ladysprite: (momongo)
ladysprite ([personal profile] ladysprite) wrote2012-08-23 09:09 am
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Instant Gratification

I have never thought of myself as having a problem with impulse control. I'm lucky like that - I can eat one cookie, then stop. If I tell myself I'm going to take a ten-minute break from work, or studying, I can take those ten minutes, and then get back to whatever chore I was working on. If I give myself a budget for shopping, I can stick to it easily, and if I tell myself to wait and buy something later, odds are I'll wait until it slips my mind, and no great tragedy or loss. I have willpower. I'm good at saying no.

Or so I thought. Until I met my nemesis - namely, the Boston Public Library's digital collection.

I've loved my Nook from the day I bought it, in spite of being highly skeptical about the concept. I love the convenience, and I love how personal it is - all *my* books, in one special little device, in my purse. And I love how easy it is to get new books, just by touching a button. But I also was at least able to remember that I had to pay for said books, which kept a bit of a cap on my habit.

And then I discovered the BPL's e-card - instant, and free for any resident of the state. And their extensive collection of e-books. That I can download instantly. For free.

This has turned me into the literary equivalent of one of those highly conditioned rats with a lever that they push for tasty snacks. Except instead of 'Push Button-->Get Food' it's 'Push Button-->Get Book.'

Instant books. Instant free books. ALL the instant free books. Right here, right now, in my hand.
Booksbooksbooks.

And I know I have other books that I've already bought. And I know I have other things I should be doing. And I know that there is a time and place for everything. But.... push button, get books.

I'm gonna go read now....

[identity profile] tikva.livejournal.com 2012-08-23 03:14 pm (UTC)(link)
That's exactly what happened to me when I discovered Bookshare. Which is how I wound up with something like 700 books on my Victor Reader Stream. Oops. :)

[personal profile] hungrytiger 2012-08-23 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
SHINY! The minuteman ebook/audiobook collection is good, but many things I want have a huge waitlist. I just signed up to the BPL and they had one of the audiobooks I wanted to take with me on a trip available for instant download. YAY!

Thank you Becky, you just made my trip a bit happier!

[identity profile] rosinavs.livejournal.com 2012-08-23 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
*Any* state resident? Oh darn, there goes anything I was going to accomplish today...

[identity profile] deguspice.livejournal.com 2012-08-23 06:56 pm (UTC)(link)
You are very naughty. You tease us with the mention of free books, but didn't provide a URL.

It looks like this is the place to start. http://www.bpl.org/general/circulation/ecards.htm
jducoeur: (Default)

[personal profile] jducoeur 2012-08-31 06:38 pm (UTC)(link)
I think this pointer has made Kate's month. She's always been a fan of library books; being able to load them onto her Kindle is a Big Win. Thanks much...