Challenge: 50 Books discussion

Hello Everyone! Happy Friday!

Here's the question for us to discuss this week: Do you still buy books from the traditional brick and mortar bookstore?

I know there are a lot of readers in our group who get books from the library so if that's the primary way you get your books, discuss that here, too.

Or, are you one who buys books mostly online?

I have to say that I buy probably 75% of my books online. The other 25% are either bought at used bookstores (usually because I have trade-in credit) or I get them from the library. There are some books that aren't yet available as kindle books so that does make me have to find a paper copy if I really want to read it.

What about you? Brick and mortar? Library? Online?

I get most of my books from the library, or online if I buy them. I find they are cheaper this way.

I do like to go to the physical bookstores, though. They are amazing!

I usually get a coupon to a bookstore every other weekend. If there is a book out I know I will want to keep and read repeatedly (i.e. Star Wars books) I will purchase them at the store. Most of the time, I will go through the bookstore and add titles I want to read to a list on my phone. Then I will get them at the library. Right now I have 5 books and 1 audiobook from the library.

I rarely buy books online unless its something that can't be found anywhere else.

I will buy books online, in my favorite bookstore, used bookshops or anywhere I see a book that looks interesting. If I really like a book, or series, I like to have a hard copy though my Kindle makes reading books on the go so much easier.
I haven't been to a library since I finished school and started working but I used to spend a lot of time in them.

I have to admit, as much as I love brick-and-mortar stores, I get about 1/2 of my books from the internet. I buy some books on Amazon, but I get a lot of books from AbeBooks.com and bookmooch.com (reduce, reuse, recycle :) ). When I buy books in person, I get some from Barnes and Noble, just because that's the closest bookstore to where I am most of the time (It's so sad how few bookstores there are in my area anymore!). There's an independent bookstore that I shop at at Christmastime, so I buy a lot of presents there, and sometimes buy myself a present or two :)

And then, yes, there's the library, too.

I probably get 50% from the library, 10% Overdrive (which is technically still the library but I count as digital), 30% Kindle and the other 10% secondhand from people or Books A Million (or order Amazon). Sadly, I don't buy books to keep much anymore unless it's a hardback Stephen King... Don't know what it is but I just have to curl up with his hardbacks! Paperback or Kindle won't do.

Before my Kindle it was 50% library and 50% store.

More and more, I find myself doing the same thing as James. I love going to the actual bookstore and picking up books and reading the backcovers. Plus, going to the bookstore means I don't have everything filtered by amazon and thus miss new releases or books that don't match my buying history. So I love going to the bookstore and when I see something I want I scan the barcode and save it to buy later on my kindle. And the used bookstore is still one of my greatest weaknesses.

I rarely go to a Brick and Mortar store anymore, I download all my books to my Kindle. Before 2008, I would buy 4 or 5 books a week at Borders or Barnes & Noble. There is nothing better than finishing the first book in a series at 2:00 AM, and be able to download the next book in the series in 30 seconds. I love the e-reader concept, it so easy to find new authors and new books.

The sad thing is that book stores are closing (Borders was my favourite book store) or don't stock books that aren't on the best seller list. One of my favourite memories was Christmas 2009, we were in New York's Borders and it was snowing (coming from New Zealand a white Christmas had been on my families' bucket list), my children were engrossed in a large picture book about Starwars. I took a picture of them and out of the window you can see the snow. Yes we brought the book and it traveled around the States with us.

I was given a kindle for Christmas in 2010 and love it - I could download the book I wanted immediately, it's great if I mislay my glasses and my hands don't ache from holding heavy books.

I do feel I've played a part in the demise of good book stores - a Catch-22.

Usually read on my kobo (70%).

Still visit brick & mortar stores - local Chapters or 2nd hand books which is about (20%). And when I am travelling I usually check out the local bookstores in the area. Usually find books I am not normal exposed to.

Lastly, still borrow for my local library for those books I do not own or wish to own, but only borrow. (10%)

I love getting books from the library mainly because of the cost. I generally read books in a few days so I can't justify spending $5-$10 for such a short amount of time I will spend reading it. I also love finding used books at the thrift store where they can be as cheap as $0.25.

That being said, I have been know to spend hours of time browsing bookstores for new books. Then, I just write down any books I want and get them from the library free of charge. I am happy and so is my wallet :)

i buy about half e-books and about half "paper" books at my local bookstore.

i just adore my local bookstore and would be distraught if it closed. local bookstores are usually able to order any book that you want and have it delivered in a few days; so going to a B&N is fun for browsing, but i don't buy there.

i buy e-books for my Kobo. i have a kindle, but don't use it much anymore. i use the Kobo app on my iPad and therefore when i buy e-books, they are actually purchased through my local bookstore. (so i actually buy almost all my books from my local bookstore)

(since the publishers now set the prices for e-books, buying a book for Kobo is the same price as a book for a kindle. one of my friends said that "amazon is the wal-mart of the internet" and i agree that it's going that way. those of you who enjoy your local bookstore: support them with purchases or they may be gone!)

(the other 2-3% are purchased at various bookstores during my travels.)

What I am seeing in my area is maybe a demise of the large box bookstores like Barnes & Nobles and Borders, but I am also seeing independent stores making a comeback, that were squeezed out by Barnes & Nobles.

Karen wrote: "What I am seeing in my area is maybe a demise of the large box bookstores like Barnes & Nobles and Borders, but I am also seeing independent stores making a comeback, that were squeezed out by Barn..."

*sigh* That sounds wonderful. I wish that would happen in my area.

I'm fortunate to have an awesome local library and can get 95% of the books I want from there (or through them, since they're a cooperative with a large system of libraries in our state). The others are usually ebook only format books and I get them on Amazon using my SB credits. I haven't paid for a book in years :)

There is an interesting article in today's Yahoo Finance news "Barnes & Noble: The Final Chapter" that talks about the potential demise of the bookstore and the impact that the Nook has had on the bookstore's earnings. The thing about the Nook is interesting too because I know some of the readers here have Nooks, and I can't help wondering what will happen to that e-reader device if B&N closes its doors?

The article also touched on indie bookstores making a comeback so yeah for that! But I see the same thing as Mekerei - one of the problems with B&N is that because of the tough times they're having, they can't keep as many different titles on the shelves or a large inventory, and that is annoying for people like me who just like to go in and browse or get every book in a series that's 10 years old.

thanks for the info on B&N. i have three books on my Nook app that i haven't read yet. i'm going to make sure that they're downloaded.

that's the problem with e-books. you don't really *own* them. if the technology changes, or a vendor goes out of business, it can cause major problems in accessing something you paid for.

I get 80% of my books at the library, as I made a point to reduce my book budget several years ago. The great thing about doing that is I have ended up reading a ton more and increasing the variety. It is much easier to take a risk on a book when you aren't forking over hard earned money. So I enjoy perusing the shelves for books that catch my eye and trying the "Staff Recommended" section, I have found some real gems that way that never would have found it into my shopping cart.

Of the books I buy, half come from B&M stores and the rest from Amazon or somewhere similar. Usually I am willing to pay a premium to get a book right away, so Amazon is limited to things I can't find locally.

Barnes and Noble is the most routine place I visit, but a local store down the street has been stealing my business lately. They have a very nice selection of both used and new books, unfortunately sometimes their "political" leanings can be too prominent. But that's the perk of owning your own business I guess.