Mid-Year Challenge Check-in: Library Love Challenge 2023

July 3, 2023 Challenges 3

Graphic: 2023 Library Love Challenge

It’s time for the Library Love Challenge midyear check-in!

The Library Love Challenge 2023 is hosted by Angel’s Guilty Pleasures & Books of My Heart. My goal for the year is to read and review 12 books, which is the Dewey Decimal level (and the lowest possible option.)

Library Love Challenge 2023

Library Love Challenge 2023

Host: Books of My Heart and Angel's Guilty Pleasures
Progress: 2/12 (17%)
1 January, 2023 — 31 December, 2023
Failed

17
  1. How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis
  2. Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff: Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward With Your Life by Matt Paxton, Jordan Michael Smith

Overview: I’m doing pretty dismally so far, with only 2 library books read and only 1 reviewed. The book I haven’t yet reviewed is Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweater, by Peggy Orenstein.

Savings: Even with just the two books, I saved between $40 and $50, especially since I read both books in hardcover.

TitleAmazonList Price
How To Keep House While Drowning (K.C. Davis) – HC$ 17.99$ 22.00
Unraveling (P. Orenstein) – HC$ 24.48$ 27.99
Total savings$ 42.87$49.99

Why I read so few library books: I really thought I would read more library books this year, but I keep running into these obstacles (below). I promise, I’m not trying to make excuses, just figure out why I haven’t been reading as many library books recently!

  1. The good library is about 25-30 minutes away, and I don’t always have time to get there. That’s only a problem for physical books, of course.
  2. The library doesn’t always have the book I want, or it isn’t available when I want to read it. I don’t mind waiting for a hold, but see #1 again.
  3. I had to take back about 5 or 6 books when I flew out west to help with a family emergency, and now I’m back at the bottom of the holds list for those titles.
  4. I have a backlog of review copies to read, and a huge pile of unread books I own (both physical books and Kindlebooks.) I’m also a frequent rereader. The combination means I haven’t needed to borrow books as often as I would if I didn’t own such a huge book collection.

Number 4 is probably the biggest issue. It’s hard to prioritize library books when I have so many books close to hand!

On the plus side, I have started checking the library before I buy a book. If it’s a book I don’t need or really want to own, and the library has it, I don’t buy it, even if it’s on a great sale. That saves me some money now, and increases the chances that I will read more library books in the coming months and years.

So I’ll see if I can make better use of my library between now and December 31!

Related Posts

3 Responses to “Mid-Year Challenge Check-in: Library Love Challenge 2023”

  1. Anne - Books of My Heart

    I only do digital from the library where pickups and returns and even checking out a new book can happen when I think of wanting it (if an older title). I had some of your problems when I did physical books. You can also put reserved books on hold if you are not ready and keep your place in line. That way when you are ready to read you are the top of the list.
    Anne – Books of My Heart recently posted…🎧 Isn’t She Lovely by Lauren Layne #LaurenLayne @KevinTCollins @sarahsampino @TantorAudio #LoveAudiobooks #JIAM @SnyderBridge4My Profile

    • Lark_Bookwyrm

      Yes, I do pause some of my holds to manage the timing. It works great… except when I forget to update it, go past the date, and end up with 6 holds coming in at once! (I seriously think I have ADHD.) I have to do physical books for some of them, particularly newer books. My library has Overdrive rather than Hoopla, and their selection, while decent, isn’t as broad. If the library doesn’t have a digital copy, I end up putting a hold on the physical copy.