Comments on: Reference Question of the Week – 12/29/08

By: Liz

Liz — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:23:28 +0000

lol – clearly I’m in the minority here, but I still don’t get it – would you buy a sweater for someone, wear it very gently, then wrap it up and give it to them as a gift?

If you do give someone a book (copy) you’ve already read, it seems to me that one shouldn’t lie about it – if you feel you have to hide something, should you really be doing it in the first place…?

By: Auntie Nanuuq

Auntie Nanuuq — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:43:21 +0000

I usually give books that I have checked out & read from the library, or already own…

Sometimes I get from from the booksale, especially if they are in great condition….

Sometimes I give my own copies as gifts!

By: mm

mm — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:24:59 +0000

I am a librarian who also works in a bookstore, and my bookstore coworkers all generally read things before gifting them. All are extremely careful with books so no marks. I think they are evenly split on whether they confess to reading the book or not.

By: Read Before You Give? Or Not? « Books Are Good

Read Before You Give? Or Not? « Books Are Good — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:38:31 +0000

[...] Before You Give? Or Not? In General, Read, Reading on January 5, 2009 at 1:37 pm A post from Brian Herzog on his blog Swiss Army Librarian raises the question of whether or not it is socially acceptable [...]

By: Liz

Liz — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:37:56 +0000

I have to disagree – if you’re giving someone a new, storebought (not antique or rare trader) book, they should be the first to read it. Plus, wouldn’t the same title probably be available for the giver to check out at the library…?

The golden rule of regifting is never regift an item that has been opened or used (unless antique) – shouldn’t the same be true of first-time gifting?

Giving someone a book copy you’ve already read sounds more like a loan than a gift. Thumbing through the book in the store to see if it would capture the recipient’s interest? Okay. Reading a chapter or more to make sure they’ll like it? Not okay. (again, check it out at the library or persuse it online – lots of sellers have excerpts available)

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:36:56 +0000

I agree with previous comments. I will sometimes pre-read a book that I am giving as a gift, but I never tell the recipient that I have read their copy.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:02:20 +0000

I think reading it first is ok, but no telling, and don’t break the spine!!

By: jessamyn west

jessamyn west — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:35:42 +0000

I think pre-read books are fine but I have a tendancy to just give obviously used books [neat older books, etc] so it’s obvious that they’ve been read. I think if I was giving someone a newish book I don’t think I’d mention that I’d read that particular book but I’d mention that I’d read the title.