Why I Steal from Libraries

To say that you steal from the library is to be met with mortified disbelief followed by swiftly rising umbrage alongside swelling plumage as the moralist, smelling the blood spilt by the perceived violation of some moral maxim, puffs up to thrice zir size and swoops in for the always laughable impartment of Higher Moral Values. How can you steal from the library, have you no soul?

Here then is a brief text outlining a few reasons why I steal from libraries. Any one would be sufficient on its own to warrant a theft; the fact that more often than not more than one applies in any given situation or library should be all the more cause for concern over the esteemed edification of the library as some sort of illusory bastion of knowledge as opposed to wretched dungeon of the repression of information, which it most certainly is in this day and age.

I. I don't like to be tracked or surveilled. No one has a right to know the names of the books I read, the movies I watch, the music I listen to, the animals I fuck, or the people I eat. Libraries keep intricate records of all of the books you check out or have checked out in the past. Libraries with CCTV are even more troublesome, as are the libraries that force you to undergo searches prior to entering/exiting the library. This is unacceptable to me much like search engines keeping logs of searches you make or credit card companies keeping logs of shit you buy, or say government agencies keeping logs of every inch of movement you make, every flush of your toilet. The fact that Section 215 of the US Patriot Act specifically states that the pigs can subpoena your library records (as well as any other "tangible things") is obviously troubling, but hardly surprising. That some libraries have 'fought' a government request for records here and there is immaterial. The problem is that the records exist in the first place, not that some agencies obviously want to get their hands on them. I don't want to be in any fucking records, to have to worry about the possibility that my habits may be passed on to whoever for whatever motive, therefore I steal the books instead of checking them out.

II. I don't like not being able to take some books out of the library. I see no reason to restrict some books to the musty confines of an archaic institution, to be able to be read only in the establishments the library deems to be fit for said impartment of knowledge. I like to read what I want, whenever the fuck I want, therefore I steal the books instead of checking them out.

III. I cannot trust the libraries to take care of the books I want to see preserved. Sorry, libraries do not take better care of books than us smelly laypeople. I've been to many a library and in every one I've found evidence of abuse. One example seen only last week would be several boxes of newspapers stacked right next to the fucking radiator! Other cases would be books that have been desperately in need of new binding, books covered in dust and filth attracted by the glue overflowing from apparently botched binding attempts, books literally soaked from leaky water pipes right above the shelving, and on and on. I have even found boxes upon boxes of uncatalogued books stowed away in the bowels of the library's cellar, apparently deemed unfit for public circulation. If the complaint is that the libraries do not have sufficient funding to take care of their books, I fail to see why I should be asked to provide that funding when I and perhaps others are perfectly capable of taking care of the books without monetary compensation. I don't want to see treeware tomes destroyed from neglect (at least not before I get a chance to digitize 'em), therefore I steal the books instead of checking them out.

IV. I don't like paying for information. All information must be free. Libraries charge for information by way of taxes, late fees, or (as in the case of, say, university libraries) by charging a fee for access in the first place. I like my reading to be constrained neither by price nor by time, therefore I steal the books instead of checking them out.

V. I want to disseminate information as widely as possible, this desire to free the world's knowledge extends to the digitization of books. Librarians tend to go ape shit when they see you scanning a book in the library, as they do if the binding is slightly damaged from a thorough scanning session before you return the book, perhaps even demanding that you pay some atrocious fine (which leads us back to IV). I want to share information across any illusory borders or human-made boundaries, therefore I steal the books instead of checking them out.

I support free universal access to information without the impediments of surveillance or payment. Libraries, as they currently exist, are in direction opposition to these goals, therefore I steal the books instead of checking them out.

In short: if you are a librarian, go motherfuck yourself.

Oh, and if you're interested in a few tips on how to easily go about stealing books from the library see the 'free books from the library' section of Stop Paying for Shit.

Finally, in anticipation of the aforementioned repugnant knee jerk reactionism of you, the moralist, I'd merely like to point out that nowhere in this text do I preclude the possibility either of stealing the books back to the library after you're done with them, or of setting up your own free libraries using stolen bounty; think that one over for a little bit.

Then buy books. They're not expensive, especially if you get them used. They're going to cost you some money, for the cost of the physical paper and ink if nothing else.

And every one of those books represents the time and effort of the individual who wrote it. They deserve fair payment for it, should they choose to charge.

If you want free knowledge, put your effort where your mouth is. Find which ones are free, and disseminate them. Read the ones that aren't, and write your own damn book on the subject, and give it away freely. Or hell, just write of really, really in-depth Wikipedia articles. :P

Reading is always positive. The author has been compensated by the library supply organization already, so I can't say that I have an issue with this practice.

It's not for me, but at least you've got access to a wide variety of books.

What do you do about the security tags? Many libraries have security strips buried between the pages around three quarters through the book. The security tags on the back cover wouldn't be any issue, but how do you locate these other tags?

As a note to your tag removal, butane will dissolve the glue that holds the tag in place and speed along the process; it will not damage the book, simply leave a slight scent that will disappear over time.

You're right, I hadn't even considered that. If you're sneaking them out, and then bringing them back, more power to ya. Fuck being tracked. If you're not bringing them back (I do enjoy having a considerable personal library of actual books), then it's still theft. You can probably find the information online easily enough.

