Resources are so expensive...

[Rachel Udin]

So I want this book, but it's 60 dollars (57 digital). It's NOT in my local library system, but it is at the Library of Congress.

I just need it for pages 46 and 47 so I can decide to throw out the theory or not. (I'm wary since it is a nationalistic book with an agenda (With several places I can't bring up in wikipedia)... and the archaeologist that they are reporting on I kind of find to be a quack for several reasons... but still... figure I should check the theory out).

Is there a graceful way to get it without breaking bank? Anyone know if local libraries can request from Library of Congress?

And what do you do when the majority of your resources are in expensive books you can't borrow? (Other book I want is 45 dollars and then another for 94 dollars... I'm not spending that to write a novel.)

[MaryMumsy]

If some other library has it, and it isn't in their "you cannot take this book from this room" room, you might be able to get it through interlibrary loan. I got several books that way for my late 1800s southwest Texas research.

Have as much info on the book as possible, and ask your local library about it.

At my library it used to be free, but I think now there is a small fee. Library budgets are not what they used to be.

MM

[shadowwalker]

Definitely check interlibrary loan. I've gotten books this way from universities for research that were available nowhere else.

[Hip-Hop-a-potamus]

I'll recommend ILL too.

I've been very fortunate, in that i need tons of old Hollywood bios for mine, and our Mennonite Thrift Store here had a huge collection donated. I was picking up huge out-of-print bios and coffee table books that were worth $60-$100 or more for $5 and $10.

I also check used bookstores, thrift stores, flea markets...wherever i am, i'm usually looking for books.

Good luck!
HH

[CrystalCierlak]

Do you happen to have an iPad? This may be a long shot but there is an app you can download where you can borrow library books through the e-reader app and I believe even get them from other local libraries. The app I've used is Overdrive and I'm not sure if that's a universal app or something that's just local. But that might be a feasible outlet!

[donroc]

See if it is available on Questia.

[ishtar'sgate]

Lots of good advice. I recently found a research book I wanted but almost choked to death when I saw the price - $700.00!! Ack. Don't need it that bad.

[Lil]

Did you know that you can ask the Library of Congress for help? It's free. They've even sent me copies of relevant pages and documents when I was looking for information.

http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/

[mayqueen]

You might be able to access the library of a public university for free to look at the book only, or get an alumni membership to your own. I'm very lucky that I'm university-affiliated, but there are still books I want that I can't get and that are really expensive. I've probably making this up, but when I worked at the library as an undergrad, I feel like we had to be accessible to the public for certain things. People could come in and look at the books or whatever, but not check them out.

Is any portion of the book on Google books? Also, ask the reference desk of your local library if anything can be done. And ask the Library of Congress. Maybe they can send you the pages.

My local library also does Overdrive on the Kindle, but their selection of books is really small right now.

[Unimportant]

Originally Posted by Rachel Udin

So I want this book, but it's 60 dollars (57 digital). It's NOT in my local library system, but it is at the Library of Congress.

I just need it for pages 46 and 47 so I can decide to throw out the theory or not. (I'm wary since it is a nationalistic book with an agenda (With several places I can't bring up in wikipedia)... and the archaeologist that they are reporting on I kind of find to be a quack for several reasons... but still... figure I should check the theory out).

Is there a graceful way to get it without breaking bank? Anyone know if local libraries can request from Library of Congress?

And what do you do when the majority of your resources are in expensive books you can't borrow? (Other book I want is 45 dollars and then another for 94 dollars... I'm not spending that to write a novel.)

You might be able to find an online forum dedicated to your particular time period/era/culture/whatever the book's about. The folks there will probably let you pick their brains, and someone may even have a copy of the book, which they could scan the relevant pages for you.

Alternatively, university libraries tend to have those kind of books. You can't check the book out, but you can read it at the library and photocopy the pages you need.

Last ditch, put a post in the Story Research: Experts section of AW, maybe, and ask if anyone can access the pages of the book you want.

[Medievalist]

Look for the book in World Cat to find a library that has it.

Bring a printout of that information to your local library, and ask about ILL.

http://www.worldcat.org/

[narmowen]

Many larger library systems will take reference questions from people out of state. We (at my system) have copies pages from reference books and mailed them out for cost of copying (here it's 15 cents a page b/w or 50 cents color) and postage.

If you can find a library that has it (other than the LoC), contact them.

Try this site to find another library that has it: http://www.worldcat.org/

And you might have a state library interloan program, as previously suggested.