We live in a tumultuous time all around, with the economy sinking and technology continuing to change habits and proclivities. It’s also an interesting time for the publishing industry, as we’re all watching to see how the economy will affect sales, and also keeping an eye on e-books and other new technological developments.
Have you noticed a change in how you buy books? Do you buy fewer? More? New/used? Do you buy them online or in bookstores?
My habits have definitely been changed in the past year. Now that I have a Kindle, I look first to see if books are available as an e-book. The ease and convenience of reading on a Kindle has been indispensable for me — I’m able to get so much more done now that I can read for work or pleasure anywhere, anytime.
What about you?
Yes. I use the public library a lot more!
I think I’m buying more books. I’m meeting so many great authors this year that I want to read everything they’ve written!
My clothes budget has taken a hit though. 🙁
At karate class, a fellow student was reading Brisingr by Christopher Paolini, which is like 800 pages or something. Huge, huge book. He said he was going on vacation and couldn’t take the book with him because it was too big. He was going to take a small paperback. I said, “Times like this, you wish you had a Kindle, huh?”
He gave me a completely blank look and said, “What’s a Kindle?”
It is to cry.
As for my book buying habits, I have made it a point that every single time my kids get invited to a birthday party, (which for my daughter is like every five minutes) we are buying the birthday child a book.
I will support the industry that I want to support me!
I use the public library heavily for new releases and keeping up with favorite authors. This year I did buy books at author talks and once compulsively at Walmart because of the price.
I think a book is the best Christmas present ever. There is nothing more fabulous to me than opening a new book knowing I don’t have to get out of my jammies or stop reading all day!
I don’t think my buying habits have changed that much except that I probably do buy more books online via Amazon. It’s just so convenient and I live in a small area where the only bookstore doesn’t even carry some of my favorite authors. As to money, I’ve always been cautious about spending but books are my weakness. I’d go without a lot of things before I’d stop buying them.
I with Margaret, I’m buying more books as presents for my kids’ friends. Most of the stuff kids get at birthdays is junk, anyway. I usually tuck a gift card for the Sugar Shack in there, too, so everyone is happy.
I love to share books my kids have enjoyed. My kids haven’t been blacklisted from birthday parties yet.
I’m making more of an effort to go to my local bookstore, too, rather than use Amazon.
The economy hasn't slowed my book purchases. The only thing that has ever done that was realizing I'd run out of space to put them all!
The other side of this question, though, is troubling: how has the economy changed agent & publisher "purchases." Nathan? Care to weigh in?
My parents grew up during the Depression. Hence, I was raised to buy something ONLY when I had the money to pay for it FIRST. Plus, I’ve always tried to conserve gasoline, energy, and water (I live in Utah; drought is common).
Granted, my bank could go under and I could lose everything, but at the moment, I have a job, don’t owe money to anyone (except monthly utility bills), and have careful habits.
So, no, my buying habits haven’t changed much. I still buy books either from my two favorite independent bookstores (The King’s English andFrost’s) or from Amazon. If I see a good deal on a used book, I’ll buy it. I also use the library a lot.
But all this is what I’ve done for years.
Didn’t Santayana once say, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”?
Well, thanks to vicarious memories from my parents, so far I haven’t had to repeat the economic past.
I’m putting more books on my wish list rather then buying right away. And in the book store, I’m looking at the prices of hardcovers and thinking I’ll wait for paperback. Last Saturday, though, I spent $50.00 on paperbacks (at a store). I’m weak.
I have something I call The Middle Shelf. Since I’d rather read books than collect them, I tend to only buy titles that I’ll read until they become dust. And, yes, my library card gets quite a workout.
Books are my addiction, so I can’t say I’m buying less this year, but I will say my buying habits have changed – now I buy only when there are sales or when I get those coupons from Borders, plus I joined an online book club, qpb.com, that has good sales from time to time.
Like Dan above, I should probably start using the public library more, with the way our economy is going.
I am buying more than ever before. Escaping to other issues/problems/times seems to comfort me in distress.
I buy from Costco, Amazon, Ebay, indie book stores, garage sales, etc. Wherever I can find a title I want.
So yes, more books, bring them on!
I’m buying more books because I’m trying to support the authors I love. 🙂
I buy about the same. Our budget actually has an amount for my books – though I must admit, unless I get a recomendation for an author, I’ll check them out first from the library or the used store. If I like them a lot, then I’ll buy their other books new.
I’m buying more books, in shops and online, for myself and as presents. Just posted on my blog about having a book-centered Christmas this year, instead of the usual piles of junk.
I don’t buy books. I go to the LIBRARY!!!
I am still buying books but I swap them with friends more regularly. I can’t resist books no matter the econ. They are like an antidote to the problems swirling around daily life.
My reading has slowed down anyway since I have a toddler. But whenever I do have a chance to visit B&N, I buy several books at once. Gotta keep the industry going! Besides, aren't books a necessity?
I think I have been buying more, because I have been reading more. There have been times when I want to buy more books, and can’t afford it, but then I remember I have to catch up on the books that are on my shelves anyway.
