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What is a necesity for your library?
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I believe a library should be holistic and complete in itself. I'm a little like you Dylan, most of the books I have in my collection are mysteries and thrillers too, but I can't really pick them up and read over again. I think a library should have books that are ageless and can be read many times. I think a good library should contain books covering nearly all genres. For me, it'd have to contain all books by my favorite authors.
I think a go to the library, besides that I love them, for the books i don't know or that I am not sure about. The books I have in my library are books mainly that I know I will like, always buy for instance Patricia Cornwelll, N evans.... . And they are mainly my favourite genres
Well I buy more than I should...We have good libaries here but the wait lists for some things is just too long fro me to wait. I definiely use libraries for "research" stuff but the majority of the fiction - I buy.
Funny, I think I have several criteria when buying vs. borrowing a book:Is the author on my "Top authors I would read regardless" list? e.g.-when Stephen King comes out with a new book I buy it.
Do I think I'll recommend it to my family? If yes, then I'll probably buy instead of borrow.
Is it part of a series? sometimes I don't buy the first book in a series just to see if I'll like it first--then I'm all bummed b/c I want to finish the series but I don't have the first one. So, then I'll go out and buy all of them.
Oh, also...how many people gave it glowing recommendations? If it made lots of trusted people here's seal of approval, I'll go out and buy it.
my library mostly consists of book i love.most of the books that i read, i check out from the library, because book can be pricey, and i don't know if i'll like them.
if i loved the book, i'll definitely buy it.
i also buy books in a series if i like the first one. once i start a series, i generally like to read all books back to back if possible, and i don't like to wait for library books to become available.
i do have some random books in my library though. if it has an interesting cover and it's on the bargain rack, or the blurb sounds good, i'll buy it. sometimes it has worked out, other times not so much..
I try to get everything I can out of the library these days. It is kind of a random thing re. what I will buy - usually based on a whim (and often a sale) when I visit my local bookstore. I tend to buy more books for my children these days.
I would add that I really appreciate the library for some more expensive items - for instance, a $180 book on shoe making that I was interested in, but didn't want to buy. My husband and I accumulated SOOOO many books over the years and recently did a purge of 80% of our collection - we sold many to the used bookstore, but also donated a ton to our local library (for which they were extremely grateful). MY main thing is that I just don't want to have so many books in the house as we used to - we still have 4 large bookcases full of the ones that are very dear to us, so you can imagine how many we used to have!
I definitely prefer buying over lending these days. Main reason for it is that our local library needs about six months to make books available after they were published. I am not the kind of person who waits for a book that long. I do use the library of our university from time to time to lend books for my studies because those books are either no longer available or they are too expensive, at least in my eyes.I think a library should cover all areas of interests. Next to fiction books it should have a could amount of non-fiction like reference books, biographies, memoirs, encyclopedias, dictionaries and many others. And one should be allowed to lend them.
Our home library covers almost every thinkable subject. In the fiction area we have children books ( I kept all my children books ), thriller, science fiction (my husband is a Perry Rhodan fan and has more than 500 books), thriller, love, classics, historical fiction and even some fantasy. And then there are plenty of non-fiction books: 13 different TIME LIFE series, books about planes, ships, traveling, both World Wars, biographies, memoirs, encyclopedias, dictionaries and who knows what else.
A subject we haven't really covered is sports. I do have some books on baseball and one about Formula One but that's it. I don't mind watching it on TV but that's it.
I buy WAY too much. I never got in the habit of going to the library. I also associate getting books out of the library with school. There is a time limit that I have to read the book in and so even if I'm interested I become immediately less interested in the book. I'm trying to modify that behavior b/c my book budget is smaller these days.I also always try to buy book on discount theses days, either form the discount rack or waiting for coupons. I try to spend less than $15 on books but I buy all across the board. Especially thought provoking books that i want to underline and write in.
When a book by one of my favorite author's comes out, (like Jeane) I buy it. I know I am going to love it, and i will probably read it again. I like the feeling of seeing those books on my shelves. If it's a chick lit fluff kind of bok, I'm okay with borrowing those. I also agree about the series. I usually try to borrow or buy used the first in a series, just "to se", but if I like it, I'll buy them all so I don't have to wait.
Even if I borrow a book, but lovd it enough to want my mom or a friend to read, I'll buy those too. Mostly for lending purposes.
Classics are an absolute necessity for me, they can be classics in any genre - i.e. LOTR or Frankenstein or Gone With The Wind or The Phantom Tollbooth.I also love to buy books which are near and dear to my heart, just to have it in my library.
Other than that, when my library does its semi-annual bag of books for a dollar sale, I obtain whatever books strike my fancy.
Right now since I don't have a lot of money I only buy books by authors I like that I can't get at the library I work for for free. That's basically my criteria at the moment.
I used to buy books that I just wanted to read, but as the volume increased I needed to set some limits for the purpose of not having to create paths around bookshelves.One criteria is that I buy books that I intend to read multiple times. Sometimes the desire to re-read an old favorite strikes, and I don't really want to wait weeks or however long to get it from the library.
Another reason that I buy books is the book is unavailable at the library and is a reasonable price.
Occasionally, I'll pick up a bag of whatever looks good to read at a charity sale or something similar.
The last reason (and the most silly) falls under the rare/collectible arena. I collect vintage mass market paperbacks of classic novels. I usually buy ones in near fine/fine condition. Some of these books I'll buy multiple copies of, depending on how valuable a particular edition is, and how cheap it is. Often I'll have a "collectible copy" of a classic and a reading copy.
For my library, little is of necessity. I read I share, I go on to the next one. However, my household has a rather large maritime library. Large for a private household, anyway, as I think its holdings may number in excess of 750 volumes. My husband's library, and but few of the books are fiction. Nearly all of it focuses on west coast activity.
Not a thing ... it's one of my favorite spots to pass the time ... and everybody knows my name! (Just like Cheers!) ;o)
I never go to the town library as it is rubbish. It never has anything good or current for that matter. So I tend to buy all of my books and have my own little library. As for what is a must for me for my library - All of Vonnegut's books and Jean Rhys' works. Those are my must haves.
I collect text books and theology mostly. I pick up a few books from library sales and whatnot, but mostly I give those away after I have finished them. The only novels I buy (or keep from the sales) are classics and books that I really liked enough to want to reread them someday.
I buy a lot of classics, if possible then hardcover and nicely decorated. I also buy a lot of fantasy (Terry Pratchett, Martin, etc.) and historical fiction. Sometimes I buy books out of boredom... One surprises me, the other doesn't
I buy a lot of classics, if possible then hardcover and nicely decorated. I also buy a lot of fantasy (Terry Pratchett, Martin, etc.) and historical fiction. Sometimes I buy books out of boredom... One surprises me, the other doesn't
I have a small library actually... I´m always reading the same books over and over again, so.. lolMy house´s library, for to speak, it´s bigger cause has my mom´s books too that I also read.
I intend to buy more books in their original language (English mostly) and some world classics I never read.
I really LOVE to buy books, I almost don´t read if the books isnt´t mine...
First because I live in a small town in a country where reading isn´t habit, so, the local library is rubbish.
Secondly because I hate to read a destroyed book, the local library only have brazilian classics, the kind children must read in elementary school.
So.. I buy them on internet from online stores :( Too bad book is an expensive thing here, so, nothing less them US$20, without posting fee.
I tend to buy those books that I can't get in the library. In addition, I tend to buy poetry books, Since, these need to be re- read. 
Thanks!
-Dylan