There are people who like books. Then there are the people who love books. As members of the second group we tend to do a lot of excited recommending and selfless lending to the first group. The problem is, they just don’t understand how the lending and borrowing arrangement works!
Here are our 8 cardinal rules for book borrowers.
1. Do Not Take Our Books To The Beach
If you don’t enjoy lying on the beach, listening to the sea, and reading a book, you are a fairly unique person. However, if you wish to do, we suggest you take a book other than the one we have lent you. Yes, we lent it to you to read while you went on a beach holiday. No, you may not take it to a place where paper goes to die. Sun lotion, sand, sea water, sticky food and beverages, I think not.
Source: Inside Corinthia
2. Do Not Take Our Books In The Bathroom
I understand that it’s relaxing to bathe with floral scents and the printed page. I also understand that, for many, bathroom time is the only time they have enough peace to open a book. However, smells tend to linger between pages. And as shown below, water is not a lover of ink, paper and glue.
Source: Instructables
3. Do Not Use Book As A Coaster
You may look at the book we have just lent you and think, ‘Well they obviously don’t care about how their books look!’ Wrong! We share a special bond with each of our books. They proudly show the scars of our journeys. Use a real coaster, like these cool bamboo ones.
Source: Deviant Art
4. Do Not Let Children Destroy
I believe the children are the future. They should be reading whatever they want at whatever age they want. However I don’t think your 2 year old is really into that copy of A Movable Feast that I read while traveling around Paris.. I think the little one just wants to bite it, throw it or use it to knock the round peg through the triangular hole. Point being: please teach kids the value of a good book, both physically and intellectually.
5. Do Not Dog Ear Pages
While enjoying this book, you may see creases where we have artfully and strategically dog eared some pages. If you do not have a book mark, use a receipt, or scrap of paper. All that we ask of you is: please don’t add any folds or creases that were not already there. Respect our books just like we would respect yours.
Source: Savage Reads
6. Do Not Fail To Read
I’ll keep this one short: if you know you won’t read it, leave it in the warm safe climate where it usually resides. Don’t kidnap and then ignore it. That’s just cruel.
Source: New Yorker
7. Do Not Lose, Then Replace With A Different Version
Just plain rude. If I was baby-sitting and lost your 2 year old genius, I wouldn’t try to replace your child with another randomly selected infant with approximately the same features.
Source: Amazon
8. Do Confess Any Damage Done On Return
Honestly, what’s a bit of paper and ink between two old friends?
Source: Just Faith
Let us know your bad experiences with book lending or borrowing below!
YouTube Channel: readbyzoe
Featured image via Pleasant Hill Book Club
h/t Epic Reads
