Did you ever steal a book or books?

Never, never, never.

never done, never will!

Good heavens no! I don't even take pamphlets without leaving some sort of donation.

Conversely, there have been several books that I've lent out that have purposely not been returned. It happened a lot in college. I'd loan a text book or two to another student, and a day or so later, I find they've joined the Witness Protection Program, or got abducted by aliens. I hate it when that happens.

Now, I only loan books to my adult kids, who ~know~ how protective I am of every book I've got. They live in the area still, so I get a call from them on a weelky basis with an update on where each book is.

First my answer is no to your question.
Second I did read that the most often stolen book was the Bible! LOL I guess people need to read the 10 commandments after they get the stolen book home.

Never lend anyone a book you're not willing to lose. Some people do steal books on purpose, and a great many just never get round to returning borrowed copies.

If you really want someone to read a book you own, just give it to them.

I have, once or twice, lent someone a book that I really resented - to prevent the purchase of another copy, and because the book was of no value to me.

I once worked in the periodicals section of a university library. Most of the current periodicals were freely available, but a few had to be put under lock and key because otherwise they would be stolen. These vulnerable journals covered only two subjects: law and politics.

Apparently I was a grubby little thing when I was young, one that shouldn't have been trusted with a junior library card! I still have one book that I stole from my branch library when I was about 4 or 5; Breakfast by Molly, a children's book about making breakfast for one's parents. I tried to give it back to the library once I matured and realized the terrible crime, but they no longer wanted it back.

In regards to #5:

I have stolen a bible from a hotel room I stayed at once. I think I was just trying to be an anarchic teenage rebel or something. I believe I still have it tucked away somewhere. hahaha

But no, I've never stolen a book from a store or anything of that nature.

#5Kapnkrunchr
I think most hotels expect bibles to be taken. The Gideons who usually place them in the rooms usually leave hotels with plenty of back-ups. =)

If I answer truthfully, will I be ostracised? :(

I once stole a book from the high school library. The alarm didn't work properly; it alwaysalwaysalways beeped when I walked in, so the librarians eventually just ignored my comings and goings. I took advantage of this to borrow a book without checking it out. (Oddly enough, I didn't beep while I was carrying stolen merchandise out. How odd). I did bring it back, though; I never did intend to keep it forever, I just didn't want to wait in line to check it out.

That's it, though.

I don't recall ever stealing books, but I've mysteriously ended up with library books in my collection that I know I never checked out and that were never stamped as removed from circulation. I also some how ended up with two or three bibles from a church that I've never heard of. I've also borrowed books that never made it back to their original owners, but I didn't borrow with the intention of keeping them.

Hah I do have three books that belong to friends, that I should eventually give back to them.

And "steal"...I have, over the years, taken a lot of books from my parents' collection, mostly SF, starting in middle and high school. But...they don't reread books (heck, they barely have time to read more than half a dozen new books a year). So I don't feel bad about appropriating those.

I took a book from daycare as a kid that ended up being one of my all-time favorites. I've thought about dropping it back off to them (I've gotten a second, "reading" copy off Abebooks to keep the first one nice), but I hated the place and adore the book. I tell myself they wouldn't appreciate it, and also I was about 10 at the time so frankly, they'll have no idea who I am or what I'm trying to do.
(The book in question is called Pony For a Prize, and no one else on LT owns it--or will admit to owning it. Fantastic kids' book, though, readable at any age).

OK, now I'll confess: I did once steal a library book, part 1 of a very long biography of Milton. I didn't mean to steal it, but I never got round to giving it back. When I moved away from London the book got shoved into a crate along with all the others and... I still have it. It is now 27 years and four months out of date.

Wow, that's going to be a HUGE late fee. :p

I borrow books, and I intend to give them back, but then I don't get around to reading them, or me/other party ends up moving.

I remember when I was about 13, there was a book of my mom's downstairs that looked interesting, so I just took it and read it. I tried to give it back to my mom, and she said "Keep it, Jill (my aunt), gave it to me and I never read it." I was like "Okay!"

Yeah, none of my parents read. Only my oldest brother, me, and one of my grandmas. Trying to figure out who I got the reading gene from.

Probably not a gene, just rebellion.

I was sorely tempted to steal a book from my college library. It was a 19th century book, never reprinted, and no one else had checked it out in decades. I just couldn't do it, though. And virtue (or cowardice) was rewarded. Within a year or so of leaving school, I found a copy in a rare book store. It wasn't even expensive.

I have never stolen a book, probably because I would never want someone to steal from me. My kids try but I always know what is missing and I can still amaze them with my knowledge. However, like Anlina (#13), I have two or three old library books that I must have forgotten to return (in the days before digital). Guilt suffuses me every time I see one of them on my shelves but I've never been tempted to return them.

