# renting books

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renting-books/453005>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 15, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renting-books/453005 "2008-06-15T14:09:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renting-books/453005/1 "2008-06-15T14:09:43Z")

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Do any of you subscribe to a book renting service (like netflix, only for books)? If so, which one?

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renting-books/453005/2 "2008-06-15T14:31:17Z")

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Yes. It’s called the public library.

They also have DVDs and CDs.

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**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renting-books/453005/3 "2008-06-15T15:12:01Z")

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One of my girlfriends started using [bookswim](http://www.bookswim.com/) a few months ago and so far really likes the service and says good things about it.

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**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renting-books/453005/4 "2008-06-15T15:25:28Z")

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[QUOTE=twickster]  
Yes. It’s called the public library.

They also have DVDs and CDs.  
[/QUOTE]

And video games! (look down)

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**Author:** ![hekk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@hekk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hekk)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renting-books/453005/5 "2008-06-15T17:17:18Z")

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[QUOTE=twickster]  
Yes. It’s called the public library.

They also have DVDs and CDs.  
[/QUOTE]

And it’s free, for cryin’ out loud! Plus, with interlibrary loan, there probably isn’t a book in existence you can’t get somehow.

Why would you pay for renting books?

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**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renting-books/453005/6 "2008-06-15T17:46:35Z")

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I use the library too, but I use it LIKE Netflix. My local branch is pretty small, but it’s part of an extensive city library system. I go to someplace like B&N and write down any book/author that looks interesting. Then, I go home and go to the online city wide library catalog. I look up the books and put them on “hold.” When my book comes in, I go to the local branch to pick it up. There’s usually at least one book waiting for me everytime I go to the branch.

The only downside - sometimes there is a loooong wait for new books (I’m still waiting for the new Michael Pollan) and my local branch has some crazy sometimes inconvenient hours. On the positive, it’s free!