I suppose I have also started using the library to read things that are reccomended to me that I am not sure if I want to buy them, but if I love it, it goes on my “To Buy” list anyway.
I’ve been buying more, and buying online more — especially ‘new and used’ from Amazon sellers.
I buy about as many books as I did before. The one thing that has changed is the type of books I buy. I used to buy a lot of paperback classics; these days, when I want to read a classic, I get it from the library, or borrow it from a friend. What I buy now are books from authors who are, y’know, alive. That’s my way of telling the book industry to publish more of what I like. I try to support debut authors a lot, as well as those all-important second and third books. And as my favorite category of NEW fiction is YA, I can afford to buy a lot of those books in hardback. Hardbacks run about $15 – $18 in YA, and even less on Amazon. So I’m acquiring a really nice hardback collection of great YA novels.
I go to the library a lot, too. Both the husband and I buy about one hardback per month, and then we get about 7 – 8 books from the library, between the two of us. That makes for a very full month of reading.
I’m actually taking more time to read this year. My brain needs the recharge. So I’m buying more.
We’ve stopped buying books… but only because we’re trying to pare down our collection to get it to fit in our house.
That said, I still am a sucker for the booksale shop at the library–especially if I can pick up something for the kiddies.
But until we can afford a bigger house, we have to shed books faster than we accumulate them… and we already got rid of all the easy ones!
I have gotten less books this year than any year since second grade. It’s not an economic thing–at least, not on my end of economics.
The book stores locally are carrying more copies of books, but the books are by fewer authors. I just can’t get my hands on anything new. And browsing online is great if I’ve already read the book, but it just doesn’t have the same charm of going into the store and picking up a book and bringing it home.
I am extremely broke this year, so I cannot afford to buy the books I want to. I’m probably going to start using the library system, even if it isn’t very good in this part of the city.
I buy more books on Amazon or at Costco and I buy mostly trade rather than hardcover or mass market.
Yea I’ve definetly been holding onto my petty cash a lot more. Buying books this year for uni was an entirely different experience. I avoided the seemingly easy university book store (and its steroid worthy prices) and hit chapters indigo online for used books as well as renting some books for the library which I’d only need for a couple of weeks. I constantly have to argue myself out of buying books I want which 2 years ago I would have thrown down for without a moment of hesitation. After all, when US of A coughs, Canada sneezes. Great topic.
I buy more used and paperbacks rather than New Releases. The library is another good place to save some cash.
I’m buying more books than ever. Mostly new, but a few used. Having started a reader blog, I now have more incentive to entertain myself with books than with mindless television shows. I feel very lucky that I can afford to do this even during a tough economic period.
My buying habits haven't really changed with the economy. I give up other things–not my books. I'm totally addicted. I'm actually buying more because I'm now supplying my habit and that of my 14 year old daughter who devours books faster than I do.
I frequent B&N often–sometimes Borders if I'm in that part of town (I don't really like how their store in my town is set up.) If I can't find the book I want in the stores I look online and generally go with Amazon or, on occasion, specialized publishers. Once in a blue moon I go to a used book store.
I'm glad your Kindle is working out for you. I can see where that could make life easier. I have an eBook, but I don't like to read my books that way.
Me, my book-buying habbits haven’t changed. And I think the economy will have to get quite a bit worse (which it probably will) before my book-buying is affected. The thing we’ve cut back on most is eating out, and that’s how we’re saving money. But since I’m a writer, I consider books–fiction and nonfiction–a necessary tool to use in furthering my career, so if I can’t get them at the library or used bookstore, or if I know I’ll read the book more than once, I buy it, just like always. I imagine, though, that if I wasn’t a writer, my book-buying habbits might be affected.
Additionally, today’s post at BookEnds’ blog addresses the issue of books and the economy, for anyone who’s interested.
I generally only buy a book if I’ve read it through the library or by borrowing it first. That, or I’ll buy it if it’s something I can use for novel research.
If it’s a fiction and something I loved when I got it from the library, I’ll buy it. There have been occassions where I’ve bought before I’ve read it, but I’ve been burned too many times by it. So I’ve never really bought many books to begin with.
I like e-Books and I’ve debated purchasing a Kindle, but I wonder–what happens should it malfunction? Am I going to lose my whole library of books? Electronics tend to have too many issues with them.
Then again, my house could catch on fire, a tornado could hit it, etc. and all my traditional books will be destroyed. I guess I’m still undecided…
Now that I am back up north I am buying more books from the nearest book store (down south I had to drive over an hour to get to any book store and nearly 2 hours to get to a major bookstore) and fewer from online.
I’ve actually dramatically increased the amount of books I normally buy. This is due to a combination of increased exposure to authors through their online blogs as well as studying the genre market (SF/F) as I am working on becoming published.
I have an extensive CD/DVD/Book collection. Book buying is the last thing I cut back on.
Bought more and read less…
Now I’m playing catch up on all the books laying around.
Hey, I just got a Kindle for my Birthday (and for Christmas)! I didn’t buy books for a whole year to help save up. It was torture, but well worth it!
I now only buy books available for the Kindle (or convertable form). I am buying more books, though, and the sample feature helps me remember all the books I want to read soon and gives me the confidence to try new-to-me authors.
