My Hypothetical Reading Costs ... and Yes, I abuse my calculator - Page 2

J. Strnad · 11-08-2011, 10:51 AM

I'm happy to support my public libraries whether I personally go there or not. I do check out the occasional ebook, but mainly I feel that it's a great place for kids (as it was for me--many fond memories of going to the libraries that someone else paid for), and even poor people who can't afford ereaders or to buy books deserve the chance to read.

Of course, I'm a California fruits-and-nuts liberal, and I have this belief in stuff like serving your community and sometimes paying money to make the world a better place for everyone, not just for myself. Hell, I even contribute to two public radio stations that I could listen to for free, so maybe I'm an idiot, to boot.

HomeInMyShoes · 11-08-2011, 10:52 AM

^No, you just haven't forgotten that there is a balance between public and private lives.

Fbone · 11-08-2011, 04:00 PM

I originally thought to end my library usage in December but now I realize several more of my TBR titles are not available in ebook form. So I will still keep my library card handy in 2012.

wvcherrybomb · 11-08-2011, 06:14 PM

I take my grandson to story time and we look at books while we are there. I never actually check anything out since I got my Kindle. I figure story time makes up for whatever I pay in taxes to support the library - that is not itemized on our local property taxes.

I can't complain anyway since I moved to FL and trash pick-up is paid for by taxes. Having always lived in WV and paid robbery prices ($3.25 per bag) to have trash hauled away, I feel like I've hit the lottery. I can drag anything up to the curb ... old appliances, boxes of whatever, furniture, un-bagged trash (in a can), you name - they take it. This alone makes me glad to hand over my property taxes every year.

Fbone · 12-07-2011, 06:11 PM

Updated for my records. Interesting that 29% of the books weren't available digitally.

NicholasV · 12-07-2011, 11:32 PM

This thread is so sad, basically you act like you just discovered your library or something, lol. Are you seriously tracking with a spreadsheet every book you loan out and how much it "saved" you? Do you refer to Camden or Newark?

One of the best things about using the library is that it cuts down on personal book hoarding. Sadly in NJ and likely the rest of the USA libraries have become internet kiosks, homeless shelters and DVD/Bluray rental centers first, with few people browsing the book stacks ever. Often it takes decades for the effects of trends to take full effect, but eventually the government will learn how dead a traditional bookshelf centered library is and give less funding to new book acquisition and also dedicate less floor space.

pidgeon92 · 12-08-2011, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicholasV

but eventually the government will learn how dead a traditional bookshelf centered library is and give less funding to new book acquisition and also dedicate less floor space.

..... and by then ebook readers will be cheap as dirt. Devices that can display ebooks are ubiquitous already. It's a brave new media world out there, and paper books - particularly novels - are outdated. Children born today will no more be reading paper books when they turn sixteen than they will be learning to drive a car with a standard transmission.

Fbone · 12-08-2011, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicholasV

This thread is so sad, basically you act like you just discovered your library or something, lol. Are you seriously tracking with a spreadsheet every book you loan out and how much it "saved" you? Do you refer to Camden or Newark?

The city I live in itemized the property tax bills for the first time so I discovered how much I paid in library taxes. I decided to recoup some of my investment.

It's easy to record one's reading list with Goodreads. They have links to check prices.

I don't live in Camden or Newark but Monmouth County.

MrsJoseph · 12-09-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicholasV

This thread is so sad, basically you act like you just discovered your library or something, lol. Are you seriously tracking with a spreadsheet every book you loan out and how much it "saved" you? Do you refer to Camden or Newark?

One of the best things about using the library is that it cuts down on personal book hoarding. Sadly in NJ and likely the rest of the USA libraries have become internet kiosks, homeless shelters and DVD/Bluray rental centers first, with few people browsing the book stacks ever. Often it takes decades for the effects of trends to take full effect, but eventually the government will learn how dead a traditional bookshelf centered library is and give less funding to new book acquisition and also dedicate less floor space.

Actually, I think its a good thing. We pay a lot of money in taxes and most people just complain about it. Fbone decided to make his money work for him. That's a plus.

Fbone · 01-05-2012, 07:55 PM

Final tally for 2011 was $497.95 saved using public library. I'm very pleased with that. That's about 5 years of library taxes. For 2012 I will continue to use the library but not exclusively. There are still a number of books not available as ebooks and these I will attain from library along with experimental books I'm not sure I'll complete. This will probably be enough to recover my taxes for 2012.

Until I purchase an ereader that I like and can operate, though, library only.

