Booking Through Thursday: Do you lend your books?

It's Booking Through Thursday and the question this week is something that I have pretty bad experiences with.

Do you lend your books? Are any out on loan right now? Do you have any that have been loaned to you? Do you put a time limit on these? Do you think people should make an effort to read the loaned book quickly?

I love to share my books.  BUT I have learned to lend them to ONLY people I trust.  Yes, I learned it the hard way.  In fact, I've probably lost a few books from people who either did not give it back, or ruined it.  As a book lover, I think that it is a travesty.  Even if I am letting them borrow my books for free, that does not mean that they have free reign over it.  In fact, I expect them to take care of it as I would take care of it.  Based on previous horrible experience, I have learned to ALWAYS state my expectations before they borrow my books.  I let them know right off the bat that they are MINE and not theirs. 

Even if they are not paying for it and they can return it whenever, I regularly check up on it.  Say, if they took out a book from me and it's been a month, I give them a quick message or call them up and let them know that I want my book back.  I have had horror stories wherein my books were returned waterstained or in disrepair.  In which case, I asked them to pay for it retail price or buy me the same book.  Seriously.  Some of my friends have tried to talk their way out of it, but I have been pretty firm about it - you return it in the same condition as when you borrowed it.  I haven't lost my friends over this though. Fortunately, I don't have any books out on loan right now.  After all that craziness, I have decided not to let anyone touch my books.  EVER.

 

So, have you had any horror stories with your out on a loan books?  Leave a comment below!