The OP must be some stupid juvenile delinquint. The library provides a free service, and a place for misfit youth. It's also a quiet place to relax and nod out. I have no respect for you.

You really put a lot of effort writing all those stuff. It may soon become a Library Book Stealers Manifesto or something.

Anyways, I agree that some of the books in the library should be available to the public. Some books at my school library are not allowed for borrowing. Books are not for display. Its purpose is to impart knowledge to its reader. In other words, to be read.

Are you referring to Reference books? If you are, there's good reason for them not to be lent out, and you CAN still read them at the library. Sure, there's that whole whiny bit about wanting to read them wherever you feel like it that the OP presented, but that's all it appears to be... a whiny rationalization.

I'm referring to some fiction books at my school like for example, "Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury". It is in one of the restricted portions of the library wherein you somehow need a permission from a professor just to read it.

Okay, now I'm forced to respond with "What the fuck?". F-451 is a new classic, a respected work about censorship, among other things. It's not that hard to get, and it is or at least used to be, a common option on high school reading lists. I can only think of a couple reasons that book would be restricted. One is that scumbag censors own your library like a little bitch in which case it's not really about access, because the system's been subverted, or the copy of F-451 they have some something very special, perhaps a limited edition, or original copy or something. Something that makes it valuable in and of it self, not as a piece of information. Demanding unlimited access to a valuable piece of work when copies are available is ridiciulous, and just leaves it open to less high-minded thieves... the ones who aren't looking to "open the flow of information" but instead make a quick buck by stealing from the public.

There may be another possibility I'm missing, but it doesn't seem to make any sense otherwise. It's F-451, ffs.

The tags will look like http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en-commons/thumb/9/98/180px-Blue_and_Purple_RFID_tag.jpg
that, and will usually be on barcodes, but not small ones.

I've taken a book (The Jungle) without checking it out from my school library but returned it after I had finished it. I could have easily checked it out but couldn't be arsed and so I feel it's justifiable.

There are other security measures, depending on the library. There are smaller security tags that get slipped between pages about three quarters of the way through the book. It is highly effective because they aren't easy to locate.

I haven't seen any where I live.

Some libraries spend more money on security than others; it simply depends on their security budget and where their books are processed.

These are REALLY common in text books, which makes sense considering how badly students get gouged on them.

I think that's the point right there. Irony of "censorship"... Hehe! I have no idea if its a limited edition but they should somehow get a copy for borrowing since I believe that some courses require or recommend that book.

Decent points but taking from them is taking from an entire community and then-some. That supersedes and makes you the asshole.

Minus 2 points for trying to make libraries out to be pricks when it is you disadvantaging others.

Oh and I'm sure when those pesky CCTV tvs catch you stealing, and the catalogue reveals you took 'the bomb making manual' they'll put it in some secret government file that your committed to bomb makijng so much so you're willing to break the law and one of the deadly sins for it.

Good points.

Additionally, there's a few e-learning communities on the 'net. You're "Knowledge must be free philosophy" would be better put to use by participating in those communities rather than stealing from libraries don't ya think?

Your method of "fighting the man" really isn't benefitting anybody.

At least steal from a bookshop.

If libraries seem "tight" it's because they're providing information for EVERYBODY in the community and not just you you selfish asshole. They are doing a fine job of spreading knowledge without some immature prick ganking their books.

Tell me fuck nuts... when you've jacked a pile of library books... do you let everybody regardless of who they are into your house to borrow or peruse through your collection without charge?

About the questions regarding the security tags:

Library books have either the RF tags that nshanin pointed out, which are typically attached to the inside or outside cover of the book (and can be defeated by running a razor through the tag to break the circuit, or simply by pealing them off), or they have the EM tags (the thin metallic strips) which are inserted either in the spine or betwixt the pages. The tags can either be removed manually (as instructed in that guide linked to in the first post) as well as taking Euda's advice to use butane, or you can wrap the books in aluminum foil, building a magic bag (aka a Faraday Cage), so the alarm won't go off.

As for how to find the tags between the pages, you should just be able to flip through the book, as the page that has the tag should stand out, or you can look at the book sideways and see which pages seem to stand out. If all else fails, you'll have to flip through the pages more thoroughly, keeping in mind that not all books have anti-theft tags, even in libraries that use the tags in the first place.

Barcodes, in and of themselves, do not set off alarms. As nshanin pointed out, if there's an RF tag on the back of the barcode, then yes it should suffice to peal it off (or cut through it).


What, pray tell, is the reason that some books are deemed to be 'acceptable' for us plebeians to take out of the library while others aren't?

Sorry, I fail to see what value a 'limited edition' or 'original copy' has that any other copy of the book doesn't, unless there are differences in the actual text (which would hardly be a reason for sacralization, merely a differing rendition that must be disseminated as all other versions are)?

Incidentally, there's a guide to getting free textbooks in that link in the first post as well .

And to Time Out Sasquatch, Trousersnake, thatcoolkid, and Ocular Gyric Crisis:

Since I have already offered you a rejoinder before you opened your traps in the first place, I can only suggest that you actually try reading the entire first post, before you bother showing off your utter lack of reading comprehension skills yet again (being sure to at least glance over the shit in bold....a point which apparently only Euda, and later SurahAhriman, bothered to pick up on).