MrsJoseph · 01-06-2012, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

Final tally for 2011 was $497.95 saved using public library. I'm very pleased with that. That's about 5 years of library taxes. For 2012 I will continue to use the library but not exclusively. There are still a number of books not available as ebooks and these I will attain from library along with experimental books I'm not sure I'll complete. This will probably be enough to recover my taxes for 2012.

Until I purchase an ereader that I like and can operate, though, library only.

Have you tried the Sony T1? I've heard it was great for the library.

Fbone · 01-06-2012, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

Have you tried the Sony T1? I've heard it was great for the library.

I haven't yet. Can't seem to find one on display to play with.

MrsJoseph · 01-06-2012, 01:27 PM

Do you have any BJ's or Best Buys in your area? I've seen one at a BJs and one at Best Buy (but it was a HUGE Best Buy).

Fbone · 01-06-2012, 01:46 PM

I must have a mini Best Buy here. They don't have them. Online the prices seem to have moved to $129.

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11-08-2011, 10:51 AM	#16
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	I'm happy to support my public libraries whether I personally go there or not. I do check out the occasional ebook, but mainly I feel that it's a great place for kids (as it was for me--many fond memories of going to the libraries that someone else paid for), and even poor people who can't afford ereaders or to buy books deserve the chance to read. Of course, I'm a California fruits-and-nuts liberal, and I have this belief in stuff like serving your community and sometimes paying money to make the world a better place for everyone, not just for myself. Hell, I even contribute to two public radio stations that I could listen to for free, so maybe I'm an idiot, to boot.

11-08-2011, 10:52 AM	#17
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	^No, you just haven't forgotten that there is a balance between public and private lives.

11-08-2011, 04:00 PM	#18
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,286 Karma: 101696762 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	I originally thought to end my library usage in December but now I realize several more of my TBR titles are not available in ebook form. So I will still keep my library card handy in 2012.

11-08-2011, 06:14 PM	#19
wvcherrybomb Sharp Shootin' Grandma Posts: 847 Karma: 1123940 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sunny Florida Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Fire, Literati (has been adopted by my daughter)	I take my grandson to story time and we look at books while we are there. I never actually check anything out since I got my Kindle. I figure story time makes up for whatever I pay in taxes to support the library - that is not itemized on our local property taxes. I can't complain anyway since I moved to FL and trash pick-up is paid for by taxes. Having always lived in WV and paid robbery prices ($3.25 per bag) to have trash hauled away, I feel like I've hit the lottery. I can drag anything up to the curb ... old appliances, boxes of whatever, furniture, un-bagged trash (in a can), you name - they take it. This alone makes me glad to hand over my property taxes every year.

12-07-2011, 06:11 PM	#20
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,286 Karma: 101696762 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Updated for my records. Interesting that 29% of the books weren't available digitally.

12-07-2011, 11:32 PM	#21
NicholasV Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 13944 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dover, NJ Device: Nook Touch, (ex)Kindle 3	This thread is so sad, basically you act like you just discovered your library or something, lol. Are you seriously tracking with a spreadsheet every book you loan out and how much it "saved" you? Do you refer to Camden or Newark? One of the best things about using the library is that it cuts down on personal book hoarding. Sadly in NJ and likely the rest of the USA libraries have become internet kiosks, homeless shelters and DVD/Bluray rental centers first, with few people browsing the book stacks ever. Often it takes decades for the effects of trends to take full effect, but eventually the government will learn how dead a traditional bookshelf centered library is and give less funding to new book acquisition and also dedicate less floor space.

01-05-2012, 07:55 PM	#25
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,286 Karma: 101696762 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Final tally for 2011 was $497.95 saved using public library. I'm very pleased with that. That's about 5 years of library taxes. For 2012 I will continue to use the library but not exclusively. There are still a number of books not available as ebooks and these I will attain from library along with experimental books I'm not sure I'll complete. This will probably be enough to recover my taxes for 2012. Until I purchase an ereader that I like and can operate, though, library only.

01-06-2012, 01:27 PM	#28
MrsJoseph Loves Ellipsis... Posts: 1,554 Karma: 7899232 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Kobo Wifi (broken), nook STR (returned), Kobo Touch, Sony T1	Do you have any BJ's or Best Buys in your area? I've seen one at a BJs and one at Best Buy (but it was a HUGE Best Buy).

01-06-2012, 01:46 PM	#29
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,286 Karma: 101696762 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	I must have a mini Best Buy here. They don't have them. Online the prices seem to have moved to $129.

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