Just a handful of the books I bought the summer at a used book sale… time to get reading!
I am a book fanatic. The best weekends are spent combing through used book sales. The best yawns during the workday are caused by staying up far too late to finish “The Hunger Games” or “Gone Girl.” The best part about my apartment (or one of the best parts, anyhow) is its proximity to the library.
Turns out, I’m not the only Gen Y-er who feels this way. An August article from The Christian Science Monitor says Gen Y could be the most book-loving generation alive:
“Gen Y — those born between 1979 and 1989 — spent the most money on books in 2011, knocking the longtime book-buying leaders, baby boomers, from the top spot, according to the 2012 U.S. Book Consumer Demographics and Buying Behaviors Annual Review.”
Way to represent yourselves, 20-somethings! Sometimes we get a bad rap (as the article notes) for being permanently glued to our smartphones, video games and streaming video services. Perhaps true, but I am glad to hear our communal love of books isn’t disappearing.
On the other hand, “about 43 percent of Gen Y’s purchases are geared toward online book buying, ‘adding momentum to the industry shift to digital,’ according to the report.”
While I’m a firm advocate of supporting local, independent bookstores (and a huge fan of the prices at library book sales), the Internet can be an amazing resource. Here are a few services I’ve come to appreciate:
- York County Libraries’ online catalog — A few years ago, I discovered the great invention of library requests. You find a book you’d like to read in the countywide catalog, but instead of a 45-minute trek to that specific library, you hit a simple button: Request it. A few days later, the book shows up at your home library branch.
- Wowbrary — In conjunction with your local library (and yes, York County Libraries participates), Wowbrary will send you a weekly email highlighting new offerings, from cookbooks to fiction to DVDs.
- Goodreads — A combination of social media and generated suggestions, Goodreads allows you to create lists of books to be read, follow what your friends are reading and post reviews of recent reads. But my favorite aspect is the rating capability — you gave “Gold” four stars, so you might like this other Olympics-related novel.
- IndieBound – Similar to Amazon or Barnes & Noble, IndieBound is an online book catalog. Once you find the book you want to buy, it offers two options: Find an independent bookstore nearby, or order your book from an independent bookstore that delivers.
As the book editor for the Daily Record, I’ll toot the paper’s horn briefly — you can find a listing of independent bookstores in York County, plus a list of upcoming used book sales, at Book Buzz.
But whatever you do, fellow 20-somethings, keep reading! (And feel free to share any book recommendations in a comment.)
Pingback: Twenty & Change | A 20-something Christmas list
Thank goodness I’m not the only crazy book lady I know
I view books as an easy way to escape to anywhere, and there’s nothing that cannot be found in a good “old-fashioned” book. I do have an Ereader but nothing takes the place of a great hardback (my preference). I must say that controlling my inner-hoarder not to buy MORE books is tough…but there’s always book sales. Thanks for the info!