Okay, I'll come clean. I have stolen books but in one of two ways.

1: By accident: borrowing from someone, then moving and losing touch (I moved 8 times in one college year). Same with libraries. Yes, I do feel a pang when I see them.

2: Due to penury when a student and on a very expensive, book-heavy course. Only a couple of times, but I felt rotten about it and have never done so again.

Confession is good for the soul.

#18: Reading is a rebellion?

Jamie, I believe Artisan meant to say that it is/was a rebellion against the fact that few people in your family read.

Exactly - and it was only meaningful in the sense that youthmust rebel.
(It was also not meant seriously.)

I've never stolen a book, although I may have accidentally forgotten to return one or two. I have a horrible memory. Although, if someone mentions it, I would return to them.

When I was 4 or 5 I did ruin my father's dictionary by tearing off the covers and writing in it. I got my butt smacked for that one! It gave me an appreciation for books that I've never forgotten. I never wrote or even highlighted another book ever again. And, ironically, I collect dictionaries now. I have about 50 including a copy of the one I ruined, The New Webster Dictionary of the English Language Encyclopedic Edition Including A Dictionary of Synonyms

When I was in kindergarten I borrowed a book from the school library, and forgot about it. A year later we moved, and after we unpacked we found the book. We had only moved across town, so we returned the book to the school. :)

#23-24: Still not sure what you're talking about, but I'm used to being confused. I'll just be happy I have my books, and if my family doesn't get it, too bad. I can stump them with big words. :D

Jamie, that is the right attitude! After all, who cares if some people do not like reading? Their loss, not ours!

At least we know the right form of to/too to use. Punctuation is fun, too.

My library sent me to collections. I just returned a BoT, 2 books on the Napoleonic wars, 2 on birds (used the pictures as models for painting), and a movie. I can handle Visa calling. I just don't answer. But when your library sends you to collections, it's like you've pissed off a good friend. Also, this policy of theirs makes it much more difficult to just 'keep' a book.

Ick. I've been sent to collections by the library before - it sucks. The fines keep me out of the library - if I'm going to end up paying $20 for a book, I'll just buy it. (I know I could just return them on time and enjoy the library for free, but realistically, that's not going to happen. I know my limitations.)

Okay, stupid question: sent to collections? I'm a librarian, but as German is my native language I have no idea what that means. And I thought I knew the library lingo in English as well... Is that the department where you have to go to pay your late fees or something else entirely?

It's not library lingo, it's credit report lingo. One is sent to collections when one has not paid their monetary debt. I have an intimate and long-standing relationship with collection agencies. However, their attentions are not returned ;). The library and my student loans are the only ones I will probably pay off without a struggle. These are not institutions bent on profit.

#28: I agree!

Also, I figured this would fit here too. I had a dream where I was doing a spring cleaning thing, and I found a bunch of books from the library. It was very weird when I woke up.

At the academic library where I work, a patron came up to me with a big art book in hand to enquire about the fines for books that are not returned. I could see her calculating the balance, and was, frankly, offended.

Me: "You know, we keep these books for the use of many people, and we have to trust that people will bring them back. The book is not for sale."

Patron: "yes, that's just it! It's out of print, and I can't buy it anywhere."

The only thing I could do was ask the circulation staff to flag her account so that if she takes too many books we can cancel it.

In answer to the original question, yes I did (sort of).

I was 15 and I just had to have this book: The Waning of the Middle Ages by Huzinga. Anyway it was out of print and the public library had it so I took it out and then went back and said I'd unfortunately lost it and that I was really sorry and willing to pay and I did.

Of course, stealing is stealing and I was wrong but as a teenager I did it. There is no excuse other than being 15 and just knowing that no one could ever understand how much I needed this book.

I think I must of wound up lending it to someone (do this frequently to assauge my guilt I guess) because the copy that I have now is called L'Automne du Moyen Âge and it is in French and I got it at a local bookshop.

However, if I ever lose it...

aemililys, The English translation I have is also called The Autumn of the Middle Ages (by Johan Huizinga) and it is still in print, as far as I know. (The Waning of the Middle Ages that you link to is another book altogether.)

Hi rebeccanyc,

Yeah of course the Huizinga book is in print now but we are talking way back in '76 and who knows why but when I type "waning of the middle ages" into google I get this:

http://www.amazon.com/Waning-Middle-Ages-Johan-Huizinga/dp/0486404439

And in my French edition Jacques Le Goff complains about the translation of the title (waning vs. autumn). I'm sure that there is a real interesting history to this book and that's probablyt why I was so motivated to have it.

