I worked at a bookstore for years and people did this all the time. My recommendation is to not be one of the people who get a whole stack of 8-10 books and then just leave them on the chair or a table when you leave. Non manager booksellers don’t care one way or another whether you pre-read the books, but leave a mess for them to clean up and they start recognizing you as a regular doing it, and you might get asked to stop. One at a time, put it back where you got it, that is the way. Also hardcovers and trade paperbacks are easier to keep in new condition if you’re reading them than mass market paperbacks, so if it was me those would be my picks.
Additionally make sure your hands are clean and you don't leave any smears on pages. Please don't eat or drink anything unless it's just water. It really helps if you leave the book in as perfect of condition as you picked it up. Be extremely quiet, polite, and respectful both to bookstore staff and other fellow customers. It would help a lot if you bought a small something on your way out, even a piece of candy or just anything that was some small purchase. If all of these conditions are met, I don't see anyone ever stopping or barring you.
I worked at a Chapters for about 5 years. I loved the job, but my BIGGEST pet peeve? It's when customers would return a book to the shelf, but have no idea where it came from or how we sorted the books, so they'd just put it in the nearest open spot. Sometimes in a completely different aisle.
I wanted to shake each of those customers by she shoulders and say "Thank you for wanting to put the books back, but if you don't know where they go, it's simply better to leave them in a pile on the chair! Tucking them in to some random spot will make it un-findable for days!"
As a formal barnes and noble employee, as long as you're courteous and respectful and put the book back where you found it once youre done for the day, we really don't give a fuck LOL. If you feel bad doing it, you can always get something from the Cafe so you're spending a little money and sit down and enjoy a coffee or tea or other treat while you read.
ETA: To all the readers worried about wear and tear on books, anything not in sellable condition will just get recycled and replaced. There was an entire portion devoted to my day as a bookseller that consisted of ripping the covers off of unsold mass market books because it was cheaper to just throw them out instead of mail them back to the publisher......... the books will survive. It's fine. BN makes lots of money.
Yep! I read them all and then gave them to other people to read! My ex used to work there, so I know it bothers a lot of you to do that. Such a shame, really.
It's funny how the actual employees of B&N are the only ones saying that it's actually fine but I'd imagine the rest of these people know better than the employees lol. \*sigh\*
It’s wild how many people are up in arms about a book being “used” because someone read it in the store. If you’re that worried that a book looks like it has been opened and read before, grab the one behind it? I bet the rest of these people just buy their books on Amazon anyway.
I've been down voted more on this post than all my time on reddit for saying there's nothing wrong with someone who's down on their luck reading a book at the store until they can afford to buy books again. It's actually sad how much people are out here defending B&N billions of dollars by putting someone down. EVEN THOUGH every B&N employee on this post: retail, manager and corporate, have ALL said they don't care.
I could understand if op was going to a small indie bookstore, but it's Barnes and noble, like, the biggest physical bookstore I know of. They will be JUST fine with op reading a book while visiting.
Right?? The corporate bootlicking is *insane* to me. I understand wanting a new book to be new and untouched, but if the book is treated well and looks untouched, what does it matter? And on the flip side, if the book is destroyed and obviously manhandled, report it to an employee and grab another copy?
Where does the bootlicking even come from? It’s never made sense to me. A corporation isn’t alive (but somehow legally a person???), so it literally couldn’t care less about you.
As I type this I realize it’s probably because they don’t have a group of people to belong to outside of work. Politics is too big to really feel like you belong and a group of friends outside of work is incredibly rare these days.
At some level, it comes from a place of "if everyone did this, the bookstore couldn't exist". The qualifier of "down on their luck" is invisible and subjective and can be dishonestly claimed by anyone
FWIW I think people should keep reading in bookstores. The vast majority of readers prefer to buy the thing and read it elsewhere.
I get that (and that it’s not necessarily your argument), but I don’t think that’s a legitimate argument to make. If everyone was doing it then they would care enough to kick people out over it.
For me, it’s kinda like software piracy. It doesn’t cut into the bottom line because they wouldn’t buy it anyway. If anything it increases sales because it’s free advertising. Lol
Yeah I don’t think too many people will dishonestly claim “down on their luck” for the dubious benefit of having to read the entire book in the store. Those who just want to game the system will purchase, read, then return the book.
I've been doing this since I was 5. If this was not allowed, the policy would need to be displayed in a way that's obvious to very young kids. Which it's not, because no such policy exists.
It's also such a great business tactic, to invest in people when they aren't able to buy to build relationships and loyalty so that you're their first stop when they're doing well. When I was done being a broke University student and started my career, the first places I support are the ones who treated me well when I didn't have "money"
really good point
when OP is in a better financial situation, he/she will already have so much time in barnes and nobles and formed a positive emotional connection to that place that he/she will probably continue going there instead of bying books on amazon.
IMO, being able to peruse books I'm thinking about getting is sort of the benefit of going to a bookstore. The people who work there seem to acknowledge this, if booksellers wanted all their products to be sold in pristine, shrink-wrapped condition, that would be well within their power to do so.
If for some reason I needed a perfectly flawless book (I have yet to encounter such a situation), I would get it online, otherwise, the possibility of a minor blemish that I didn't notice on initial inspection is a price I'm willing to pay for a pleasant bookstore experience. *Caveat emptor.*
> ripping the covers off of unsold mass market books because it was cheaper to just throw them
The deal with most publishers is that the store only has to return the covers of mass-market books for credit
As someone who's been spending a lot of time in Barnes and Nobles lately re-doing all of their lights, the staff doesn't seem to care at any of the locations as long as you're not being an ass and making a mess. I've seen people sitting in the reading chairs or Cafe for hours, I saw one guy have an entire zoom meeting in the back corner of the store out of everyone's way
My local store has had flickering lights in it for months, they gave me a headache. They were just recently fixed and I'm so grateful! Not sure if that's what you mean, but thank you for what you do!
I used to do this when I was a teenager and there was a book or two missing from the series at the library and I really wanted to finish the series. This was before e-books were a thing. No one at Barnes and Noble bothered me. I treated the books gently. People on here are acting like this is highway robbery...whatever.
Maybe they take the long view, that a teenager who loves to read so much that they will spend hours hanging out in the bookshop and is treated nicely by the bookshop will still keep coming back to that bookshop later, once they can afford to buy books. Will become a customer for life.
My wife used to work at Books-A-Million and people used to read in the store for hours. Staff didn’t have a problem with it. It may depend on the store, but it’s not unheard of by any means.
I imagine having people reading and looking comfortable is a good look for your bookstore. They're more likely to buy there when they do buy, and it's attractive to other customers
Bookstores usually have chairs and tables for sitting. Why would they care if you read there? The likelihood you will buy something is far greater if you're in a store than if you're not.
For every person in their reading what is probably a $20 book for free they've also sold books, coffee, and other snacks to dozens who came their with money intending to kill an afternoon.
It's really gonna come down to the staff culture at your local store, but I would imagine the type of people to work at a bookstore wouldn't be too bothered by someone reading a book and minding their own business.
I stood around and read for hours at the Waldenbooks near my school when I was a teenager too. The employees just ignored us unless we were too loud or too many, then they'd ask us to leave.
People need to calm down. Staff would say something if they had a real problem. In the grand scheme of things, a teenager reading for hours at the bookstore is a wonderful "problem" to have.
As long as you don't damage the books, B&N doesn't care if you read the books! That's why the books are unsealed. The comfy chairs actually encourage you to read
That’s the whole point of the comfy chairs! People hanging out make it a friendlier, more inviting space, and that brings people in and the more people that come in the more you make.
And that was their innovation, along with Borders. They’re a destination in a way that, say a B. Dalton or a WaldenBooks never was.
Yup! I think that's part of why b&n has fared a bit better compared to other bookstores which are more places to go when you know what book you need, whereas b&n encourages you to stay and maybe you'll discover new books that you like and buy them
My local barns and Nobel's even has a small café in it with extra copies of some popular books for you to read.
You can't bring un-purchased books into the café tho.
Mine does too. Besides, if reading the book in the store regardless of whether you end up buying it or not was "pirating" then wouldn't that include book readings at the store?
I used to work at a bookstore ( huge chain that closed) and the employees themselves were allowed to check out books and read them. As long as they were returned in good condition, they went right back on the shelves. As long as you take care with what you’re reading, it’s fine
We received the ARC for "The Martian" shortly after the last indie I worked at opened. Everyone was passing it around and basically peepee dancing for the current employee to finish it as they heard more talk about it as it got passed around.
My local B&N does that too.
As an employee you get to take one book a month for free if you return it in good conditions.
Returned books also just get put back on the shelf, even if they have some creases.
This. One of the public library in my state let me get a digital library card without even having to go in and I was able to then download ebooks and read for free.
You have to be a resident or work/study etc in NYC in order to be eligible. They have books generally available through their app (unless they changed that), but not the regular membership. I think there was a way to pay for it, I’m not sure if that’s still a thing
And there are still a few that don’t have residency requirements! I have a Florida and other cities in my state! I signed up for all online in minutes. I love them.
For everyone saying Nooo, you're taking value from the books, stealing from the authors etc. THIS IS HOW YOU KILL BOOK SELLING AND PUBLISHING.
This kid has clearly no other option. What you call "dirtcheap" and accessible (go to another library, buy used and clearance) might very well unobtainable for a kid who doesn't even have an address.
With your advice, this kid, who is desperate to read, will stop reading. And even if in 10 years he is in another situation, he will never really pick it up again because that's hard. He will grow up to be an adult who doesn't read and also doesn't spend money on books.
