What do we do BEFORE EREADERS?

[Pulpmeister]

I lived on second-hand bookstore paperbacks, and browsed the charity shops as well. For a while I was a rail commuter and read on the train, but mostly I went to work by car, so reading was a weekend and evening pursuit. When I moved house, most of them went to Op Shops (the good condition ones) or into the bin if they were tatty.

Once, in the UK, I stayed in a pub in a village rear Rutland, and they had a rack of old books in the front bar. That night I got to read "Ice Cold in Alex", a ww2 book. Can't recall the author.

[Cinisajoy]

Library and thrift stores.

[danskmacabre]

I've been using a daypack/backpack type bag for many years.
Before I got an eareader, I'd have 5+ books in there "Just in case" Usually paperbacks though, so it wasn't a huge inconvenience.

Having an ereader has been a huge benefit for me though. now I have 1000s of books to select from whenever I want.

Still, one of my hobbies is Tabletop roleplaying games and I still prefer getting the hardback large books (Kind of A4 sized books) for the rules for these games and I often have 1 or 2 books like these stashed in my daypack for some light reading.

[meeera]

Carried lots of books, and yes it was a right pain. People with visual impairment had to carry much larger books (large print), or rely on audiobooks with cumbersome listening devices.

[JamieEvan]

Before I have my magical e-reader, I used to take more than 3 novel in my bags(I can't remember exactly). I am addicted to novels honestly. Now I can easily bring all my favourite novels go with me anywhere. That is the reason why I love my E-reader so much!

[Barty]

I read (past tense) less.

[Sweetpea]

I always had a pocket in my bag or coat pocket. When on holiday, I'd bring at least 3 books per week. Only once did I only bring one book (only a long weekend on a skiing trip), boy, did I regret bringing only one book! Who could have imagined we'd be stuck on that mountain top, with no where to go and no skiing to be done due to a huge storm that struck half a day after we arrived there?

[Geralt]

I always bring only my kindle.
That being said, if I was living in an English speaking country, and I had a good library available, I would most certainly cut down on my ebook reading in a major degree purely from financial reasons. And I love libraries I suspect majority of my books would be borrowed paper books and audio from the library.
However, since I don't live anywhere like that, I have no choice but to use kindle.

[pidgeon92]

I went to the library about once per week, and I always had 3-6 books checked out. I generally always had one with me. This was of course before iPhone, so I now usually just have my iPhone with me, and I'll usually play a game instead of do any reading. I still read extensively at home, and if I'm going out and know I'll have a lot of down time, I will often take my Kindle along.

[pdurrant]

Wow - I've been buying and reading ebooks for nearly 14 years, although I didn't get my first ereader (a Sony Clie SL-10) until 12 years ago. (Read on a desktop/laptop.)

What did I do before? Bought lots of cheap paperbacks, often second-hand or remaindered.

[Apache]

I would haunt both new and used bookstores for books. I bought them new and used. I would also buy hardcover books from my favorite authors because I did not want to wait a year for them to be released in softcovers. I also keep all books that I enjoyed and would reread them. Living in my house was like living in a library. Heaven for me, not so much for my family.
Apache

[issybird]

I didn't start buying ebooks until I got my first e-ink reader (the first Nook, when it came out), but I read public domain ebooks for over ten years before that, on desktop/laptop/handheld.

I still go to the library, but only to pick up a specific book which I've checked for availability first. No more weekly trips just to see what catches my eye, in addition to specific wants. I miss it in a way. Much more has been gained than lost, in the ease of accessing and breadth of available books, but there's less serendipity now, the discovery of unthought of possibilities. Even those heavy, clunky, space-consuming card catalogues had their revelatory moments, as your fingers walked the cards.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by issybird

I still go to the library, but only to pick up a specific book which I've checked for availability first.

The only time I visit a library is when I have to be physically present to renew one of my cards. Back in the day, I used to go to the library once or twice a week. But with the advent of digital, I now do it from the comfort of my home.

[Phogg]

I still go to the library because it is a relaxing place where I won't spend money ... that I can walk to.
I take an ereader though.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Phogg

I still go to the library because it is a relaxing place where I won't spend money ... that I can walk to.
I take an ereader though.

Our new $60M Library has a Coffee bar just outside the main door.
You are no longer safe at the Library