Anyway, it's late here in Paris but if you are interested I will look into this more tomorrow.

aemilys, I didn't realize you were in Paris; I thought you meant you couldn't get it in English . . . Yes, I'm sure there is an interesting history; it's a long time since I read it.

I came real close to stealing a book out of a University library. See I was studying heavily for my actual course and needed to take a break, so, as only someone like me would do, I decided to browse the library shelves for some lighter reading. I found a book called Costume and Fashion by James Laver, and pretty soon I was happily engrossed in it. Trouble is, it was an old publication that I was sure was out of print, but I just had to have a copy for myself. I pondered for quite a while how to sneak it past the stiff security at the library, but didn't work up the courage that day. Still I visited the book almost every chance I got just to make sure it was still there, and kept trying to concoct plans to smuggle it out. I reasoned that it seemed like an underused book that noone really valued or would miss, so it was ok to take it and give it a loving home (haha). I must have been out of my mind from studying because I puzzled over my plan for a few days, until finally it occurred to me to check the internet to see if I could possibly find the book there. Fortunately, there it was on Amazon, obviously not in wide circulation but available nevertheless. I had to save up a little money to buy it cause things were tight back then, but by the end of that semester I was able to order my copy online and receive it a few days later. A life of crime averted. It always makes me laugh to remember how desperately close I came to becoming a book thief, and most probably also getting my a** well and properly caught.

A whole bunch of my books are in a friend's catalog, tagged "stolen by Tim." Lies, I tell you—lies!

not that I can recall...

I used to steal anything, but that's behind me. Louis L'Amour wrote a short story titled The Man Who Stole Shakespeare. The narrator confronts a older man he sees stealing a book. Later the man tells the narrator he has trouble with his eyes and asks the narrator to read to him. The narrator eventually discovers the man can't read at all.

I have some books that were school wide to be read by everyone. My copy of To Kill a Mockingbird is from there, though I must confess I don't recall how I ended up with it. In fact, it wasn't even MY copy that the school gave me during the assignment. I also have A Wrinkle in Time that I'm pretty sure was a copy from my science teachers room. Again, I don't recall purposely keeping it, but there you have it, I still have it 13 years later. :P

I've never stolen a book or not returned one from the library. However, people have stolen books from me. Because of this, I no longer lend many of my books out of my house. (Not as in, outside of family, but as in, the book must stay within my house and never leave it.) My sister's offended by this, but she's stolen so many (from high school classrooms, her high school library, city libraries, friends, mothers of what are now ex-boyfriends, and now from boyfriends)! Before she reached eighteen, I would nag my mother about it each time she came home with another book. The ones that bothered me the most were the ones from her high school and city library. Our city participates in a reading program they've deemed "Pleasure Reading," a twenty minute time each school day when high school students must read from a book. (No comic books, magazines, or simply papers allowed.) Teachers brought books from home, and received donated ones as well, to keep in their classroom for this time. That's where my sister got most of her stolen books, though they were never allowed to be taken home at all.

At the age of fourteen, for a period of a couple months beginning in late spring, I went through a strange phase of... exhibitionist hijinks and daredevilry, let's call it. Leaving aside analysis of possible psychological causes, I'll just say that during that time I stole several books--four or five--all from different stores in the city. That was the only illegal thing I did, though probably the least crazy (for example, I jumped from one balcony onto another, more than a meter away, at the height of seven storeys. I am afraid of heights.)

After the madness passed I was mortified by the thefts but I couldn't confess--I was already a regular customer, disclosing what I did would have ruined bookhunting in that town forever. I considered returning them but then grew convinced I'd be caught putting the books back, BECAUSE I wasn't caught stealing them.

Anyway: it's a bad thing to do, boys and girls! If they don't catch you, your conscience will gnaw at you forever!

I'll never live this down: Yes!!

When I was in the seventh grade!

A teacher brought in a copy of a book called "The ghost in the garden", and I took it!

It all backfired because at the end of the class the teacher asked for his book back and I had to pretend that I didn't know where it was. Finally red faced, I snuck the book out of my bag and casually threw it on the floor for someone else to discover. I felt so bad.

I know. I'm a horrible person:(

On a couple of occasions I kept a book from a library and paid whatever cost they assessed. I rationalized that the book was out of print. It was wrong and I never did it again. Just remember there are sites to buy out of print books and stealing is not good for your soul.