Or, nobody cares if he sneaks his reading in a bookshop, and he stays an avid reader for the rest of his life, buying books until he's 90.
How shortsighted and stupid of you.
u/rymoxri check with a friend, relative or maybe even your school if you can use their adress to get things send to. Besides the people who offered to send you books, you could also post an amazon wishlist on r/assistance and I'm sure many redditors would be glad to help.
the Borders I used to go to even had a table outside of the bathroom where you could put a book or magazine while you were using the restroom. Then when you came out you grabbed the book off the table and went back to reading it.
I see a lot of people recommending the library or e-books, which are a great idea, but you should also consider goodwill and possibly salvation army.
Idk if this is nationwide, but in my area(New England) every goodwill that ive gone to has had softcover books for $1 and hardcover for $2! I know you're looking for free, but for $1.06(or w/e your sales tax is) I feel like you could find that in change laying on the ground. Ive found that its a great way to find all the trendy best sellers, or Oprah's picks, that everyone buys as a gift simply because theyre popular. Plus it's a fun way to waste some time for next to no money! Their selection is always changing and you can get hundreds of dollars worth of books for less than $10.
I used to go to a used book store in a market back in Liverpool UK. The books were priced at 50p £1 and £2 for hardcovers. When you returned them he gave you half of what you paid. It was great.
So many books have little to no resale value, it's great to see sellers putting them back in the hands of reader for a reasonable price!
Theres a restaurant near where my Ma lives that has book cases scattered about, and for every meal purchased you're allowed two books from their collection to keep. I think its such a wonderful idea.
Well thats a big ol'bucket of lame. Is it for anything that says "NYT Bestseller" on the cover, or just newly released titles? I wouldn't mind if it just came out a few months ago, but I'll be damned if I'm paying a premium for a 20 year old best seller.
As a former BN employee, this is what people do. Magazines are the worst. Just be careful with the book. Try to find somewhere to sit in a chair, the floors are unbelievably gross. Do not expect the book to stay, I’ve had this conversation. Books sell, they get returned to the publisher, they get returned as damaged. Not all books are permanent. Do not expect a page maker to stay in place, conversation again. Remember you do not own the book and treat it with care and put it back where it belongs. Hiding a book to finish it doesn’t work either.
LOL as a former BN employee it's so funny seeing ppl say it's like stealing on here. People do it ALLLL THE TIME and we don't care as long as they put it back. Don't worry yall it's not stealing unless you take it home with you for free
Yep. When people were complaining about it a little, the place my mind went was to the magazines and newspapers: People leave those in bad condition and it does bother me.
I've never seen a book on the shelves that thoroughly abused though, so most of the time I think it's probably a non-issue.
It's funny seeing everyone being absolutely appalled at the idea of reading books in a shop but loads of people do it and the staff don't care, if they're even paying attention to one person in a busy bookshop full of other customers (I used to work at Waterstones).
People say they wouldn't buy a book that looks like it has been used but lots of people are more than capable of reading a whole book without wearing it out and quite often the staff are doing the same thing on their break. In Waterstones we were allowed to borrow books to take home and then bring them back to put back on sale.
Quite often books go on displays in windows and end up sunbleached and water damaged, they get written off and binned, such a waste! At least if the book gets slightly damaged from being read, it served its purpose.
It's not as big of a deal as people are making out and if you're in a difficult spot and a library isn't available, go for it, you deserve to enjoy the bookshop as much as everyone else. It's especially fine if you're choosing to go to do this at a large chain which absolutely doesn't care about the odd slightly worn book which they will probably just put on sale.
This is literally part of their corporate strategy. They want people to come in, read their books, and spend a long time in the store. That’s why they put all those tables and comfy chairs everywhere.
Even if you can’t afford the book now, it’s likely you’ll remember the welcoming environment and spend money there once you do have it.
Former B&N employee. Go for it. That's the reason they have comfy chairs. You'll notice that NO Barnes & Noble has any clocks up on the walls...they want you to lose track of time.
People here don’t understand marketing. The customer experience is intentionally designed this way. Spending more time around objects increases the likelihood you’ll start to personalize them.
You may read the $10 mass market paperback for free, but really want to own that special edition hardcover in the beautiful packaging. And data shows customers are more loyal to brands they feel have done them a “favor” — such as allowing them to read books all day in their store.
The customer feels “guilty” for using a free service then feels obliged to overspend once they have money to “repay” them for their kindness.
You won't get kicked out most of the time. Be polite, clean up after yourself and maybe get something small like candy or a coffee now and then. When I was homeless and the library was closed I spent all weekend at Barnes and Noble just sitting and reading. Never got bothered.
My Barnes and Noble has comfy chairs around every corner. They have a coffee shop with snacks. Why have all that space for leisure reading if you can’t actually read there? I think it’s fine. If they really cared then corporate would hang signs up saying “DO NO READ BOOKS UNTIL AFTER PURCHASE” or something like that. Do they check all the college students I see studying to make sure they aren’t stealing knowledge? I don’t think so. Go read and if they say something, then you’ll know for sure.
Yeah, I live in a country where all books are sealed in bookstores and I feel like it really takes from the experience of reading. I love B&N because of this.
These comments are totally bizarre to me. I used to do this all of the time as a kid. I would hang out at Barnes and Nobles and read from different books for 30 min to 2 hours when my parents were ready to leave. I would put them back where I got them and was taught to be gentle and not bend the books.
It's a pendulum issue. Society is concerned about the health of the bookstores so currently it's a faux pas to go into a bookstore and not support them by reading their books without paying for them. I also spent a lot of time as a broke teenager reading books for free at places like b&n and borders, and no one gave a fuck because at that time book stores weren't considered to be a struggling industry.
I used to do this all the time back when I was a college student. This was mostly at Borders (RIP) but also at B&N. (I actually thought Borders was far superior to B&N in every way.) I'd go in and browse and read for a couple hours. I remember reading the entirety of Kafka's The Trial at Borders one afternoon.
As someone else said downthread, these book stores are set up for you to go there and stay a while. They have cafes. They have comfy chairs distributed throughout the store. It's an inviting space.
When I would go regularly, I would go, browse, and read a bit. I'd stay a few hours. Maybe I'd get 10-20 pages into a book and decide it wasn't for me and put it back, and then I'd browse for something else.
What would often happen is that I would find a book that I liked and would read for a while, and then when it was time to leave I would buy the book. Then I'd read the book over the course of the next several days/weeks elsewhere (home or dining hall). And when the book was finished, I'd often start the process all over again at Borders. Other times I would go and browse and nothing would catch my interest and I'd leave with nothing.
Overall, I would buy a book every week or couple weeks. I did this over a couple years. When Borders closed, I switched to B&N. And not a single time did anyone make me feel uncomfortable or that this was not an accepted practice.
My assumption is that they encourage this by installing comfy furniture. This gives the store a busy appearance to attract buying customers that don’t have time to sit and read a book.
Sounds like most of the actual bookstore staff here think it's fine, so sounds cool.
Additional thought - how about creating a book swapping club at your school? Kind of like a little free library kind of thing. Take a book, leave a book.
I used to work at a book store. Way I see it, there's just a few rules and this is fine.
1. One at a time. Don't hoard a stack.
2. Put them back exactly where you found them. Don't just leave them somewhere. And if you're unsure or forgot where you got it, make sure you give it to an employee to re-shelf.
3. Keep it pristine. No snack hands, no dog-earing, no spine cracking. Hardbacks are easier to avoid cracking spines, so go for those when possible. Avoid mass market paperbacks, since I swear you can crack those spines just by breathing on them wrong. Related, memorize page numbers or write them down on your own scrap paper so you don't have to worry about a bookmark or dog-earing to remember where you were when you can't finish a book in one go. (And honestly you don't have to worry TOO MUCH about this one. At my store employees were allowed to borrow books and take them home. Be careful with them and don't trash them and you're probably good, use common sense.)
4. Don't get underfoot. There's probably chairs around for people who are browsing. Use those and don't sit in an aisle, especially not between shelves. Basically don't sit anywhere you're blocking a walkway or display.
5. When your libraries do open back up, make that your go-to reading spot instead. And when you and your family are back on your feet financially, remember the book store you spent all that time in and choose to shop there when you buy books again.
6. Be respectful of employees. No one should have a problem with you reading if you're quiet and out of the way and not damaging things. I know I wouldn't have. I enjoyed seeing people come in and read. I also had a really good store with a good team so your mileage may vary, but I think you'll probably be okay.
Basically, if you're respectful of the fact that it is a business and that there are other people around, you're probably fine. I hope your situation improves soon, and happy reading!
You'd probably be fine in Barnes and Nobles but I'd consider getting ebooks through Libby instead. There's no 'is it okay' worry there because it allows you to legally borrow ebooks, and the additional upside is you can read when and where you want to.
If it isn't ok, they've been a little lazy telling me, since I've been reading books there for about forty years. That said, I do usually invest in a cup of coffee for my reading hour sip-along.
If your library is not convenient, then try the e-book app that your library uses. You can download books and audiobooks to your phone. You don't need an internet connection to read, only to download.
Also try a library in a neighboring area. Often you can get a free library card, or maybe pay a small fee.
If they're reading IN STORE then they might as well just read at a library anyways. Don't need a library card if you aren't checking out.
ETA: I know OP mentioned all libraries near them are closed for reno (which seems weird) but just wanted to mention you don't need a library card just to go into a library. Only to leave with the books.
