Library books

Hey dumbass, guess what: Other people need to take out books from the library, too.

No, it’s true. They’ve proven this empirically. I saw it in a book I took out from the library. I noticed that fact because you happened to underline it. Along with everything else on that page. Which, apparently, was important to you. Thank you, also, for writing down in the margins several key words that you noticed in the paragraphs. That they were of no significance to the argument or the book in general explains something. You also happened to underline and highlight most of Chapters 3 and 4. I wonder why you ignored the rest of the book.

Maybe because you’re an idiot?

Remember, signing out a book from the library is a privilege. The act does not confer ownership of the book to you. So don’t write in it. This isn’t socialism you punk ass bitch.

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5 Responses so far »

  1. 1

    fathima said,

    January 11, 2008 @ 4:18 am

    hahah. this made me laugh.
    just for the record, i never write in library books.

  2. 2

    Ryan said,

    January 11, 2008 @ 2:03 pm

    I prefer writers to cutters but detest both

  3. 3

    Nathaniel said,

    January 11, 2008 @ 2:33 pm

    While I am incapable of writing in books (I prefer a Grundrisse method of extracts or page numbers coupled with my notes in a text file), I actually don’t mind, and sometimes even like, or at least laugh at, notes left by previous readers. I am no longer solitary, but part of a community of readers. The argument in the margins between readers, although rare, is the most satisfying.

  4. 4

    djn said,

    January 20, 2008 @ 1:38 am

    I detest people who write in library books. I can’t even write in my own books, and when I have, it’s because I know I will never read the book again (overpriced academic crap that I’m forced to read). I have made a few exceptions, but only to respond to stupid comments written in the margins.

    What I’ll never understand is highlighting. I have never seen a highlighter used with restraint. Paragraph, pages and chapters are highlighted, not sentences or a short passage.

    I would like to see a study that compares those who write in library books, highlight library books and those who simply take notes on their own paper. I wonder if the latter group generally achieves higher grades.

  5. 5

    noaman said,

    January 20, 2008 @ 3:50 pm

    I can’t, and don’t write in my own books. I invest considerable time in buying the cheapest sticky notes I can from Staples (they are 1.5 in. x 2 in.), and then I cut them in half (so that they are 1.5 in. x 1 in.), and stick them in my books.

    I do the same for library books, because it’s really much easier to find what I’m looking for that way, and I know I have to return the books soon so it’s pointless to write in them.

    As for highlighting, I don’t think I’ll ever understand it, either. I do underline and highlight in articles I’ve printed out — and even then it’s usually useless to do so unless I make notes in the margins so as to direct my attention to the important matters.

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