The NeverEnding Story and The Catcher in the Rye -- both stolen, both worth it.

ok, I have got to say, I completely don't care if stealing is bad for your soul or not. Doesn't it occur to you that it is bad for OTHER PEOPLE? I am more forgiving of thieves who steal from bookshops (or any shop), because that's only a monetary loss for the shop. But taking an out-of-print book from the library is not about money, it is about the loss of that book for other people. It is exactly the theft of out-of-print books that is the most unfair and mean, because of course you can pay a fine, but the library may not be able to purchase a replacement. Do you think the library actually wants your fine? Do you imagine you are so special that no one but you will ever desire a particular library book? Was this book purchased by the library just for you? No, the book was purchased for you and other people, from whom you have now stolen an opportunity that cannot be replaced.

ok, sorry. I took some deep breaths. I don't mean to add to the miseries of the world.

One of my lads is doing his degree in English and I notice that certain of my books have been changing residence. This is a tradition in our family, as I relocated a few of my parents' books in my impoverished student years too.

Hmm, interesting topic and lots of heated responses.

Well, I can't remember stealing a book but my family is cursed with that darn honesty gene. When I was a kid, if I did something naughty and someone asked if I did it, I would kneejerk respond with the truth. I'd get in trouble and everyone would ask "why didn't you just lie, everyone would believe you" but I never could and next time I'd still tell the truth. Lying is very difficult and I have to "prepare" it well ahead, so I imagine a stolen book would crawl off the shelf and bang me over the head while I'm sleeping. It's a darn curse but I suppose their are worse fates than an overactive conscience...can't think of it, but I'm sure there is.

But I must confess I'm in the middle of a secret book-hostage situation which might almost border on stealing. I 'borrowed'-while petsitting- my friend's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Deluxe edition bound in black leather. I am holding it for ransom for a few of my books which were due back 2 months ago. I told her I borrowed A BOOK but that she can't have it back until she asks for it by name, or until I get everything she's ever borrowed from me returned.

Yes, this is a bit drastic, but before you judge me too harshly please hear me out.

She is one of my dearest friends but she has a weakness; she obsessivley loves to acquire things either by purchase but most especially 'by borrowing' which she knows will get so abysmally lost in her clutter chaos and which she doesn't really intend to return anyway. She says she likes to have little pieces of the ones she loves surrounding her in her home; I responded I'd happily give her a piece of something which I have no intention of reclaiming but she decided to pass on that little piece of love. sigh.

It took me 2 years to deduce her little 'scheme', bless her heart. In that time, I blissfully trusted her with anything and everything of mine she admired. She borrowed a brand new, unopened language translation set of computer software, a floor lounger piece of furniture which I'd owned for less than one week, dishes, casserole pans, books and music CD's and then would (with quite an indignant little huff I might add) would say when confronted with a return request, "but of course I returned that item to you, I've looked around here and I can't find it so you MUST have it!"

Then she and her hubby went away on vacation and asked me to come feed their pets; I discovered this girl has shopping bags piled around the house full of items she purchased months ago and has never opened!! She buys paper products in such quantities there are literally stacks of unopened tissue boxes and bulk boxes of paper towels in her back staircase where the cardboard has begun to decay from age but were never even opened! She has bags from bookstores with books still in shrink wrap with 3 year old receipts. Her house has aisles by which to move through her 'collections'. And because she didn't see something in front of her when I called, she 'knew' she'd returned it! I'd fallen for the biggest line of crap this side of the Europeans telling the Native Americans we were their friends.

So I went scavenging at her place and I found several books I'd lent her still in the cloth bag she borrowed to carry them in, buried on a bookshelf buried behind a stack of boxes of unopened toiletries. I found my lounger in her basement but I never did find the msuic CD's or the computer software -which by now is hopelessly outdated for Win 98 anyway.

When I lovingly confronted her, she admitted she has a horrible memory and always thinks she returns things. With a sly smile she whispered that she's worst with books...and then pulled one down from my shelf exclaiming, "Oh, how I've wanted to read this!! Can I take it for just a week....pretty please?" yeah right. I gave her 2 months to bring it back, or I'd do something drastic.

She didn't return it, even with a reminder call a week prior to due date, so the last time I fed her fish, I 'borrowed' a book she 'treasures' and I'm just waiting to see how long it takes her to realize it's gone. I'm betting the book pretty much belongs to me now:) heehee, but I will surrender it if I ever pry my books out of her conveniently forgetful, grubby little book borrowing paws.

I feel horribly guilty and I had to put the book in a box cause it was tauting my from my bedside bookshelf at night, but it's worth it.

Stolen never, although books from my brother and sister just migrated to my bookshelves :). My sister never read Sherlock Holmes and such so they ended up ('borrowed') on my shelves and in the end became a birthdaygift.