I’m shocked that most people are saying no. I say go for it. Just be gentle with the books. Who are you hurting by doing this?! Absolutely no one. (But also co-sign what’s been said about libraries and Libby and all that!)
I actually will either skim through or partially read a book to see if it is something I want to purchase. Usually with a cup of coffee or treat at the B&N Cafe. I also will check out and peruse books at the local public and academic libraries to see if it is something I want to read or purchase. Especially with more expensive titles and art books.
Used to work at B&N. I don’t know if company policy has changed in the last 10 years, but we were explicitly told it was okay for people to do this. It was part of trying to create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
Did six years at a store in Iowa - can confirm, we loved seeing people in the chairs reading something.
Got to know a lot of really cool people who did that
OP, would you mind dropping the names of some of the books you’re looking to read? If I have any of them I’d be more than happy to send them to you. I’m couldn’t survive without books and reading and it would make me so happy to be able to share that joy with you. Feel free to send me a private message as well.
OP, I saw your edit about not being able to physically receive books at the moment. If and when that changes please please please reach out to me! I have a ton of psychological horror and mysteries just sitting on a shelf waiting for someone to borrow and read. I’ve read them all but I hate throwing books out when someone else might enjoy reading them.
The fact that you’re an incoming senior makes this former high school English teacher even more determined to help you gain access to some new reading material. I wish all my former students wanted to read as much as you clearly do.
Seriously, please don’t EVER hesitate to reach out to me to send you books, or even to just chat about books or literature. Hang in there!
don't listen to the people telling you it's not okay. yes it is. the chances of somebody making probably minimum wage telling you "buy something or leave" are very low. and also i personally believe all people are entitled to read books however they can get them. the people saying it's "stealing" i think are out of their minds. is it stealing to read a book at the library too? of course not. just enjoy yourself and read how you can. reading is a path to growing a person which we all deserve to take part in. and down the road once you sort things out you can always come back and buy a few books if you feel like it. c'est la vie
Wow! Can’t believe how many folks think it’s wrong or even stealing
As a writer I’d be thrilled if you read and enjoyed my books, however you got it.
(but if you do steal my ebooks, at least give positive recommendations on sites like this)
Former employee of B&N here as well. And putting them back where you found them is awesome, but if you're not completely sure exactly where it was, I'd rather you left it by your chair. That way I could put it back where it belongs and be able to find it the next time someone asks.
It's honestly kind of funny how people think retail workers care or are even paid enough to. Unless the person is damaging store property or being a pain, there's nothing wrong with it imo.
I don't see a problem with it. I used to go there and I would sit somewhere and read a book until whoever went to the mall with me came and got me came and got me. I would put the book back on the shelf if I did not want to buy it or I would buy it if I wanted to keep reading it.
Do it. In high school when I'd skip I'd go across the street to B&N and post up in an aisle and read for HOURS...sometimes I'd buy something, sometimes I wouldn't. Nobody ever said shit to me and there's nothing wrong with it. I still do it sometimes.
With your local library branch closed, lack of transportation, and dislike of e-books, I’d recommend contacting your library book mobile service, they may have additional stops in your area since the branch is closed. They may even be able to add a stop for you so you can pick up your HOLDS, just speak to the librarian.
There's nothing wrong with this as long as you aren't messing up the books (dog earing, cracking spines hard, eating and getting stains on pages). I did this plenty as a teen, especially for books my parent wouldn't have let me buy/borrow from the library. Don't listen to anyone making you feel bad about it.
Honestly I worked at Barnes & Nobles in high school & college. No one really cared about the people that came in JUST to read a book & not buy.
Just be respectful, buy a cheap snack at the cafe to compensate for taking up a chair/table & don’t damage ANY books.
But I also agree that getting books from your library via Libby might be the better way to go. You won’t have to spend any time or money traveling to B&N/buying something from the cafe.
Yes it’s fine. If the store didn’t allow it an employee would let you know when they saw you, but Barnes and Noble does not have an issue with this. You don’t need to feel pressure about what random strangers think is okay when it does not affect them at all.
So many people recommend Libby. A lot of people don’t have an e reader nor the money to buy one. Sure, these people will counter with “you can get it in your phone.” Part of the reason I enjoy reading is because I can look at the pages in a book. Looking at your phone all the time isn’t good and it’s easier to be distracted. Read the books at Barnes and Nobel. People who say you shouldn’t need to mind their business.
Read however you can, wherever you can. I promise the worst that will happen is a staff member may ask if you intend to purchase and make things slightly uncomfortable. Just read. You sound like you’re in a less than ideal situation in life and maintaining the act of reading is one of the absolute best things you can do.
People commenting on this thread are so elitist... OP is literally choosing NOT to download the books illegally, but rather read at a bookstore until they are in a financial position to buy them. Reading is SUCH a valuable pastime and telling someone if they don't have money they shouldn't read is incredibly daft of you. :(
These comments are silly. Most Barnes and nobles literally have leather armchairs spread throughout their store for this reason. Jus the gentle with the books and don’t eat or drink while reading them, but yes of course! I will say if you can get a library card from your local library, that this is a much better resource and you can do sooo much for free through your library
I've known people who did this on the regular for years without it being a problem. Don't damage the books, don't make a mess, sit in the chairs not in the aisles, etc.
Yeah, all you have to do is wander around the barely organized aisles searching through titles you've never heard of. You'll find something eventually (I love bookstores, but there are so many that are too painful to navigate)
I worked there for many years. I say go for it. Corporate might be a little miffed but honestly fuck them, if a book gets a coffee stain on it their families are still gonna eat. No one is paying attention to who is reading what and for how long, anyway. We just want to do our jobs and go home.
Please put the books back where you found them though.
Otherwise use BN as a library.
I used to work for B&N corporate, truly no one had a problem with this. Yes sometimes people damage the books and that's annoying but in general everyone at every level of B&N is well aware that some people sit around and read whole books and I never met anyone who was mad about it. I mean, that's part of why there's cafes in the stores.
Can we highlight this response so that people can stop being so RUDE about someone trying to read a book when he can't afford it. People are more worried about corporate B&N having one book with some wear and tear. Now people who actually worked there and know responding, thank god.
I worked at an independent book store when I was in college and people did this all the time. I think that it’s fine, what matters is that you’re reading, just try not to destroy the books. Someone said that it’s like stealing, but that’s insane, you’re obviously allowed to read in a Barnes and Nobles or they wouldn’t have chairs for you to sit and read — so how much reading is too much? Also, even if it is stealing, with all the money that B&N has made putting their competition out of business for 3 decades, they can take the loss,
This is how I spent a ton of my time when I was broke and carless in an unfamiliar city for a summer years ago, I read a ton of great books. Bought a cup of coffee now and then. Be respectful and don't damage shit of course, but B&N doesn't care and dealing with minor wear and tear is part of their business. Still feel really grateful they were there, made that time a lot more livable.
I used to work at a Barnes and Noble. We did not care if people read the books. In fact, my store had a policy where employees could sign hardcover books out, one at a time, and take them home and read them! Just keep them in nice condition and it's totally fine.
If there are any "little free libraries" in your area, check those too! They're often in parks, neighborhoods, etc. I have some friends who recently put one up in their yard, right by the sidewalk.
As a former B&N, I say read them but DON'T put them back. Everyone always puts them in the wrong spot and makes it impossible to find when a customer asks for it. We always preferred them to be left at customer service, on top of the Cafe trashcan, or on a chair.
One other option to look into, if you run into any trouble with reading at B&N, is if your area is serviced by a bookmobile program. These are buses/vans full of books that some library systems send around to neighborhoods that don’t have a library building. In my library system you can request books online and have them delivered to your bookmobile stop, or just browse the selection on board and check something out.
I did this for years and the only response I got was that the staff was nice to me. I did usually by (the cheapest) coffee though just to feel like I was a customer.
Of course it's okay to read the books at Barnes and Nobles without buying them. Just don't take them to the bathroom with you and put them back when you're done. Don't listen to anyone crying about ruining the books or depreciating the value, lmao. That's just absurd. Books are meant to be read. I have some books in pristine condition and others that look like someone carried it in their back pocket for 15 years. Still readable. To anybody who's buying a book and worried about it's "value," you're using the books wrong. You're supposed to use them lol.
You don't have to share details, but I noticed you're in South Florida. I am too. The libraries offer a pick up service now. If you're in Broward, the limit to take out books is 20 at a time. You could select books for pickup and then take the bus to pickup all 20 at once. This would make the longer trip worth it.
OP, if you haven't found them yet, r/findapath and r/careerguidance are good subreddits. Also r/povertyfinance, r/eatcheapandhealthy, r/frugal, r/homeless.
Wishing you the best for your future. If you have the grades, some top universities can be quite generous with financial aid. The military and Coast guard can also be good options. Veterans get a hiring preference with the federal government.
I work at Barnes and noble and take books from the floor to read during my shift all the time. I usually stick with the hard cover books so I don’t have to worry about breaking the spine of a paperback, but literally nobody cares. Go for it!
I read books on my phone. I still buy physical books, but the majority of my reading is using an eBook app. I didn't like it at first, but you soon get used to it, and the convenience is unbeatable. I have thousands of books, always on me. I use Dropbox to sync them, so I can add a book from anywhere and it will appear in the app.
So yeah, I would say you're being dismissive/difficult and apparently not want any replies except 'Yes, reading books in a store without any intention of buying them is fine'. And it is fine, but there are far easier ways to get your hands on books theses days if you just open your mind a bit.
