Have you heard about New York’s graduate student who was fined $11,900 by her university library for overdue and lost books? Binghamton University’s Hannah Jones surprised the world by posting on TikTok a screenshot of the email that she received from the librarian.
It all started around three years ago when Jones checked out 119 books from the library for comprehensive exam preparation, but she couldn’t return the books because they became part of her dissertation and were filled with sticky notes. Things took an unexpected turn when she ignored the series of emails from the library informing her that she needed to renew the books, otherwise, they would be marked as lost and she would be fined $100 per book.
However, she couldn’t ignore the email informing her about the huge fine of $11,900 for 119 lost books. Initially, she felt panic, but as she regained consciousness, she emailed the library to explain that the books were not lost and were still in use, and she would return them once she finished her dissertation. She also attached a clip to that email showing a pile of books on her desk and on her bookshelf. By good fortune, the library responded immediately and reduced the charge to the standard $20.
Why Not to Choose Rental or Borrowed Books
If you can’t decide between borrowing and buying a book, there are several convincing reasons not to choose borrowed or rental books. Whether it is a paper book, an eBook, or an audiobook, taking it into your possession without any time restriction could be more satisfying, especially when it is your favorite author’s long-awaited book.
Library Fines and Fees
Do you think that a library is the best resource to acquire textbooks paying nothing? If yes, you might not have seen the other side of the coin. A borrowed book comes with the responsibility of returning it and if you fail, you may have to pay the price. The library fines and fees can drain your, and even your descendants’, finances if you don’t renew or return books on time. In America, another incident grabbed people’s attention wherein a daughter was charged a fine of $345 for a book that her mother checked out from the library forty-seven years earlier and never returned. To avoid such fines, consider buying books rather than borrowing them.
Limited Time to Read
Borrowing a book means you have limited time to read it and are required to return the book to the library on time even if you have not finished reading it. On the other hand, buying a book gives you more time to read and you can also reread a particular section of the book anytime in the future. Moreover, the availability of the required book in the library is also a problem. If you are excited to read a book but there is no copy available in the library, it’s better to buy it rather than wait for an undefined period.
Personalization is Not Possible
If you are a reader who loves highlighting important paragraphs, folding important pages, or underlining new words for an enhanced learning experience, borrowed books are not for you. You have to take extra care of a borrowed or rental book because it is being shared with others. Contrarily, buying a book allows you to personalize it and mark your reading progress.
The Bottom Line
If you are an avid reader who loves to amass a personal collection of good reads, it’s time to explore the resources for discounted or free textbooks rather than borrowing or renting books. You would be pleased to know that there are various websites such as SolutionInn that provide you with paper books without charging a price for the book or shipment. Additionally, you don’t need to worry about book availability because their collection is vast, and the processes are swift and efficient. So, why borrow library books when you can get your own book paying nothing?