#36 (and following)
I didn't know Huizinga had such a large following. I've got an out of print Dutch version. It still is one of the hallmarks of dutch history writing. He's right there with Romein and Geyl.

#50,

I happen to disagree that a monetary loss to a bookstore is not important. A bookstore is made of people. Those people buy the books that fill the store. When you steal a book from a store, you are stealing directly from the people who own/run the store. In the case of small stores, this is more obvious, but in larger chain stores, money lost in theft is money lost for promotions, benefits, new-hire rates, etc.

#53 > Cckelly: BRAVO!!!!!
I hope you retook possession of the stuff you had lent to her and found in the chaos of her home!
I have to say that, had I been in your shoes, I would have not let her borrow ANYTHING ELSE!!!!

53 cckelly

Wow...I would never, ever lend her anything again. If she is willing to buy things just to let them rot (e.g. the paper products) then she can buy her own copy of the book, her own dishes, her own pans, and so on.

#53 - must admit I would find it difficult to regard someone who did this so regularly as a friend.

#53,

I think your friend may have a hoarding problem. It's a little discussed mental disorder. Here are some links (NONE from Wiki! :) ).

http://understanding_ocd.tripod.com/index_hoarding.html

http://discovermagazine.com/2004/oct/psychology-of-hoarding?page=2

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/briefs/mentalhealth/hb040831a.htm

59 bookishbunny

That's what I was thinking, too, actually, but it didn't occur to me to find links to offer. Good for you :)

Message 55: bookishbunny >

Yes, even though I contradict myself, I agree that stealing from a shop, particularly a small, independent shop, is also unfair to other people, as is all stealing.

In the heat of self-righteousness, I was trying to respond to the implication that stealing from a library is somehow a victimless crime or even something less than a crime since a library is a public institution. My point is that stealing from a public institution, particularly when stealing a book that cannot be replaced, is selfish and mean not only because it causes expense to the library (just as theft in a bookshop does) but also because the book cannot be replaced (unlike in most bookshops).

By the way, I wonder if anyone in this group has read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak?

#61 > Nycticebus, it is in one of my book piles and will be read soon. If you read it, did you enjoy it?

Thanks everyone who wrote about my little situation. I realize I shouldn't lend her anything else, but she gets this sad face that just breaks my heart and now that I have LibraryThing, I keep track on here. Plus, I petsit regularly, so I perform rescue missions for the MIA's as needed.

She does have the hoarding D/O but she can't see it. What's really odd is my paternal grandmother had a very extreme case of this, and even my mother has a mild form as well. I seem to keep encountering people with this, is it much more prevalent than we realize?

I have no idea what to do for her and it's sad cause at some level, she realizes it and it keeps her isolated. She craves having social gatherings but she's ashamed. She limits herself from building friendships and I don't know if she avoids relationships to keep from having to invite people to her home or the other way around. Somehow, she always finds some other reason to blame for the clutter and mess, and her hubby is very understanding and doesn't push this issue too much. But I know it's a place of contention for them and it hurts to see her suffering.

>59 bookishbunny: Thanks for the article links I am interested to see what they suggest.

As to staying her friend, well, she has lots of other traits that make up for this fault. Plus, she had a horrific, abusive family and sometimes I'm amazed she's as whole and functioning as she is, so I cut her more slack than I might with most anyone else. She has a horrible memory, which exacerbates this problem but makes her a superior confidant; you can tell her anything you want to confide because she'll forget it by the next day.

Now that I know what I'm up against it's not so bad and I'm getting better at saying no. I have my own issues with saying no, so I have deduced that this is a benign way for both of us to work on our own healing inside a loving friendship.

I should add too that returning things which she insists on lending is even more difficult. When she loves you, she'll insist on lending you anything and everything she thinks you need or want but I swear they have anti-homing devices built in. I've literally placed a bag of items in her car only to find them back on my kitchen table the next day. Very odd indeed.

#61 ~ Nycticebus, I could not agree with you more!!! BRAVO for pointing this out!!! I work at a library myself and it breaks my heart how many books out of print get stolen, not to mention RESERVED TEXT BOOKS than are specially put aside by the teacher for the class (that would mean ALL the students) and for two hours only. This is for the benefit of all the students who can't afford to buy the text themselves. You who are theives of this sort take heed: Look at it this way, if you steal such a thing you are not only stealing from the library, but robbing from all others who would make use of it, and probably delight in the ability of using it as much as you did. Stealing a book of any kind, from a bookstore or especially a library, is a purely selfish act and should not go unpunished.