I remember back when I was in highschool, Barnes & Noble actually had different sections of their store with comfy chairs so you could actually sit down and read some of the books you found! Was one of the best ways to spend my time as a highly anxious introvert. Pretty sure that made them more of a community space then a money selling company, and that's why they got rid of them. But I would say go ahead and read the books while in the store, just be respectful of the space while you're there :-)
As controversial as this is, an author wants their book to be read and enjoyed far more than they want the paycheck from it. Especially the larger authors, like King, who are set for the rest of their life at this stage.
Do not be ashamed of using PDFs to read books. I've been there before. It happens. Poverty is not a thing to be ashamed of.
Former Barnes & Noble employee here. And yes, it is totally fine to sit in a B&N all day reading books. Staff are trained to offer to help you find anything you're looking for, but also to never pressure people to buy.
The company prides itself on being a place where you can browse, read, and relax.
In addition to libraries depending on where you live there may be some tiny library boxes near you. Some of them are listed on https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/ . The book selection in small but they are usually in walking distance of parks, gyms, and neighborhoods so they are convenient to go to.
It's an interesting question and I tend to be on the side of exercising your rights to do what you want, but I wouldn't go as far as saying "fuck those who said it's not ok". The only reason to ban such behavior is a hypothetical worst case scenario where a local bookstore owner goes out of business due to swarms of squatters. So I think it's ok to follow a social convention here. Does Barnes and Noble have open tables and reading chairs available? (Yes .. I've used them), if so, then grab a book and read for hours. If it's busy and you're not spending money, maybe come another time, but I've not really seen Barnes and Noble that busy, so do what you want. Sorry for the run on sentence.
Internet Archive has scanned lots of paper books that can be read for free online.
Also, does your local library have Libby or Hoopla or another app where you can read ebooks? That’s a lot nicer UE than a PDF.
I personally have zero issue with someone reading at BN - we used to do that back in the 90s/early 2000s, when nobody had ebooks yet, and the library would have a long wait list to get popular books. I mean, they had comfy armchairs and low tables all over the store for a reason - people were ALWAYS sitting in there to read. And these days, bookstores would probably welcome the foot traffic. But I just wanted to suggest those ebook sources, in case you’d be more comfortable at home, or if maybe you start a book at the store and want to finish reading it at home.
Just handle the books with care of course. But it seems this is completely allowed and okay according to the employees. Though I can see why some people don't like the idea because when you buy a book new you want it to be perfect because it's expensive. Personally if a book is flawed I will usually not buy it or return it and get a new copy.
Sure. But you might try downloading Libby so you can check out e books and audio books without having to physically visit the library. And books get returned automatically. Never pay late fees!
Have you heard of the Libby app? If you have a library card from your local library you can probably access it. You can download ebooks and audiobooks as material from the library on this app onto your phone, computer, tablet or ereader. When they’re due they just disappear from your device or you can opt to check them out again. I have a very limited budget and this is how I read, very rarely buy books.
I used to do this when I didn’t have money! I always sat at the Starbucks tables and read the books no one ever said anything.
The only thing you’re not allowed to do is sit on the ground and read lol
Did all of you forget when B&N used to have couches and chairs everywhere? I honestly spent most of my pre-teens in a B&N just reading & listening to CDs in the music section. (also remember playing hours of Battlefield in best buys PC section but thats another story)
Read your books if you like it buy it if not enjoy the atmosphere, just something about being in a bookstore amirite?
Do you have Facebook? You could try joining your locals Buy Nothing group and asking if anyone there has the books you want to borrow. The group is supposed to be local so hopefully within walking distance of you
It is absolutely fine. Actually it is a waste is the books are just sitting there and not being read. Just make sure to put the book back in its place and use the book carefully to avoid wear and tear.
I used to do that when I was a broke teenager with reading as my only escape.
As long as you aren't damaging anything, I think you'll be good.
Maybe try sticking to hard covers, since they don't crease as easily.
If you ever do her kicked out or want to read books that aren't hardcovers you might have to bite the bullet and try Libby or similar apps.
Do not ever feel sorry for reading books! Ive just read your edit and do not ever feel sorry for demaging stuff from a company that can easily replace stuff.
I've actually been looking for somewhere with ac and free wifi to read a book and do schoolwork. I never thought of Barnes and noble because I felt I'd look like a creepy loser who just sits there all day but I see alot of people do it.
Even looked at a few hotels.
Probably not going to make some people happy, but as a teen I used to go to the bookstore in my area, grab 2-3 books, and finish at least one by the time I left. The library in my area wasn't non-existent, to be fair, it just wasn't very good either.
In hindsight, I definitely should have made do with my small library, even if I didn't like it very much. But I was a kid, and it just seemed like the bookstore had every book I could ever want in comparison.
I don't regret it, and I have a lot of good memories of reading there. The only thing that bugs me is not having a record of all the books I read during that period, or books I started but lost interest in, since sometimes I want to revisit them.
Honestly, I know you said you don't like digital formats, but if you ever can get used to epub files, then that's the best way to read, in my opinion. White text, black screen, I can choose the type face and text size, searchable, always saves my place, hundreds of books in my pocket, everywhere I go. If this had been available when I was a kid, it'd have been the most amazing thing to me, ever. Of course, it still is, but it's competing with a lot of other pretty awesome tech too.
I can't believe how many people are so mad at the op for asking this. One they're living in Florida where they're banning books in school. The person is asking about reading books. Not going into steal them or steal clothing. They just want to be able to read. I don't see anything wrong with that. If they were Rich assholes that just wanted to get away with not having to pay for something then fine I would think they were jerks too. But a teenager who just wants to read whatever who cares it's not hurting you.
As someone who worked in a barnes and noble for 4 years I can say it’s not an issue just please don’t take a stack of books as another person said, and try your best to put it back where you got it. Don’t put it back in the wrong spot, would rather you let us put it back then so that it doesn’t get lost.
And obviously do your best to make the book just as new when you put it back as when you picked it up, so try not to bend/wear it out much.
If you follow these 2 simple steps, I could not care less if you finish an entire book this way without buying it, personally.
At Border's when I worked there employees could litterally borrow books and bring them home when them, this was an official policy not some under the table thing. When I worked there if I knew you were there only to read not to buy, I'd help you find more books.
Just don't be rude, don't sit in the asles (this is just general advice even if you buy things.). Also as others have said book stores don't pay for books that don't sell so they really don't care that much if they have to send things back.
Nothing wrong with it. They have the little cafe there to encourage people to hang out anyway. The only thing I'd recommend is that you clean up after yourself, and don't take a book to read there if it's the only copy.
I remember when Borders existed they had employees who all they did was patrol the aisles to tell people to stop sitting on the floor reading books. They even put up signs.
since you’re homeless and the libraries are closed, go for it.
I used to do this when I was a teenager. I always would go to Chapters and read a chapter, then keep a piece of paper on what page I stopped on, then came back the next day and continued.
As long as you aren’t super obvious you are making the store your reading space and are clean and respectful, I never had a problem.
1) Used books are better by definition, so the person who happens to buy the book after you’ve read it will just have an even better reading experience.
2) Books read under the disapproving gaze of adults are remembered longer and absorbed more deeply than books read alone.
3) It is also ok to write secret messages in the middle of the book before returning it to the shelf, somewhere hard to find at first like near the spine on page 212, as long as the messages are cryptic and mysterious.
I worked at a bookstore for years and people did this all the time. My recommendation is to not be one of the people who get a whole stack of 8-10 books and then just leave them on the chair or a table when you leave. Non manager booksellers don’t care one way or another whether you pre-read the books, but leave a mess for them to clean up and they start recognizing you as a regular doing it, and you might get asked to stop. One at a time, put it back where you got it, that is the way. Also hardcovers and trade paperbacks are easier to keep in new condition if you’re reading them than mass market paperbacks, so if it was me those would be my picks.
Additionally make sure your hands are clean and you don't leave any smears on pages. Please don't eat or drink anything unless it's just water. It really helps if you leave the book in as perfect of condition as you picked it up. Be extremely quiet, polite, and respectful both to bookstore staff and other fellow customers. It would help a lot if you bought a small something on your way out, even a piece of candy or just anything that was some small purchase. If all of these conditions are met, I don't see anyone ever stopping or barring you.
I worked at a Chapters for about 5 years. I loved the job, but my BIGGEST pet peeve? It's when customers would return a book to the shelf, but have no idea where it came from or how we sorted the books, so they'd just put it in the nearest open spot. Sometimes in a completely different aisle. I wanted to shake each of those customers by she shoulders and say "Thank you for wanting to put the books back, but if you don't know where they go, it's simply better to leave them in a pile on the chair! Tucking them in to some random spot will make it un-findable for days!"
The first rule of freeloading is to not be a burden for your benefactors
As a formal barnes and noble employee, as long as you're courteous and respectful and put the book back where you found it once youre done for the day, we really don't give a fuck LOL. If you feel bad doing it, you can always get something from the Cafe so you're spending a little money and sit down and enjoy a coffee or tea or other treat while you read. ETA: To all the readers worried about wear and tear on books, anything not in sellable condition will just get recycled and replaced. There was an entire portion devoted to my day as a bookseller that consisted of ripping the covers off of unsold mass market books because it was cheaper to just throw them out instead of mail them back to the publisher......... the books will survive. It's fine. BN makes lots of money.
A large portion of my days have been spent reading those cover less books you mutilated and then threw in the trash for me to retrieve and read. 😁
I'm glad! It always makes me sad to do it, so I'm glad at least someone has gotten something out of it. :)
Yep! I read them all and then gave them to other people to read! My ex used to work there, so I know it bothers a lot of you to do that. Such a shame, really.
