Monday Discussion: Are You a Book Reader or a Book Owner?

I am borrowing this week's Monday Discussion from a discussion that took place in multiple places on the web last week.  I will begin by pointing you the The Book Bench, The New Yorker's book blog where I first encountered it:

There is a growing distinction between the book reader and the book owner. The book reader just wants the experience of reading the book, and that person is a natural digital consumer: Instead of a disposable mass market book, they buy a digital book. The book owner wants to give, share and shelve books. They love the experience. As we add value to the physical product, particularly the trade paperback and hardcover, the consumer will pay a little more for the better experience.

This quote from John Mankinson, the C.E.O. of Penguin Group sparked a lot of discussion last week.  It struck a chord with me personally too.  Click through to read more if you are interested.

I used to be a book owner.  I would buy every book that I read.  Now, I barely buy anything.  I borrow everything I can, from books to movie to audiobooks all from the library.  And it is not just because I work at the library.  I am in my local library multiple times a week.

It is not just a money issue; although with the amount of books my family goes through in a year, it would quickly become a money issue (meaning we'd have none left).  But, I see it as a good use of my tax dollars.  I live in Cook County, IL and we have some of the highest taxes in the country.  However, we have some of the best services to go with those taxes.  In particular, the libraries in Northern Illinois are some of the best in the country.  Why not use those great services? I read and read and read for no extra money beyond what I have already paid in my taxes.

But there is also a larger issue here.  When I was younger, owning books made me feel good.  I had few things which were mine and mine alone.  Books were something that I already had a deep connection with and could own completely.  Owning books help to fill an emotional need.  Now, with a house, a husband, and two kids, I still love to read just as much, but I appreciate simplifying where I can.  I do not have room in my house to own every book I have read, nor do I have the desire to own them anymore.  I want to posses the book as I am reading it, but I also am happy to give it back when I am done and begin a new journey with another book.

That is not to say that I never buy myself a book.  I do, but it is usually for a specific reason, again with an emotional attachment.  For example, I wrote my undergraduate thesis on Ken Burns.  I spent a year studying his work, specifically Civil War and Baseball, so obviously, I own the coffee table books that go with those series.  Recently, I also purchased the companion book for National Parks.  These are books I love to own as they remind me of my past; again, they fill an emotional need.

So for today's Monday Discussion, are you more of a book reader or a book owner?  Why?

To view or participate in past Monday Discussions, click here.