main event. It's currently in a library at the other end of the city so it will be moved over to my local one and put aside for me. I'll get an email or phone call to let me know when it's ready to be picked up and the only thing to do at that point is collect it, read it, and return it when I am done. 

I see libraries as almost a 'Try Before You Buy' system. I rarely read books more than once, but when I read something I know I will read again, I add it to my Amazon Wishlist, as something I would like to own. Your library is also a never-ending resource of amazing book knowledge and recommendations. These people make books their life and are always delighted to share their own love of literature with you. 

Libraries can also have sales of some of their books that are coming out of rotation so you can end up with some great discounts on amazing books. 

Does this stop me from buying books? No. 

Does this mean that I spend no money on books? Also no.

Does it help me keep my TBR under control? Absolutely not - it likely adds to my TBR! 

What it does though is allow me to explore far more books than I would be able to if I bought everything I wanted to read. It saves me space, time, and money. 

If you don't already have a library card, I would absolutely recommend that you sign up for your local one. Go along, have a browse, and explore the options available to you! I guarantee you will benefit :)

If, by some stroke of luck, you made it to the end of this and thought "Wow, what a great post, I'd love to read more!" you can FOLLOW MY BLOG by clicking the link and subscribing :) I also post bookish content on Instagram. Happy Reading!