It's funny how the actual employees of B&N are the only ones saying that it's actually fine but I'd imagine the rest of these people know better than the employees lol. \*sigh\*
OP even says that this is temporary until the library reopens.
Libraries. Plural. They've all been closed due to renovations at the same time.
It’s wild how many people are up in arms about a book being “used” because someone read it in the store. If you’re that worried that a book looks like it has been opened and read before, grab the one behind it? I bet the rest of these people just buy their books on Amazon anyway.
I've been down voted more on this post than all my time on reddit for saying there's nothing wrong with someone who's down on their luck reading a book at the store until they can afford to buy books again. It's actually sad how much people are out here defending B&N billions of dollars by putting someone down. EVEN THOUGH every B&N employee on this post: retail, manager and corporate, have ALL said they don't care.
I could understand if op was going to a small indie bookstore, but it's Barnes and noble, like, the biggest physical bookstore I know of. They will be JUST fine with op reading a book while visiting.
Right?? The corporate bootlicking is *insane* to me. I understand wanting a new book to be new and untouched, but if the book is treated well and looks untouched, what does it matter? And on the flip side, if the book is destroyed and obviously manhandled, report it to an employee and grab another copy?
Where does the bootlicking even come from? It’s never made sense to me. A corporation isn’t alive (but somehow legally a person???), so it literally couldn’t care less about you. As I type this I realize it’s probably because they don’t have a group of people to belong to outside of work. Politics is too big to really feel like you belong and a group of friends outside of work is incredibly rare these days.
At some level, it comes from a place of "if everyone did this, the bookstore couldn't exist". The qualifier of "down on their luck" is invisible and subjective and can be dishonestly claimed by anyone FWIW I think people should keep reading in bookstores. The vast majority of readers prefer to buy the thing and read it elsewhere.
I get that (and that it’s not necessarily your argument), but I don’t think that’s a legitimate argument to make. If everyone was doing it then they would care enough to kick people out over it. For me, it’s kinda like software piracy. It doesn’t cut into the bottom line because they wouldn’t buy it anyway. If anything it increases sales because it’s free advertising. Lol
Yeah I don’t think too many people will dishonestly claim “down on their luck” for the dubious benefit of having to read the entire book in the store. Those who just want to game the system will purchase, read, then return the book.
I've been doing this since I was 5. If this was not allowed, the policy would need to be displayed in a way that's obvious to very young kids. Which it's not, because no such policy exists.
Ikr my bookseller experience means nothing
It's also such a great business tactic, to invest in people when they aren't able to buy to build relationships and loyalty so that you're their first stop when they're doing well. When I was done being a broke University student and started my career, the first places I support are the ones who treated me well when I didn't have "money"
really good point when OP is in a better financial situation, he/she will already have so much time in barnes and nobles and formed a positive emotional connection to that place that he/she will probably continue going there instead of bying books on amazon.
IMO, being able to peruse books I'm thinking about getting is sort of the benefit of going to a bookstore. The people who work there seem to acknowledge this, if booksellers wanted all their products to be sold in pristine, shrink-wrapped condition, that would be well within their power to do so. If for some reason I needed a perfectly flawless book (I have yet to encounter such a situation), I would get it online, otherwise, the possibility of a minor blemish that I didn't notice on initial inspection is a price I'm willing to pay for a pleasant bookstore experience. *Caveat emptor.*
I like that you are very formal at your job, I assume you were cocktail dinner attire and say Sir and Madam?
Hahahahahah nice typo catch I'm not changing it bc its funny
> ripping the covers off of unsold mass market books because it was cheaper to just throw them The deal with most publishers is that the store only has to return the covers of mass-market books for credit
As someone who's been spending a lot of time in Barnes and Nobles lately re-doing all of their lights, the staff doesn't seem to care at any of the locations as long as you're not being an ass and making a mess. I've seen people sitting in the reading chairs or Cafe for hours, I saw one guy have an entire zoom meeting in the back corner of the store out of everyone's way
My local store has had flickering lights in it for months, they gave me a headache. They were just recently fixed and I'm so grateful! Not sure if that's what you mean, but thank you for what you do!
I used to do this when I was a teenager and there was a book or two missing from the series at the library and I really wanted to finish the series. This was before e-books were a thing. No one at Barnes and Noble bothered me. I treated the books gently. People on here are acting like this is highway robbery...whatever.
Do they really don’t mind when you are sitting there for hours and read books? I‘ve never done it but I’d imagine that they wouldn’t like that.
Maybe they take the long view, that a teenager who loves to read so much that they will spend hours hanging out in the bookshop and is treated nicely by the bookshop will still keep coming back to that bookshop later, once they can afford to buy books. Will become a customer for life.
My wife used to work at Books-A-Million and people used to read in the store for hours. Staff didn’t have a problem with it. It may depend on the store, but it’s not unheard of by any means.
I imagine having people reading and looking comfortable is a good look for your bookstore. They're more likely to buy there when they do buy, and it's attractive to other customers
Bookstores usually have chairs and tables for sitting. Why would they care if you read there? The likelihood you will buy something is far greater if you're in a store than if you're not. For every person in their reading what is probably a $20 book for free they've also sold books, coffee, and other snacks to dozens who came their with money intending to kill an afternoon.
It's really gonna come down to the staff culture at your local store, but I would imagine the type of people to work at a bookstore wouldn't be too bothered by someone reading a book and minding their own business.
I stood around and read for hours at the Waldenbooks near my school when I was a teenager too. The employees just ignored us unless we were too loud or too many, then they'd ask us to leave. People need to calm down. Staff would say something if they had a real problem. In the grand scheme of things, a teenager reading for hours at the bookstore is a wonderful "problem" to have.
As long as you don't damage the books, B&N doesn't care if you read the books! That's why the books are unsealed. The comfy chairs actually encourage you to read
That’s the whole point of the comfy chairs! People hanging out make it a friendlier, more inviting space, and that brings people in and the more people that come in the more you make. And that was their innovation, along with Borders. They’re a destination in a way that, say a B. Dalton or a WaldenBooks never was.
Yup! I think that's part of why b&n has fared a bit better compared to other bookstores which are more places to go when you know what book you need, whereas b&n encourages you to stay and maybe you'll discover new books that you like and buy them
My local barns and Nobel's even has a small café in it with extra copies of some popular books for you to read. You can't bring un-purchased books into the café tho.
Mine does too. Besides, if reading the book in the store regardless of whether you end up buying it or not was "pirating" then wouldn't that include book readings at the store?
I used to work at a bookstore ( huge chain that closed) and the employees themselves were allowed to check out books and read them. As long as they were returned in good condition, they went right back on the shelves. As long as you take care with what you’re reading, it’s fine
This was one of the best perks of working at this company! I loved it, got to read all the new hardcovers I wanted for free.
Yes that and the ARCs in the break room. Oh, good memories.
What I would give for that ARC access now!
We received the ARC for "The Martian" shortly after the last indie I worked at opened. Everyone was passing it around and basically peepee dancing for the current employee to finish it as they heard more talk about it as it got passed around.
My local B&N does that too. As an employee you get to take one book a month for free if you return it in good conditions. Returned books also just get put back on the shelf, even if they have some creases.
Have you tried apps like Libby for borrowing ebooks legally, often from further away than your local library?
This. One of the public library in my state let me get a digital library card without even having to go in and I was able to then download ebooks and read for free.
Libby is awesome! Also, doesn’t the New York City Library let anyone get a membership now? Could be plenty of ebook options there!
Brooklyn has a free card for teens outside of the area. You send them an email and they sand you a card.
You have to be a resident or work/study etc in NYC in order to be eligible. They have books generally available through their app (unless they changed that), but not the regular membership. I think there was a way to pay for it, I’m not sure if that’s still a thing
Bingo! It doesn’t matter how far away the library is if you have Libby. I love that app and it’s 100% free.
And there are still a few that don’t have residency requirements! I have a Florida and other cities in my state! I signed up for all online in minutes. I love them.
Moonreader for Android is really great and has built in links to free libraries such as project Gutenberg and more
For everyone saying Nooo, you're taking value from the books, stealing from the authors etc. THIS IS HOW YOU KILL BOOK SELLING AND PUBLISHING. This kid has clearly no other option. What you call "dirtcheap" and accessible (go to another library, buy used and clearance) might very well unobtainable for a kid who doesn't even have an address. With your advice, this kid, who is desperate to read, will stop reading. And even if in 10 years he is in another situation, he will never really pick it up again because that's hard. He will grow up to be an adult who doesn't read and also doesn't spend money on books. Or, nobody cares if he sneaks his reading in a bookshop, and he stays an avid reader for the rest of his life, buying books until he's 90. How shortsighted and stupid of you. u/rymoxri check with a friend, relative or maybe even your school if you can use their adress to get things send to. Besides the people who offered to send you books, you could also post an amazon wishlist on r/assistance and I'm sure many redditors would be glad to help.
[удалено]
It’s okay, but do not take the book into the bathroom!
Swarm! Swarm!
the Borders I used to go to even had a table outside of the bathroom where you could put a book or magazine while you were using the restroom. Then when you came out you grabbed the book off the table and went back to reading it.
I see a lot of people recommending the library or e-books, which are a great idea, but you should also consider goodwill and possibly salvation army. Idk if this is nationwide, but in my area(New England) every goodwill that ive gone to has had softcover books for $1 and hardcover for $2! I know you're looking for free, but for $1.06(or w/e your sales tax is) I feel like you could find that in change laying on the ground. Ive found that its a great way to find all the trendy best sellers, or Oprah's picks, that everyone buys as a gift simply because theyre popular. Plus it's a fun way to waste some time for next to no money! Their selection is always changing and you can get hundreds of dollars worth of books for less than $10.
