1. People lose library books all the time. Including librarians. Like, uh, me.
2. At many libraries, if you find it within a certain amount of time after paying for it, they’ll take it back and refund much of your payment.
3. Due to the wonders of the first sale doctrine (which allows libraries to buy and lend books in the first place!!!*), you now own the book. You can sell it, lend it, keep it, chop it up and make entirely new thing with it. It’s wonderful!
*Notably this does not apply to ebooks, which are licensed, not owned, which allows publishers to do an end run around the laws that make libraries possible and price gouge them in the manner of bad landlords everywhere. Do not get me started.
1. People lose library books all the time. Including librarians. Like, uh, me.
2. At many libraries, if you find it within a certain amount of time after paying for it, they’ll take it back and refund much of your payment.
3. Due to the wonders of the first sale doctrine (which allows libraries to buy and lend books in the first place!!!*), you now own the book. You can sell it, lend it, keep it, chop it up and make entirely new thing with it. It’s wonderful!
*Notably this does not apply to ebooks, which are licensed, not owned, which allows publishers to do an end run around the laws that make libraries possible and price gouge them in the manner of bad landlords everywhere. Do not get me started.
you’re officially my go-to for library doctrine! Thanks for this info!
You got it! Here for all your library needs. (NB: The answer to all copyright questions is "It depends.")