On that note I give you two facts about book thieves and the punishment thereof:
"In 1752 Pope Benedict XIV, aware of the acquisitiveness of readers, proclaims a bull in which book thieves are punished with excommunication" from Alberto Manguel's "A History of Reading"
I would also draw your attention to Stephen Carrie Blumberg, one famous bibliokleptomaniac, who, as a result of his stealing of library books, was fined $200,000 and sentenced to 71 months in prison for stealing from 268 libraries across North America. For those of you who wish more information about this criminal, I direct you to "A Gentle Madness" by Nicholas Basbanes.

Bottom line: Stealing books is stealing. It is a crime, and should not go without punishment. Period.
*whew* I'm done now, but somebody had to say it.

Yeah, but how do you REALLY feel about book thieves, PandorasRequium?

I stole a 1937 copy of Gorch Focks Seefahrt ist Not in old Fraktur script from the decorative bookshelves in a pub in Munich (they have bookshelves on literally every free wall, stacked with an odd assortment of used books). I did leave two or three books of my own there, for Bookcrossing, but the book I took was not part of the Bookcrossing shelf.

Other than that, there is the typical migration of books within the family. I have a biography of Paul Gauguin (Noa Noa), that belongs to my mother, but she took possession of my copy of Noah Gordons The Medicus, for example.

I am more forgiving of thieves who steal from bookshops (or any shop), because that's only a monetary loss for the shop.

ONLY a monetary loss? When your local bookstore closes because of those mere monetary losses, what will you do?

If someone stole from you, would you slough it off as "only a monetary loss"?

#61 -

I agree wholeheartedly. There is apparently a part of the general population that believes the book is theirs, not public property, if it is in their possession for any amount of time. Some people will make notes and mark up a book before returning it to the library. And I do agree that lust for a rare volume is no excuse for not returning it to the library. I can't walk into a museum and take a vase because I think nobody will love it like I do.

>> 64

I give you two facts about book thieves and the punishment thereof:

I have a marvelous book, Anathema!: Medieval Scribes and the History of Book Curses, which is filled with the most awful warnings. A while back, on Bookcrossing, I posted a "Book Curse of the Day" thread!

I particularly like this one, from a (very) early 16th-century Book of Hours:

Whoever steals this Book of Prayer
May he be ripped apart by swine,
His heart be splintered, this I swear,
And his body dragged along the Rhine.

What about this one?

"Curse Against Book Stealers": "For him that stealeth a Book from this Library, let it change into a serpent in his hand and rend him. Let him be struck with Palsy, and all his Members blasted. Let him languish in Pain crying aloud for Mercy and let there be no sur-cease to his Agony till he sink in Dissolution. Let Bookworms gnaw his Entrails in token of the Worm that dieth not, and when at last he goeth to his final Punishment, let the flames of Hell consume him for ever and aye."

Once I actually had the opportunity to steal a copy of Abbie Hoffman's "Steal This Book." I was browsing in a used bookstore/junk shop and there was a power outage. The place went pitch-dark while I was flipping through it, and of course my first thought was that Abbie would have been tickled pink if I stole it. But...I didn't.

True story.

I can't quote it, and I don't have the books on hand, but there is a threat in the front of the two Harry Potter text books (Quidditch Through the Ages, Fantastic Beasts) from the Head Librarian, and what she will do to you if the book is damaged or not returned. I love them.

And I'm putting those book curses in the front covers I'm my books! lol

I'm a public reference librarian, and whenever someone asks me for a GED book, or a book on witchcraft, or one of the other "frequently stolen," I always work in something about how we'd have much more on the topic, but people keep stealing the books (by which I mean checking them out and never returning them), and then we have to spend so much more taxpayer money to replace the books or do without. I find that a high percentage of people are surprised to learn that keeping a library book is considered stealing. I have high hopes that these little comments of mine will shame people into returning the books they might otherwise have kept. Or maybe (I haven't been in the business long) they'll just think I'm a strange little bureaucrat, and keep the book because it sounded like a good idea, and I just told them we replace the lost ones.

LOL@ Scratch... I think you're right about Abbie. Dang, you missed a great opportunity. :)

Stealing from libraries is just painful. It already incenses me to see how often people deface communal property, such as public books, let alone the doltish hubris that enables one to appropriate it because s/he's so "special".

On lending: neither a borrower nor a lender be! I learned my lesson back in high school when a classmate cajoled me into lending her a great big sheaf of loose sheet music (various pieces published separately, such as single songs, sonatas, waltzes etc.) The next morning I was crossing a piazza when I began seeing these muddy papers with musical notation on the ground--it had been raining heavily during the night--one looked familiar, then the next, and the next... I picked up about a dozen, strewn everywhere. She told me she had been waiting for her bus when it became rainy and windy and a gust knocked the papers out of her arms--she didn't even bother to collect them. I didn't kill that wretch, so I guess I have no murderer in me. :)

People. Are not to be trusted!