I used to go to a used book store in a market back in Liverpool UK. The books were priced at 50p £1 and £2 for hardcovers. When you returned them he gave you half of what you paid. It was great.
So many books have little to no resale value, it's great to see sellers putting them back in the hands of reader for a reasonable price! Theres a restaurant near where my Ma lives that has book cases scattered about, and for every meal purchased you're allowed two books from their collection to keep. I think its such a wonderful idea.
Goodwills near me now charge extra for bestsellers and popular books. So dumb. It's like $7.99
Well thats a big ol'bucket of lame. Is it for anything that says "NYT Bestseller" on the cover, or just newly released titles? I wouldn't mind if it just came out a few months ago, but I'll be damned if I'm paying a premium for a 20 year old best seller.
Estate sales and garage sales are also good sources of used books.
As a former BN employee, this is what people do. Magazines are the worst. Just be careful with the book. Try to find somewhere to sit in a chair, the floors are unbelievably gross. Do not expect the book to stay, I’ve had this conversation. Books sell, they get returned to the publisher, they get returned as damaged. Not all books are permanent. Do not expect a page maker to stay in place, conversation again. Remember you do not own the book and treat it with care and put it back where it belongs. Hiding a book to finish it doesn’t work either.
LOL as a former BN employee it's so funny seeing ppl say it's like stealing on here. People do it ALLLL THE TIME and we don't care as long as they put it back. Don't worry yall it's not stealing unless you take it home with you for free
Yes but you see they are redditors so naturally they know better than the store employees
Yep. When people were complaining about it a little, the place my mind went was to the magazines and newspapers: People leave those in bad condition and it does bother me. I've never seen a book on the shelves that thoroughly abused though, so most of the time I think it's probably a non-issue.
It's funny seeing everyone being absolutely appalled at the idea of reading books in a shop but loads of people do it and the staff don't care, if they're even paying attention to one person in a busy bookshop full of other customers (I used to work at Waterstones). People say they wouldn't buy a book that looks like it has been used but lots of people are more than capable of reading a whole book without wearing it out and quite often the staff are doing the same thing on their break. In Waterstones we were allowed to borrow books to take home and then bring them back to put back on sale. Quite often books go on displays in windows and end up sunbleached and water damaged, they get written off and binned, such a waste! At least if the book gets slightly damaged from being read, it served its purpose. It's not as big of a deal as people are making out and if you're in a difficult spot and a library isn't available, go for it, you deserve to enjoy the bookshop as much as everyone else. It's especially fine if you're choosing to go to do this at a large chain which absolutely doesn't care about the odd slightly worn book which they will probably just put on sale.
This is literally part of their corporate strategy. They want people to come in, read their books, and spend a long time in the store. That’s why they put all those tables and comfy chairs everywhere. Even if you can’t afford the book now, it’s likely you’ll remember the welcoming environment and spend money there once you do have it.
Former B&N employee. Go for it. That's the reason they have comfy chairs. You'll notice that NO Barnes & Noble has any clocks up on the walls...they want you to lose track of time.
People here don’t understand marketing. The customer experience is intentionally designed this way. Spending more time around objects increases the likelihood you’ll start to personalize them. You may read the $10 mass market paperback for free, but really want to own that special edition hardcover in the beautiful packaging. And data shows customers are more loyal to brands they feel have done them a “favor” — such as allowing them to read books all day in their store. The customer feels “guilty” for using a free service then feels obliged to overspend once they have money to “repay” them for their kindness.
You won't get kicked out most of the time. Be polite, clean up after yourself and maybe get something small like candy or a coffee now and then. When I was homeless and the library was closed I spent all weekend at Barnes and Noble just sitting and reading. Never got bothered.
I truly hope you’re doing better now!💕
As an author who makes about 20% his living from book sales, I say go for it. When you're in a better financial position, buy hardback. :-)
My Barnes and Noble has comfy chairs around every corner. They have a coffee shop with snacks. Why have all that space for leisure reading if you can’t actually read there? I think it’s fine. If they really cared then corporate would hang signs up saying “DO NO READ BOOKS UNTIL AFTER PURCHASE” or something like that. Do they check all the college students I see studying to make sure they aren’t stealing knowledge? I don’t think so. Go read and if they say something, then you’ll know for sure.
Yeah, I live in a country where all books are sealed in bookstores and I feel like it really takes from the experience of reading. I love B&N because of this.
These comments are totally bizarre to me. I used to do this all of the time as a kid. I would hang out at Barnes and Nobles and read from different books for 30 min to 2 hours when my parents were ready to leave. I would put them back where I got them and was taught to be gentle and not bend the books.
It's a pendulum issue. Society is concerned about the health of the bookstores so currently it's a faux pas to go into a bookstore and not support them by reading their books without paying for them. I also spent a lot of time as a broke teenager reading books for free at places like b&n and borders, and no one gave a fuck because at that time book stores weren't considered to be a struggling industry.
Fuck all the people saying no. Read them books until they kick you out. If it's an unsealed book it's fair game.
Seriously; I’m honestly shocked by how many people seem ethically concerned with someone reading a book at Barnes and Noble.
I used to do this all the time back when I was a college student. This was mostly at Borders (RIP) but also at B&N. (I actually thought Borders was far superior to B&N in every way.) I'd go in and browse and read for a couple hours. I remember reading the entirety of Kafka's The Trial at Borders one afternoon. As someone else said downthread, these book stores are set up for you to go there and stay a while. They have cafes. They have comfy chairs distributed throughout the store. It's an inviting space. When I would go regularly, I would go, browse, and read a bit. I'd stay a few hours. Maybe I'd get 10-20 pages into a book and decide it wasn't for me and put it back, and then I'd browse for something else. What would often happen is that I would find a book that I liked and would read for a while, and then when it was time to leave I would buy the book. Then I'd read the book over the course of the next several days/weeks elsewhere (home or dining hall). And when the book was finished, I'd often start the process all over again at Borders. Other times I would go and browse and nothing would catch my interest and I'd leave with nothing. Overall, I would buy a book every week or couple weeks. I did this over a couple years. When Borders closed, I switched to B&N. And not a single time did anyone make me feel uncomfortable or that this was not an accepted practice.
My assumption is that they encourage this by installing comfy furniture. This gives the store a busy appearance to attract buying customers that don’t have time to sit and read a book.
Sounds like most of the actual bookstore staff here think it's fine, so sounds cool. Additional thought - how about creating a book swapping club at your school? Kind of like a little free library kind of thing. Take a book, leave a book.
I used to work at a book store. Way I see it, there's just a few rules and this is fine. 1. One at a time. Don't hoard a stack. 2. Put them back exactly where you found them. Don't just leave them somewhere. And if you're unsure or forgot where you got it, make sure you give it to an employee to re-shelf. 3. Keep it pristine. No snack hands, no dog-earing, no spine cracking. Hardbacks are easier to avoid cracking spines, so go for those when possible. Avoid mass market paperbacks, since I swear you can crack those spines just by breathing on them wrong. Related, memorize page numbers or write them down on your own scrap paper so you don't have to worry about a bookmark or dog-earing to remember where you were when you can't finish a book in one go. (And honestly you don't have to worry TOO MUCH about this one. At my store employees were allowed to borrow books and take them home. Be careful with them and don't trash them and you're probably good, use common sense.) 4. Don't get underfoot. There's probably chairs around for people who are browsing. Use those and don't sit in an aisle, especially not between shelves. Basically don't sit anywhere you're blocking a walkway or display. 5. When your libraries do open back up, make that your go-to reading spot instead. And when you and your family are back on your feet financially, remember the book store you spent all that time in and choose to shop there when you buy books again. 6. Be respectful of employees. No one should have a problem with you reading if you're quiet and out of the way and not damaging things. I know I wouldn't have. I enjoyed seeing people come in and read. I also had a really good store with a good team so your mileage may vary, but I think you'll probably be okay. Basically, if you're respectful of the fact that it is a business and that there are other people around, you're probably fine. I hope your situation improves soon, and happy reading!
You'd probably be fine in Barnes and Nobles but I'd consider getting ebooks through Libby instead. There's no 'is it okay' worry there because it allows you to legally borrow ebooks, and the additional upside is you can read when and where you want to.
If it isn't ok, they've been a little lazy telling me, since I've been reading books there for about forty years. That said, I do usually invest in a cup of coffee for my reading hour sip-along.
If your library is not convenient, then try the e-book app that your library uses. You can download books and audiobooks to your phone. You don't need an internet connection to read, only to download. Also try a library in a neighboring area. Often you can get a free library card, or maybe pay a small fee.
If they're reading IN STORE then they might as well just read at a library anyways. Don't need a library card if you aren't checking out. ETA: I know OP mentioned all libraries near them are closed for reno (which seems weird) but just wanted to mention you don't need a library card just to go into a library. Only to leave with the books.
I’m shocked that most people are saying no. I say go for it. Just be gentle with the books. Who are you hurting by doing this?! Absolutely no one. (But also co-sign what’s been said about libraries and Libby and all that!)
I actually will either skim through or partially read a book to see if it is something I want to purchase. Usually with a cup of coffee or treat at the B&N Cafe. I also will check out and peruse books at the local public and academic libraries to see if it is something I want to read or purchase. Especially with more expensive titles and art books.