I love my Kindle. I’ve got about 200 books and another 60 samples on it right now.
I think the Kindle is the cat’s meow.
I have a huge TBR pile, so I’ve slowed my book-buying to give me time to catch up. I’m not trying to save money. In fact, I feel a bit guilty cutting back when the industry is most desperate for consumers.
I think we should all give books for Christmas and Hannukah this year in order to support the industry we want to have feeding us. Now, what books can I give to my relatives who don’t like to read? I know – cookbooks!
My habits haven’t changed. I still try the library first, and buy only books that (a) I can’t get from the library, (b) I want to keep around for reference, or (c) I’m so in love with that I have to have them on my shelf (and I don’t know this until after I’ve read it from the library).
This conservative buying policy is partly due to a limited budget and partly due to the fact that my house is already bursting with books and I have no more shelf space!
I buy more books I am sure I am going to read for pure enjoyment (fiction) and less for research or information (nonfiction).
I used to never hesitate about books. But now I focus on enjoyment of stories. The other ones I look over, get what I need in the store and do not buy.
I no longer use a credit card in the bookstore.
My book-buying habits have temporarily changed within the past few weeks. I usually buy large numbers of books in all sorts of formats, for many different reasons: hardcover, paperback, eBooks, books from both the big publishing houses and small press publishers, Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winning books, books by fellow small press authors, non-fiction books for background research into factual details as I write my novel and short stories, and so on. The past few weeks, with the economy so unstable, I’ve cut back on buying books, ordering only those I need for background research or plan to give as gifts. I plan to return to buying books in larger numbers again, but right now I’m spending much more time writing than reading, and I have huge piles of “To Be Read” books, so I feel that I can wait to add more books to my shelves and computer. My older son has a Kindle and loves it; I hope to buy one for myself at some point, especially as my own books are now available in Kindle format.
I’ve started following business and financial news throughout the day, and plan to learn more about how the economy works, as I’m actually finding it fascinating. Funny story about an indication that I might be watching too much news … Today, the Asian stock markets fell, followed by the DOW falling and gas prices going down. I fell asleep watching the news and woke up hearing the following words on TV: “Only $3.99! Get it before we’re all sold out. Only $3.99!” In a kind of irrational dream state, my eyes still closed, the thought ran through my mind, Gas is only $3.99 and it’s almost gone? I made myself wake up and open my eyes. They were selling a mop on TV.
I don’t think my habits have changed much at all. I still buy a lot of books (way more than I should) and I still do a lot of that buying online from Amazon.com Marketplace sellers, usually gently used. I also keep my eyes open in the bargain books section of bookstores for deals, and find them very often, that’s why the list of books that I have bought and haven’t yet read is growing all the time. I still haven’t turned to the e-book side. I don’t know if I ever will.
Today is my day to run errands. I forewent lunch so I could buy the new John Green YA, PAPER TOWNS.
I’m sort of hungry right now, but my mind will be full in a matter of minutes as soon as I crack those fresh pages open.
That’s the hard thing about the library — they so seldom have the books I want to read — the waiting list for a new title is months long. So, while I’d rather read for free, or wait for a paperback because the price is cheaper, I can’t wait that long for my favorite authors.
I still ask for book vouchers as birthday and christmas gifts. There is nothing more wonderful that mooching around a book store with money to spend and when the money runs out, as it invariably does, then the intenet is a marvellous tool for searching out a good deal.
I have bought second hand books from ebay etc but much prefer to have brand new.
Since I got a job at a library, yes. I tend to look first at what is available for free, then online. I never did spend a lot of money on books, I always waited for paperbacks or used copies (university town).
I think I’m buying about the same books, but it depends on the month and what books are being released. Can I take “depends?” *g*
Yes but not because of the economy. It is because I quit smoking. Now that I no longer smoke, I admittedly read less, no more going outside ot burn one and read the next chapter.
I’m buying more actually. So much so, that I’ve had to declare a moratorium. (Yeah, right.) I’ve got a whole shelf full waiting for me.
Well, I’m a librarian, so I rarely buy books. (If I bought every book I read, I’d go broke very quickly.) I do like to buy them to support my local authors and favorites, but this past year I haven’t had as much money to support this habit. In fact, I don’t think I’ve bought any books this year. One day I hope to sell a novel, but I don’t expect to make much money from it. I just want people to take it out from the library!
I definitely buy a LOT more books now than last year. I actually make more (this is not to say I make a lot) but I think the biggest thing here is that I’ve moved–I used to live in a very small town where very few books were available to me, even via the library. Now I live in a city, and actually have access to Borders and BN, not to mention writers conferences and book festivals. It’s kind of bad for the budget, but for the first time in my life I have a to-be-read pile.
And I can’t go e-reader. I love my little at-home library.
I’m self-employed (advertising) and my business is in a world of hurt right now. I’ve had to stop buying books, along with a lot of other things. Thank God for the public library.
My buying habits haven’t really changed. My favorite authors I wait for, and buy in hardcover the day the book is released.
New authors, authors people recommend to me, out of print titles, etc and so on I buy online at abebooks.com