Wear the old coat, buy the new book

Ah books, I love books, and I collect and keep them.  It is a weakness I know – but my 15 large bookcases are full to overflowing and each volume is a treasure.  Seriously though, I am an avid collector and never regretted keeping them.  Both my husband and I had large collections when we met as we are avid readers, and once the girls came, we just added books for them.  At Easter and Christmas and on Birthdays etc, we encouraged books instead of candy and now the girls love books as much as we do.  When I started homeschooling, I found a lot of times the library was out of the books I wanted when we needed them, so I scoured second hand shops, Amazon second hand etc and built a collection with that,  I also got a lot from antique shops when I was still living in England – the prices were never that bad.  The girls were always keener on books than other things, and would willingly give up toys but not books.  Of course we have donated some books over the years, but the real books and classic books we keep.  My husband is now putting built in bookcases along the walls of our basement so we can house our library.  Some people use their basements as media rooms, that is what our neighbors are doing, and we are installing a library and our media room is a small tv in the living room, which we seldom watch.  I think library books are great for those books that you only need to glance at once in a while, but for those classics and special books if you can own them it is a true blessing.  I told our relatives that it was books that the girls wanted, and they happily obliged, that cut down on the clothes and toys that otherwise were always coming our way.  Books can be treasured friends for ever, and that is how our family looks at them.  So if you can start a collection, I doubt you will regret it.  Welcome by the way, this is such a great group, and you will find lots of friends here.

Gosh Michelle, is that true?? I have not been to the library in ages, have not for some time – is it getting that bad, where all the good books are disappearing – oh that is way too sad.  In that case Brianna, buy the books and look for good deals.  Michelle has another excellent comment, we are all encouraged to have way too many clothes – start them young like I did, with just a few things, and I found they never did turn into girls who wanted the latest fashion.  We have a couple nice outfits for church, and then a couple shorts, jeans, and tops.  They have never asked for more and they are now 18.  Clothes wear out, books taken care of, rarely do.

I can testify to what Michelle says.  We moved 18 months ago and were so disappointed when we began doing our weekly library visits.  There were ZERO books on classical composers, but shelf after shelf of books on pop recording artists like Madonna, Brittany Spears, etc.  Literally not one book I’ve searched for that is listed here on the SCM curriculum guide can be located in our library…needless to say we don’t go at all anymore.  It’s very disappointing, but a reality.  I say buy the good books and build your own library.

I think you have a great plan Brianna.  Never blow the budget for a book, that is never a good plan.  We have been buying books for years and years, this is why we have so many and I am very discerning in what I buy.  I like older books as they are of better written quality than most modern ones, and I do not buy if I cannot afford it.  It sounds like you know exactly what to do, because you got such a good deal at the consignment sale – that is the way to do it.  Most of your relatives will understand that you want books for gifts – they will understand the value of that, rather than clothing that wears out and toys that end up in a corner.  The Teach Yourself to Read book may be one to look for second hand on ebay or amazon, as you use it often and if you have other children to teach in the future.  Anyway, good luck and I think your children are very lucky to have a mom who is planning like this, they will thank you for it later.  My daughters still re-read a lot of the books they had when they were younger, and treasure their favorites like old friends.  All of their personal books are also in excellent condition even the ones that are 17 or so years old, because from an early age we taught them how to care for them and look after them so that they would last.  My daughter is looking forward to the day she can share them with her own children.  Hope that over the years you find many gems used, just like I have.  Blessings,  Linda

Buy the book…  My collection became so large that I now operate a homeschool lending library called Children’s Legacy Library.  I have over 9000 volumes of wonderful living books in all subjects and adding more all the time.  The libraries ARE getting rid of these gems and replacing them with GARBAGE.  If you have a wonderful collection, you might consider starting a library of your own.  I’m fortunate because our house has an apartment finished in the basement and the library is housed there…handy for us but separate from the rest of the house so members aren’t traipsiing through.  But there is such a need for these books to live on.  If anyone is interested in this project, I’ll be happy to email my policies to give you ideas. 

I agree, buy the book. Our library is also getting rid of treasures and replacing them with trash. It is very sad! We frequent the yearly library sale, too. One year we spent $75 and came home with ~ 100 books (hardbacks). Last year I think I bought 25 or 30, still a good bit, but nothing compared to a few years earlier. This is simply because there weren’t as many good choices.

Also, I find it hard to request, pick up and use the books I can find on their time table with 4 kids. It’s so much easier if it’s on my shelf.

Make an Amazon wish list and send it to grandparents, aunts and uncles or anyone who buys “stuff” for you, then they can choose something you are sure to like! I often buy used on sites like Amazon, eBay and vegsource for very little money. I’ve bought books for $0.01 and even with shipping of $3 or $4 I save a bundle.

RobinP – I am thinking of starting a small lending library for my co-op. Mainly with resource type books to start. I’d love to hear more about how you do it. You can PM me if you have some good tips!

Blessings,

Christie