My name is Patricia, and I have a problem

[pbray]

I collect reference books.

No, that's too simple. I crave reference books with a passion that most people reserve for illegal substances. This morning I added another book to my wishlist, after barely talking myself out of just giving in and ordering it.

Internet bookstores are the ultimate enablers. When I began writing B.A. (Before Amazon), research books were limited to what I could find in a physical bookstore, or through a trip to the local libraries. Quickly outgrowing the public libraries, I made full use of the nearby university library. This was also back when super-bookstores had not yet reached the wilds of Upstate New York, so a few times a year I'd make a trip to a major city to take advantage of their specialty bookstores.

Then came Amazon and other internet booksellers who offered any title in print, and many out of print titles as well. Suddenly I didn't have to keep renewing my library loan for The Regency Companion, I could buy a copy for myself. My small reference library began to grow.

And grow.

At first my internet shopping was limited to buying copies of books that I'd seen, or previously borrowed from a library. Then I started buying books based on reviews and recommendations from others.

Now I'm browsing descriptions, weighing reviews and citations, and trying to decide if one book on obscure topic A is enough, or whether I ought to get two so I can contrast their approaches. And it's not long before the dollars start adding up.

Having come across yet another book that looked interesting, this morning I felt victorious when I realized that the local university had a copy in their collection--only to discover that the book is on loan and not due back until January 2008.

Oh bother, as Pooh would say. It's not critical, so I added the book to my wishlist. If I could hold it in my hands I'd be able to decide if I need it, but I'm not yet ready to shell out the cash for it, sight unseen.

I've promised myself that I can buy one book off my wishlist--and only one--as soon as I finish the book I'm currently reading. And that I can go on a limited spree once I meet my writing goal for this month. Though for old times sake, rather than just shopping on the web, I'm thinking that a trip to NYC might be in order. After all, if I go in person, I can't buy any more books than I can carry, right?

Comments

[gauroth.livejournal.com]

I am astonished that anyone (even a high-flying super-duper professorial type) is allowed to borrow a library book for so long! I did my pre-Library School training in a University Library, and nobody, but nobody, not even the Vice-Chancellor, was allowed to borrow on more favourable terms than the students.

We all got very good at expressions of sorrowful sympathy while explaining that we couldn't bend the rules for anyone: most saw the justice of that, but a few got a bit shouty and threw tantrums. (Ee, it was funny!)

I hope that you get hold of the book, by hook or by crook. Of course, I have a hidden motive because (I hope) research=new book=me being very happy!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I was amazed too, when I first discovered this.

Faculty, staff and graduate students are allowed to check out books for up to a year--subject to recall.

Mere undergraduates must cope with a 6 week due date, though they can request renewals as long as no one else has requested the book.

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

Back when I was in high school and borrowing books from the University of Calgary library, there were two due dates per year (1 January and 1 June, or something like that). Unless someone else requested the book, you got to keep it until the next due date after you checked it out. It was awesome. Imagine my distress when I arrived at York U as an undergraduate and discovered I could only keep library books for two weeks and could only renew them twice. Crikey, even the public library lets you keep things for three weeks!