Lola, what a "horror" story!!!!! It makes me angry just to think about it....

Oh, yeah, it hurt badly. If at least she'd called that evening, I'd have gone to look for them right away, rain or not. It was such a shock to just RECOGNISE my beloved, painstakingly assembled collection crushed in the mud all over the place... the portion that I found anyway. Most of it was gone.

Ah well. Acqua passata.

I know accidents happen--that's one of the reasons I avoid borrowing privately myself. So far I've never lost anything belonging to others (or public institutions), but hey.

Sometimes just the fact of public libraries existing--not melting into nothingness--seems miraculous. :)

#72 ArmyAngel

"A warning: If you rip, tear, shred, bend, fold, deface, disfigure, smear, smudge, throw, drop, or in any other manner damage, mistreat, or show lack of respect towards this book, the consequences will be as awful as it is within my power to make them."
-Quidditch Through the Ages

Too funny! I should try that.

Nycticebus, I guess that since your comment included a phrase from mine it was partially directed at me. I cannot argue with what you said. By stealing two books from the library I did deprive other people from the chance of reading those books. That is another reason for me not to steal books from libraries, or anywhere else, and I do not. My rationale was pompous and only concerned about me and you pointed it out for myself and everyone.

Message 62: aluvalibri >
No, I didn't read The Book Thief yet, but a colleague recommended it, so I was fishing for more input. If you get to it, let us know what you think!

Message 78: wildbill >
I like your spunk; and it's great that you can express yourself here, so I hope no one hesitates to do the same. In different spheres, who knows what pompous or self-serving rationales we have all concocted, me included?

If someone stole from you, would you slough it off as "only a monetary loss"?

Well, er, compared to the loss of an irreplaceable book, actually, yes, I would do exactly that.

(edited to correct the italics)

>>doltish hubris

yes, I've stolen many a book. Unfortunately in the past my ferocious reading habits couldn't quite keep up with my paychecks.

Anyhow, the one that still makes me smile to think about is stealing a thief's journal by jean genet - ripping the alarm tag from the back page and scarpering.

I still can't think of a more fitting way to obtain such a book...

JOnsey, I work in a public library and I do exactly the same thing. GED books, homeschool books, witchcraft..I don't know why we even bother to check them out, we know we'll never see them again. **sigh**. Many people feel a sense of entitlement to public library materials and rationalize that 'my tax dollars bought it'.

This has been an interesting discussion. I just went to Amazon and ordered 'A Gentle Madness'...now I'm going to go check my trunk, backseat, and farthest bookcases to be sure I don't have anything lurking back there that doesn't belong to me, LOL!

Funny story...yesterday I was on my way to the used bookstore that buys and trades old books and my husband handed me a book on my way out the door, saying "see if they'll buy this one". When I looked at it closely I realized that it was a library book that I had brought home for him to read two weeks ago! Bad husband! Bad, bad husband!

I will confess, I haven't stolen a book, but I had one stolen for me that I'd long coveted.

My high school library had a copy of an unabridged Count of Monte Cristo. I checked that book out religiously during my tenure, and I often thought of smuggling it out, especially as I worked in the library. I checked the records, and I was the only one to check it out after a gap of 10 years, and the book had migrated with the others from the old high school to the new one. There was an abridged Monte Cristo that did get checked out every couple of years.

I graduated, bade farewell to the book, and moved on. When my younger sister graduated, she presented me with a heavy gift--that unabridged Count. The circulation card was still in the back, with her name as the only name in the three years since I had graduated.

The book is still on my shelf, and it is still read. I am not ashamed of having it, as it lives with someone who loves it.

I stole a book from my sixth grade teacher when I was like ten.

"Silver Tales" or something like that. I never even read it. Eventually I threw it out or something because it made me feel guilty.

Never stolen a book. Though I unintentionally took books out of the library I thought I checked out. The library I go to has sensors at the doors so you can't take out un-checked out books (similiar to what you find at retail stores at the doors).

The library has a self-checkout lane (called "Express checkout"). It's exactly what it says, you check your own books yourself. I found out later that the computer at this station can be finnicky and sometimes it takes more than one swipe of the book to actually "check out". A receipt is printed out with due date and the books you've checked out. Well, one time I left with 3 books with 2 of them not being on record as being checked out by me (you can check online your account)! Of course I returned the books (even the ones not checked out) so I wondered what the librarians thought. Hopefully they didn't think I stole them or something!

