Is it ok to take notes in the margins of library books?
No, because it's rude to other readers.
No, because it can damage the book.
No, because it's never ok to take notes in the margins of books.
Yes, because I need to take notes understand what I'm reading.
Yes, because it enhances the experience for other readers.
Yes, because if it bothers other readers, they should just buy their own copy.
No (some other reason - please put tags)
Yes (some other reason - please put in tags)
See ResultsI have very strong opinions on this subject, and I'm curious how others feel.
Hi, public librarian (lower case l, no degree) here, please don't.
We're already, in general, severely underfunded. Shocker, the capitalist hellscape we're stuck isn't great about allocating county budget to such a socialist outlet.
When you write in the margins, that's considered damage, and we just do not have the funding to replace every book we have to weed for damage.
Use sticky notes. Please. Write your margin notes on sticky notes in the book. You can even keep your place that way. But please please please don't write in the books, don't crack the spines, and don't dog ear them. That's just going to force us to weed them, and we can't always replace them.
#we flip through every book that comes in the drop off to see if the pages are loose torn damaged or written on #and we're supposed to set aside all of those for checking by collections #to see if its severe enough to warrant weeding #and frankly as the budget gets tighter i know im not the only one turning a blind eye to some damage #because i know we wouldnt be able to replace it anyway #better to let it slide til it gets worse #but its a serious problem
Hi, capital L Librarian here, if you think your notes enhance other readers' experience of the book 1) you're wrong and 2) no one's going to get to read them anyway because you damaged the book and we had to throw it away.
Good job breaking it, hero.
Jesus fucking christ this. Do not fucking write in things that don't fucking belong to you, you nits.
Like let me be clear: you can do whatever you want to your OWN book. If you want to write in a book THAT BELONGS TO YOU, knock yourself out.
Do not fuck up books that DO NOT BELONG TO YOU. A library boom is a communal resource. IT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU. It is an asshole entitled move to assume you have the right to alter - regardless of whether or not you think it’s “enhancing” or “damaging” - a thing you are BORROWING which DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU.
This is not hard. It is not complicated.
Being as I got to spend twenty annoying minutes erasing a damn book today: NO, NOT EVEN PENCIL. NOT EVEN IF IT'S LIGHT. YES I WILL CURSE YOU, PERSONALLY, FOR DOING THIS.
Yes, we have to erase your fucking pencil marks by hand, you coathanger.
Do not write in things that do not belong to you.
Finding your handwritten notes when buying a second hand book in a thrift shop is charming and poetic. Because that isn’t what I would intentionally buy if I wanted to read the book normally. Because I can decide if your takes are bad and not buy the book with your notes in it. Because if I don’t want to look at them, I CAN GET THE UNMARKED VERSION FROM THE LIBABRY!!!!!
You are seriously conceited if you think your thoughts are good enough to warrant forcing everyone in you community to look at them. Now I have no option to read this book that doesn’t include your liveblogging of it. (Because if I’m using a library, there’s a strong chance I can’t afford to buy my own new copy, and this is my only choice)
I bet you people talk during movies too.
















