[ SECRET POST #3884 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #3884 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 34 secrets from Secret Submission Post #555.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

04. http://i.imgur.com/Ud3Un1P.png

[greghousesgf]

how big is your library?

[(Anonymous)]

yooooooo I definitely feel this.

Also, like, I don't think this is a moral fault or anything, but it seems like a lot of the time people who recommend romance books don't "get" how offputting a lot of the trope-y genre romance stuff can be and so they recommend books that I just cannot enjoy.

[(Anonymous)]

I have not once read a self-published romance ebook that I thought was well-written. You are...probably...not missing much. Although some are gloriously lulzy.

[(Anonymous)]

I get this. I love reading and I love books, but if it's not at my library, the title's going in the "To Read" pile. I'm not going to spend money on a book I might not like.

[(Anonymous)]

I don't read romance novels, but I am all about the library and definitely agree on the "Not at the library, don't bother" thing. It's not even just money, but effort.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm hoping to self-publish a romance in the next year - I'll see if my library will take donated copies. Because I agree - I don't buy books. It's the library or nothing.

[(Anonymous)]

fwiw, bookbub often has free ebooks you can download (you get a daily mailing with your selected genres).

Authors often make the first book of their planned series free, to try to hook you on the remaining volumes I guess, but I find it's great way to winnow.

There's also a fair amount of free original fiction in the bigger fanfiction archives.

[(Anonymous)]

If you haven't already, I recommend trying the Overdrive, Libby, or Hoopla apps! They allow you to sign on with your library card and check out free ebooks, audiobooks, comics etc.!

[brandiweed.livejournal.com]

Check out your library's ILL (InterLibrary Loan) policies (some do charge-- my library does not). It's terrific for tracking down stuff.

[(Anonymous)]

what do you search on google to get that pic holy shit that's gorgeous

SA-picture link

[(Anonymous)]

found it

for anyone else interested its-

http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/579bb64add0895ce188b49ae/the-most-beautiful-library-in-every-us-state.jpg

or google image search 'library'

Re: SA-picture link

[(Anonymous)]

Damn, I wish my library was that beautiful. Don't get me wrong, I love my library and I gained a new appreciation for it when my town temporarily closed it during the recession, but it's not very aesthetically pleasing.

[(Anonymous)]

"I spend too much money as it is"

Then obviously books aren't a big priority for you so why complain?

Also ebooks are like $3 even for good long ones, especially ones from indie pubs. Just don't have Starbucks for one day and get some support out there for authors jfc.

[(Anonymous)]

This. I could get it if OP was talking about actual books because these days even paperbacks can be pricey, but ebooks are so cheap. Not only that, but authors who publish ebooks as opposed to physical copies don't have the benefit of having libraries buy their stuff to loan, so it's even more important to support them directly by buying their books.

[digitalghosts]

Unfortunately reading devices are not as cheap. If you have crap eyes like me, then you probably need a lit up ink screen (for some reason my eyes see unlit ones differently than paper). You certainly can use apps on phone and whatnot and buy used devices but it will be at least 20. And authors can spare a copy of any type to their local library (yep, can donate your own stuff). Edit: meant digital copies. And thought of another problem - you cannot walk into a shop and buy an indie book unless they have such service of ordering it for you. You need a bank account and a card to buy internet stuff unless you contact author. Library cards do have some requirements but less than banks.

[(Anonymous)]

Not OP
Not necessarily true. I have a budget for "fun" spending, but I prefer to spend it on things I know I will like. I'm not taking a risk on a book that could be god-awful. I have kindle unlimited, and there have been several books that I couldn't even make it through. Those would add up if I were paying $3 each. This is why I only buy books if it is an author I know I like and want to support. Otherwise I use kindle unlimited or the library. I won't buy books on a chance that I might like it.

[(Anonymous)]

I hate this because you're assuming OP gets Starbucks every day just because they "spend too much money". You don't know what they're spending it on.

Okay.

[(Anonymous)]

I think it's nice that others are trying to be helpful, but it can be frustrating if their recommendations don't work for you.

Some that might be in the library - I like some of Linda Howard's books, Jayne Ann Krentz (who also publishes under Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick), a few Nora Roberts, some Sandra Brown. My favorites are Georgette Heyer's regency ones. But you didn't say what it was you didn't want or did want, so I can't say if you'd like any of these.

Re: Okay.

[(Anonymous)]

+1 to this, I am reading a fantastic romance novel from the library right now but...I kinda get the feeling OP doesn't really want to read romance? Or... I dunno! What is it they complain about?! (It's A Gentleman Undone by Cecilia Grant for anyone curious - I'm not far into it but I loved the first book in the series and so far this one is just as good.)

Re: Okay.

[(Anonymous)]

NA

I haven't read that one, but I adored A Lady Awakened by the same author.

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah, fair enough. Though you're kind of stuck. Ebooks and self published books are more the cutting edge of romance than traditional publishers at this point. You'll find a lot more variety, diversity and risk-taking, though granted it's harder to dig through the junk to find the gems.

Acquisitions Librarian Posting

[(Anonymous)]

OP, thanks for using the library. We love your support, especially since so many people seem to think that we can't give you what you can.

The thing is... we might. I work at a public library, and there are different budgetary situations. Mine has good money. We participate in OverDrive (Libby is actually the same thing, but a different name for the app). Neighboring libraries have Hoopla, and there's another that works with libraries called Freading. (The company's joke, like "free reading.") Another is Odilo. (Almost forgot that one. I don't use them, but the people are quite nice.)

The challenge in short for libraries is not necessarily buying e-books but how to distribute them to the people who want them. OverDrive is perhaps the company that reaches the most patrons, and there are indie books available through them. It has a request feature that you might want to take advantage of. In fact, often people don't know they can actually ask their libraries to get things for them, whether by Inter-Library Loan or purchase. Furthermore, it does help acquisitions librarians and their staff have certainty they are getting things their patrons actually want. It is never a goal to buy a book that doesn't check out.

So it may be possible, depending on your local library, that there are ways to get the indie books you want.


As an aside to all of this, I am an indie writer. If I found out that essential connection about how those companies pick the books they do distribute, I'd have it made for the speaking circuit for both librarians and writers. I'd own my niche for sure!

[(Anonymous)]

Agreeing with all the people (and awesome librarian above me, you're awesome, jsyk) regarding overdrive and similar digital book catalogues. I think some libraries even can get certain books on the shelves if you request it (budgetary limits might be be a trouble).

if you're looking for certain books, I usually go on smartbitchestrashybooks and check out reviews and comments. people usually tag certain tropes and suggest similar reading in the comments. the website might not be every reader's cup of tea. I find it useful.

[(Anonymous)]

If your library doesn't have a book, you can request it through Interlibrary Loan. There's usually only a charge if the library goes to all the trouble of borrowing and shipping it for you and you don't pick it up (and also sometimes if it's a rare book, but this wouldn't apply to romance novels).

Also, most libraries accept purchase requests, especially for new books. How many purchase requests they actually fill would depend on their budget, but most library selectors love purchase requests because it tells them what their patrons really want to read. The rest of the time they're just guessing.

Anyway, there's no reason to think you'll never get to read a particular book just because your library doesn't own it right this second. Ask for it.