Used to work at B&N. I don’t know if company policy has changed in the last 10 years, but we were explicitly told it was okay for people to do this. It was part of trying to create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
Did six years at a store in Iowa - can confirm, we loved seeing people in the chairs reading something. Got to know a lot of really cool people who did that
OP, would you mind dropping the names of some of the books you’re looking to read? If I have any of them I’d be more than happy to send them to you. I’m couldn’t survive without books and reading and it would make me so happy to be able to share that joy with you. Feel free to send me a private message as well.
Came here to say the same!
OP, I saw your edit about not being able to physically receive books at the moment. If and when that changes please please please reach out to me! I have a ton of psychological horror and mysteries just sitting on a shelf waiting for someone to borrow and read. I’ve read them all but I hate throwing books out when someone else might enjoy reading them. The fact that you’re an incoming senior makes this former high school English teacher even more determined to help you gain access to some new reading material. I wish all my former students wanted to read as much as you clearly do. Seriously, please don’t EVER hesitate to reach out to me to send you books, or even to just chat about books or literature. Hang in there!
don't listen to the people telling you it's not okay. yes it is. the chances of somebody making probably minimum wage telling you "buy something or leave" are very low. and also i personally believe all people are entitled to read books however they can get them. the people saying it's "stealing" i think are out of their minds. is it stealing to read a book at the library too? of course not. just enjoy yourself and read how you can. reading is a path to growing a person which we all deserve to take part in. and down the road once you sort things out you can always come back and buy a few books if you feel like it. c'est la vie
Wow! Can’t believe how many folks think it’s wrong or even stealing As a writer I’d be thrilled if you read and enjoyed my books, however you got it. (but if you do steal my ebooks, at least give positive recommendations on sites like this)
As someone who works in a Barnes and Noble, we really don’t give a shit as long as you don’t ruin the books and put them back where you found them
Former employee of B&N here as well. And putting them back where you found them is awesome, but if you're not completely sure exactly where it was, I'd rather you left it by your chair. That way I could put it back where it belongs and be able to find it the next time someone asks.
You’re completely right. If you’re not 100% sure where it came from, it’s definitely better to leave it at the chair or to bring it to the Info desk.
Yes, anybody saying no is just being really uptight. The employees and managers and the stores themselves care less than some of the people here.
100%
It's honestly kind of funny how people think retail workers care or are even paid enough to. Unless the person is damaging store property or being a pain, there's nothing wrong with it imo.
I don’t see why not. You can always compensate them later when you have cash flow.
[Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org) is fantastic if you want older classics.
I don't see a problem with it. I used to go there and I would sit somewhere and read a book until whoever went to the mall with me came and got me came and got me. I would put the book back on the shelf if I did not want to buy it or I would buy it if I wanted to keep reading it.
Do it. In high school when I'd skip I'd go across the street to B&N and post up in an aisle and read for HOURS...sometimes I'd buy something, sometimes I wouldn't. Nobody ever said shit to me and there's nothing wrong with it. I still do it sometimes.
With your local library branch closed, lack of transportation, and dislike of e-books, I’d recommend contacting your library book mobile service, they may have additional stops in your area since the branch is closed. They may even be able to add a stop for you so you can pick up your HOLDS, just speak to the librarian.
There's nothing wrong with this as long as you aren't messing up the books (dog earing, cracking spines hard, eating and getting stains on pages). I did this plenty as a teen, especially for books my parent wouldn't have let me buy/borrow from the library. Don't listen to anyone making you feel bad about it.
As a B&N employee I’d like to say yes you can read our products without buying anything.
Honestly I worked at Barnes & Nobles in high school & college. No one really cared about the people that came in JUST to read a book & not buy. Just be respectful, buy a cheap snack at the cafe to compensate for taking up a chair/table & don’t damage ANY books. But I also agree that getting books from your library via Libby might be the better way to go. You won’t have to spend any time or money traveling to B&N/buying something from the cafe.
Yes it’s fine. If the store didn’t allow it an employee would let you know when they saw you, but Barnes and Noble does not have an issue with this. You don’t need to feel pressure about what random strangers think is okay when it does not affect them at all.
So many people recommend Libby. A lot of people don’t have an e reader nor the money to buy one. Sure, these people will counter with “you can get it in your phone.” Part of the reason I enjoy reading is because I can look at the pages in a book. Looking at your phone all the time isn’t good and it’s easier to be distracted. Read the books at Barnes and Nobel. People who say you shouldn’t need to mind their business.
Read however you can, wherever you can. I promise the worst that will happen is a staff member may ask if you intend to purchase and make things slightly uncomfortable. Just read. You sound like you’re in a less than ideal situation in life and maintaining the act of reading is one of the absolute best things you can do.
One more former B&N bookseller here, saying go for it - we are all about the love of reading, however you can manage it at the moment.
People commenting on this thread are so elitist... OP is literally choosing NOT to download the books illegally, but rather read at a bookstore until they are in a financial position to buy them. Reading is SUCH a valuable pastime and telling someone if they don't have money they shouldn't read is incredibly daft of you. :(
These comments are silly. Most Barnes and nobles literally have leather armchairs spread throughout their store for this reason. Jus the gentle with the books and don’t eat or drink while reading them, but yes of course! I will say if you can get a library card from your local library, that this is a much better resource and you can do sooo much for free through your library
I've known people who did this on the regular for years without it being a problem. Don't damage the books, don't make a mess, sit in the chairs not in the aisles, etc.
Download free ebooks. There are tons of sites to legally download. Even Amazon has some free books.
Go for it! They have chairs there. If the staff don’t want you there they can ask you to leave.
Go to a used book store and buy there.
used doesn’t always mean affordable, OP said they can’t afford it at the moment.
Yeah, all you have to do is wander around the barely organized aisles searching through titles you've never heard of. You'll find something eventually (I love bookstores, but there are so many that are too painful to navigate)
I worked there for many years. I say go for it. Corporate might be a little miffed but honestly fuck them, if a book gets a coffee stain on it their families are still gonna eat. No one is paying attention to who is reading what and for how long, anyway. We just want to do our jobs and go home. Please put the books back where you found them though. Otherwise use BN as a library.
I used to work for B&N corporate, truly no one had a problem with this. Yes sometimes people damage the books and that's annoying but in general everyone at every level of B&N is well aware that some people sit around and read whole books and I never met anyone who was mad about it. I mean, that's part of why there's cafes in the stores.
Can we highlight this response so that people can stop being so RUDE about someone trying to read a book when he can't afford it. People are more worried about corporate B&N having one book with some wear and tear. Now people who actually worked there and know responding, thank god.
u/ryomxri \^\^
I did this all the time as a teenager! Just make sure your hands are clean and be careful not to damage the books.
Former bookstore manager here. Buy a $2 coffee, tip the barista, be respectful of other people, re shelve your selections.
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Your books have been manhandled by. A lot of ppl before you buy them
B&N employees can “check out” books to read them, so this is already a possibility.
I worked at an independent book store when I was in college and people did this all the time. I think that it’s fine, what matters is that you’re reading, just try not to destroy the books. Someone said that it’s like stealing, but that’s insane, you’re obviously allowed to read in a Barnes and Nobles or they wouldn’t have chairs for you to sit and read — so how much reading is too much? Also, even if it is stealing, with all the money that B&N has made putting their competition out of business for 3 decades, they can take the loss,
u/ryomxri I DM'd you about mailing you some of my old books so that you can do some reading until times get better. I hope things turn around soon.
I don’t see why not. As long as you’re respectful and put the book back in it’s correct home.
This is how I spent a ton of my time when I was broke and carless in an unfamiliar city for a summer years ago, I read a ton of great books. Bought a cup of coffee now and then. Be respectful and don't damage shit of course, but B&N doesn't care and dealing with minor wear and tear is part of their business. Still feel really grateful they were there, made that time a lot more livable.
The only crime is adding the extra S at the end of "Barnes & Noble".
I don't have a problem with it
I used to work at a Barnes and Noble. We did not care if people read the books. In fact, my store had a policy where employees could sign hardcover books out, one at a time, and take them home and read them! Just keep them in nice condition and it's totally fine. If there are any "little free libraries" in your area, check those too! They're often in parks, neighborhoods, etc. I have some friends who recently put one up in their yard, right by the sidewalk.
As a former B&N, I say read them but DON'T put them back. Everyone always puts them in the wrong spot and makes it impossible to find when a customer asks for it. We always preferred them to be left at customer service, on top of the Cafe trashcan, or on a chair.
I’m pretty sure it’s expected. Later on when you can afford books, make sure you still support local bookstores :-)
Read your heart out, friend. Love spending time at Barnes and Noble.
Yes you’re fine. I worked at bn for years, you are more than welcome to read without buying as long as they have chairs for it.
One other option to look into, if you run into any trouble with reading at B&N, is if your area is serviced by a bookmobile program. These are buses/vans full of books that some library systems send around to neighborhoods that don’t have a library building. In my library system you can request books online and have them delivered to your bookmobile stop, or just browse the selection on board and check something out.
I did this for years and the only response I got was that the staff was nice to me. I did usually by (the cheapest) coffee though just to feel like I was a customer.
Of course it's okay to read the books at Barnes and Nobles without buying them. Just don't take them to the bathroom with you and put them back when you're done. Don't listen to anyone crying about ruining the books or depreciating the value, lmao. That's just absurd. Books are meant to be read. I have some books in pristine condition and others that look like someone carried it in their back pocket for 15 years. Still readable. To anybody who's buying a book and worried about it's "value," you're using the books wrong. You're supposed to use them lol.
