Do you lend your books?

So, do you? If you don't, how do you explain it to friends who want to borrow something? Have you lost any books this way?

I've sworn never to lend my books, ever. I just gave in last week - 1 book - and this week the house of the guy I lent the book to burned down. Total loss.

I swear, I'm never going to lend any books ever again. If anybody asks, I'll say my books are cursed. :)

We used to 'share' our books, my sister and I, to friends. When they were not returned, we never heared the end of it from our mother. Up 'til college, I did 'share' them and yes, some never made it back. These days, unless I know where to hunt down the books, and those I share them with swear to return as promised, I still do, but with very limited circle of people. I am more insistent with following up their return than I was, especially since I'd rather not be burrowing through piles in sales and elsewhere for replacemements.

SOME friends I lend SOME books to, but there's always a niggling worry that something may go wrong if I do.

If it's one of my limited editions, I never lend those out. I just tell them about it and/or show it to them without it leaving my sights.

God knows I feel very guilty about refusing to share, but I sometimes feel that protective.

not anymore, unless it's life-and-death ;). and good thing my friends and family know it. but years back, i'd buy 2 copies of one title: 1 copy for my library; 1 copy for lending out (usually the cheaper edition). but i stopped doing that, for practical reasons, obviously.

I've lent a few that never returned, given some away, left a lot behind in past residences.

i lent a book once, Hosseini's Kite Rinner, to a friend. I waited about a month and no news yet. tried contacting her but to no use. I cursed her that she'll end up in a harem one day.

lesson? don't lend your books. just recommend them where to buy it, or volunteer to buy it for them, but never ever lend your books

I never had a problem with others wanting to borrow my books. My sisters are as meticulous with their books as me, and I'm lucky that most of my friends are also book nerds, so they've got their own libraries. Just surround yourselves with bookworms and problem solved =)

I don't lend my books, I swap them or give them away after I've read them. I don't like to read the same book twice unless I want to familiarize myself with the work again.

There are some books I will definitely not lend--signed copies or valuable editions that are out of print or difficult to replace.

There are some books I am willing to give away to the right reader.

I've had some sad experiences in the past where I lent some dearly loved books to people I considered good friends. Those people are not in my life anymore (for differing reasons) and obviously, I've lost the opportunity to ever get my books back. Now which is the greater loss--the book or the friend?

Ah, let me get back to you on that. :)

Now which is the greater loss--the book or the friend?

Ah, what a question...

I lend books to friends. They know that I love to read, so when they ask me if I have books that they could borrow, they know that they have a huge responsibility to take care of my books. Or else... (Haha!)

I share my books to friends, who are also readers (although they don't read as much as i do, meaning they dont let their reading life interfere with their social life, hehe). most of the time, they dont return the books, unless i specifically tell them that the books are important to me. in return, whenever i go to their house, i borrow one of their books and hold it hostage. evil me. :)