Do you use your local op-shop like a library?
I am a huge reader. I read anything between three to eight books a week. (One if I’m re-reading Lord of the Rings, though!)
So you can imagine how antsy I get if I have nothing to read. And most unfortunately for me, my local library likes to be open on the days when I always seem to be working or busy.
So I take the lazy way out and walk to a local op-shop instead and stock up on five ‘new’ books. Which then get returned if I don’t like them. I don’t even remove the price tags anymore unless I decide to keep them.
Does anyone else do this? I recently got a rather massive fine at a library (my fault, although it was a genuine misunderstanding because the library had an outdated email address and I didn’t realise – and I rely on those reminder emails to make me get my books back on time!), and I figured buying a couple of books at an op-shop now and again works out a hell of a lot cheaper! Especially if you buy when they have $1 sales…
This fact was really driven home to me when I was travelling last year. I went from spending 50p-£1 on books at charity stores in the UK, to spending over €10 on books in Europe because I had to buy them new. (Yet another reason why I have made the decision to never backpack again – it’s too difficult to carry books!)
And on a final note on op-shop books, I also love buying them because you never know what you may find. Some of my current favourites are ones that I would have ignored in a book shop.
Sep 21, 2012 @ 22:32:48
Hey Laura! YES!! I haven’t been to a library in years for two reasons: (a) op shops have a wicked selection and (b) I love keeping and displaying my fave books, so I’m often reluctant to give them back haha. Just today I found an elusive book that I had an absolute ‘meant to be’ moment….
For the past couple of weeks I’ve come across “Women Who Run With Wolves” and I have always picked it up and put it down again. Then at work early last week, my boss quoted from it and I was like “oh my gosh, I keep seeing that book everywhere!” and she said that it was meant for me…So the past couple of days I have consciously scoured op shop books and of course, have not seen it…until today! So I’m at my vollie job and we are literally chaining up the doors when a woman comes in stating she has crates of books to donate but she wants the crates back. So we have to go and find a trolley for her to dump the books in -which is then quickly up to me to sort out. And what is sitting in there?? Yup, Women Who Run With Wolves….. Meant to be eh??
Sorry for the longwinded story haha! Kel xx
Sep 23, 2012 @ 17:48:09
Fabulous story! I adore finding old favourites at op-shops. I always seem to find one as soon as I begin reminiscing about it! x
Sep 22, 2012 @ 18:12:58
Please support your local library! Librarians are having a tough time at the moment, what with budget cuts, closures and politicians not understanding the value of libraries. Also, a good librarian can recommend books for you. OK, you may occasionally have to pay a fine, but if people don’t use their libraries they will disappear.
Sep 23, 2012 @ 17:52:41
Don’t worry Susan, I still use my local library! I’d be very poor if I bought books all the time, even if they were from op-shops. I actually also worked at a library myself for a long time, so they’ve always been a big part of my life
This was a bit of a jokey post as recently I’ve bought a lot of books because my local library has been closed on my days off.
Laura x