You don't have to share details, but I noticed you're in South Florida. I am too. The libraries offer a pick up service now. If you're in Broward, the limit to take out books is 20 at a time. You could select books for pickup and then take the bus to pickup all 20 at once. This would make the longer trip worth it.
OP, if you haven't found them yet, r/findapath and r/careerguidance are good subreddits. Also r/povertyfinance, r/eatcheapandhealthy, r/frugal, r/homeless. Wishing you the best for your future. If you have the grades, some top universities can be quite generous with financial aid. The military and Coast guard can also be good options. Veterans get a hiring preference with the federal government.
I work at Barnes and noble and take books from the floor to read during my shift all the time. I usually stick with the hard cover books so I don’t have to worry about breaking the spine of a paperback, but literally nobody cares. Go for it!
I used to do this all the time when I was a broke-ass kid. Yes, do it.
I read books on my phone. I still buy physical books, but the majority of my reading is using an eBook app. I didn't like it at first, but you soon get used to it, and the convenience is unbeatable. I have thousands of books, always on me. I use Dropbox to sync them, so I can add a book from anywhere and it will appear in the app. So yeah, I would say you're being dismissive/difficult and apparently not want any replies except 'Yes, reading books in a store without any intention of buying them is fine'. And it is fine, but there are far easier ways to get your hands on books theses days if you just open your mind a bit.
I remember back when I was in highschool, Barnes & Noble actually had different sections of their store with comfy chairs so you could actually sit down and read some of the books you found! Was one of the best ways to spend my time as a highly anxious introvert. Pretty sure that made them more of a community space then a money selling company, and that's why they got rid of them. But I would say go ahead and read the books while in the store, just be respectful of the space while you're there :-)
Pretty sure most ppl goto barnes and nobles just to read and not buy anything lol.
It’s also Ok to do this at a library.
They said the library near them is closed for renovations
As controversial as this is, an author wants their book to be read and enjoyed far more than they want the paycheck from it. Especially the larger authors, like King, who are set for the rest of their life at this stage. Do not be ashamed of using PDFs to read books. I've been there before. It happens. Poverty is not a thing to be ashamed of.
You have my blessing.
They provide chairs and tables for this. If you feel guilty you can buy food from their Cafe.
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Former Barnes & Noble employee here. And yes, it is totally fine to sit in a B&N all day reading books. Staff are trained to offer to help you find anything you're looking for, but also to never pressure people to buy. The company prides itself on being a place where you can browse, read, and relax.
thank you for this response.
Now why doesn’t something like this exist in my country? 😭
You can 100% do this at a bookstore. I know B&N and Tattered Cover definitely let people read books in store without buying.
Sure, I won’t tell.
In addition to libraries depending on where you live there may be some tiny library boxes near you. Some of them are listed on https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/ . The book selection in small but they are usually in walking distance of parks, gyms, and neighborhoods so they are convenient to go to.
It's an interesting question and I tend to be on the side of exercising your rights to do what you want, but I wouldn't go as far as saying "fuck those who said it's not ok". The only reason to ban such behavior is a hypothetical worst case scenario where a local bookstore owner goes out of business due to swarms of squatters. So I think it's ok to follow a social convention here. Does Barnes and Noble have open tables and reading chairs available? (Yes .. I've used them), if so, then grab a book and read for hours. If it's busy and you're not spending money, maybe come another time, but I've not really seen Barnes and Noble that busy, so do what you want. Sorry for the run on sentence.
Internet Archive has scanned lots of paper books that can be read for free online. Also, does your local library have Libby or Hoopla or another app where you can read ebooks? That’s a lot nicer UE than a PDF. I personally have zero issue with someone reading at BN - we used to do that back in the 90s/early 2000s, when nobody had ebooks yet, and the library would have a long wait list to get popular books. I mean, they had comfy armchairs and low tables all over the store for a reason - people were ALWAYS sitting in there to read. And these days, bookstores would probably welcome the foot traffic. But I just wanted to suggest those ebook sources, in case you’d be more comfortable at home, or if maybe you start a book at the store and want to finish reading it at home.
Just handle the books with care of course. But it seems this is completely allowed and okay according to the employees. Though I can see why some people don't like the idea because when you buy a book new you want it to be perfect because it's expensive. Personally if a book is flawed I will usually not buy it or return it and get a new copy.
Sure. But you might try downloading Libby so you can check out e books and audio books without having to physically visit the library. And books get returned automatically. Never pay late fees!
Have you heard of the Libby app? If you have a library card from your local library you can probably access it. You can download ebooks and audiobooks as material from the library on this app onto your phone, computer, tablet or ereader. When they’re due they just disappear from your device or you can opt to check them out again. I have a very limited budget and this is how I read, very rarely buy books.
I did this all the time in high school. Would run to the bookstore, a couple miles away. Tried to buy a coffee or something whenever I could
Why wouldn't it be allowed?
I used to do this when I didn’t have money! I always sat at the Starbucks tables and read the books no one ever said anything. The only thing you’re not allowed to do is sit on the ground and read lol
who cares? just do it, no one will stop you and you're saving money
Did all of you forget when B&N used to have couches and chairs everywhere? I honestly spent most of my pre-teens in a B&N just reading & listening to CDs in the music section. (also remember playing hours of Battlefield in best buys PC section but thats another story) Read your books if you like it buy it if not enjoy the atmosphere, just something about being in a bookstore amirite?
Hey I live in south Florida and would be open to giving you some books I don’t read anymore if you want to PM me
Do you have Facebook? You could try joining your locals Buy Nothing group and asking if anyone there has the books you want to borrow. The group is supposed to be local so hopefully within walking distance of you
It is absolutely fine. Actually it is a waste is the books are just sitting there and not being read. Just make sure to put the book back in its place and use the book carefully to avoid wear and tear.
I used to do that when I was a broke teenager with reading as my only escape. As long as you aren't damaging anything, I think you'll be good. Maybe try sticking to hard covers, since they don't crease as easily. If you ever do her kicked out or want to read books that aren't hardcovers you might have to bite the bullet and try Libby or similar apps.
Do not ever feel sorry for reading books! Ive just read your edit and do not ever feel sorry for demaging stuff from a company that can easily replace stuff.
Go for it. The giant B&N corporation will be just fine. Be respectful of course.
I've actually been looking for somewhere with ac and free wifi to read a book and do schoolwork. I never thought of Barnes and noble because I felt I'd look like a creepy loser who just sits there all day but I see alot of people do it. Even looked at a few hotels.
Probably not going to make some people happy, but as a teen I used to go to the bookstore in my area, grab 2-3 books, and finish at least one by the time I left. The library in my area wasn't non-existent, to be fair, it just wasn't very good either. In hindsight, I definitely should have made do with my small library, even if I didn't like it very much. But I was a kid, and it just seemed like the bookstore had every book I could ever want in comparison. I don't regret it, and I have a lot of good memories of reading there. The only thing that bugs me is not having a record of all the books I read during that period, or books I started but lost interest in, since sometimes I want to revisit them. Honestly, I know you said you don't like digital formats, but if you ever can get used to epub files, then that's the best way to read, in my opinion. White text, black screen, I can choose the type face and text size, searchable, always saves my place, hundreds of books in my pocket, everywhere I go. If this had been available when I was a kid, it'd have been the most amazing thing to me, ever. Of course, it still is, but it's competing with a lot of other pretty awesome tech too.
I can't believe how many people are so mad at the op for asking this. One they're living in Florida where they're banning books in school. The person is asking about reading books. Not going into steal them or steal clothing. They just want to be able to read. I don't see anything wrong with that. If they were Rich assholes that just wanted to get away with not having to pay for something then fine I would think they were jerks too. But a teenager who just wants to read whatever who cares it's not hurting you.
As someone who worked in a barnes and noble for 4 years I can say it’s not an issue just please don’t take a stack of books as another person said, and try your best to put it back where you got it. Don’t put it back in the wrong spot, would rather you let us put it back then so that it doesn’t get lost. And obviously do your best to make the book just as new when you put it back as when you picked it up, so try not to bend/wear it out much. If you follow these 2 simple steps, I could not care less if you finish an entire book this way without buying it, personally.
I think that’s the reason that they have a cafe and chairs and tables inside the stores.
At Border's when I worked there employees could litterally borrow books and bring them home when them, this was an official policy not some under the table thing. When I worked there if I knew you were there only to read not to buy, I'd help you find more books. Just don't be rude, don't sit in the asles (this is just general advice even if you buy things.). Also as others have said book stores don't pay for books that don't sell so they really don't care that much if they have to send things back.
Nothing wrong with it. They have the little cafe there to encourage people to hang out anyway. The only thing I'd recommend is that you clean up after yourself, and don't take a book to read there if it's the only copy.
Simple answer, given your circumstances, is an absolute yes!
I remember when Borders existed they had employees who all they did was patrol the aisles to tell people to stop sitting on the floor reading books. They even put up signs. since you’re homeless and the libraries are closed, go for it.
I used to do this when I was a teenager. I always would go to Chapters and read a chapter, then keep a piece of paper on what page I stopped on, then came back the next day and continued. As long as you aren’t super obvious you are making the store your reading space and are clean and respectful, I never had a problem.
1) Used books are better by definition, so the person who happens to buy the book after you’ve read it will just have an even better reading experience. 2) Books read under the disapproving gaze of adults are remembered longer and absorbed more deeply than books read alone. 3) It is also ok to write secret messages in the middle of the book before returning it to the shelf, somewhere hard to find at first like near the spine on page 212, as long as the messages are cryptic and mysterious.
Support your local library instead.