Only one. I borrowed Taipan from the local library in the early 90s (Clavell nut...) and realized it completed my set. When I got my first publishing contract in 2000 I called to see what the late return fee would be. The librarian told me $22.
I sent them a check for $100 and told her the book was worth it and I wasn't returning it. She was happy with that arrangement.

I have never stolen a book. In fact, I returned a book to our town library once and they lost it. They kept sending me dunning notices and I contacted them several times that I left the book on the return counter with 2 other books that they did have checked in.

Anyway, even though it was their fault, I actually purchased a new copy of the book and "donated" it to the library. I was involved in town government for years and I know how hard it is for libaries in towns that are having financial problems to keep purchasing new books. I did not want to see the town lose a book from it's shelves.

Sadly, I have. I stole a couple from my fourth grade teacher...goes to show you never openly lend books to growing bookworms. But that's not all...I stole about three or four from my high school English teacher...all classics. But let me reassure you that I feel perfectly horrible about doing it.

Oh, and I've taken Catch-22 from a friend that I COMPLETELY forgot about. That one was a complete honest accident.

I have a "permanently borrowed" book that to this day, I still feel terrible about having in my collection. Many years ago, a coworker loaned it to me and told me it was given to her by a relative and it was precious to her. There was a big lay-off at the company and we went our separate ways and lost touch. She may feel better knowing that her book is well cared for.

I almost unintentionally stole a book when I was a kid. We were shopping in Target, and I headed straight to the book section (as usual) and found something that interested me. I was so wrapped up in reading it that I kept doing so while my mom toted me to the check-out line. I walked out still reading the book, then realized as we hit the parking lot that my mother hadn't paid for it! I ran back inside and gave the book to the security guard--I was so embarrassed.

> 92

The same thing happened to me with a DVD set of one of the seasons of West Wing, except in my case it got wedged under an under-the-bed organizer in my cart and I forgot about it. Funny thing is, the alarm went off when the person in front of me went out the door, but not when I did (yes, I did take it back in).

The serious and even tortured tone of many of these posts is one reason why I keep coming back to LibraryThing, when other sites eventually pale and bore me. Whether I agree or not, you folks actually CARE. It's a breath of fresh air.

And, since this thread has a confessional premise--yes, I did once in the fifth grade, and it still bugs me.

No, never stole a book. But I've practiced shopdropping -- that's the opposite of shoplifting -- with books. That's because some libraries near me that hold annual book sales won't accept book donations on the day of the sale. So I've been known to just push my bag of donated books under a table and leave. I've also sometimes put donated books into the drop slot in the library door. Librarians, don't hate me!

I don't remember ever stealing a book, but I have had them stolen from me repeatedly. At the end of last semester, I finally brought my books home from my classroom because so many were disappearing. I try to keep the impression, perhaps false, that they are actually being read and not just propping up a nightstand or something. If even just some of them affect my students for the better, it was worth it. I know that I have bought at least five copies of Speak but I don't currently own any. I was very disappointed recently, though, when a student lent me a book, Crank, that was stolen from my desk before I had a chance to read it. (I did replace it.)

So to all my former students, if you read the book, I forgive you. If not, shame on you.

I was going to say no until I realized that I do still have a book I once borrowed.

My friend lent me Strangers by Dean Koontz in grade 10...that was nearly 12 years ago. I read it just the once, in grade 10, I just forgot to return it to her.

I have indeed, though accidentally.

Got into a conversation with an employee at my academic library with the book under my arm. He watched me walk out of the library too!

I don't want to mention the title because it's rare enough to be incriminating. >.

95 I do the same thing. One time my mom gave me a bag of books to donate to the library book sale and the librarian at the time seemed annoyed and completely confused on why I was giving books TO the library. I have since just pushed them through the book slot when the library is closed, even though she no longer works there.

Pshah... yeah, I'll admit it... I've stole books, quite a few of them in my lifetime.... not in the last 5 years, though. I've been good since I started my medication :-p .

Seriously, though, I did use to steal a bit. "Borrow" books from the library, but bypassing the checkout lane. I brought them back... eventually. I've since realized what an absolute nightmare that is for library staff and patrons alike. I think about it whenever I'm looking for a specific book, a book the computer says is on the shelf, but when I get there, NO BOOK.

I've also gave away a book on a swap site that was taken from a library.... I'll probably burn in hell, I know... :-))

According to my Book Stealing Journal I just lifted numbers 28,791 and 28,792 today. I've also stolen 98 bookshelves to store them on. Next up, I need to steal a house with lots of room so they'll have a comfy abode.

Yes and no. Never stole a book from the library. However I borrowed a book from a guy I was working with one summer, and I was working somewhere else the next summer and never got a chance to get it back to him. Its still sitting on a shelf in my library.