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There is only one cookbook that I've bought myself without having first checked it out from the library - which feels like a no-brainer, btw.

The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook: http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Bros-Southern-Cookbook-Southerners/dp/039305781X/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236010750&sr=8-1

And that was after they were interviewed on NPR. I was in the car listening to the interview during a drive back from Ft Worth to Dallas and I drove straight to a bookshop and purchased their last copy. And I love it.


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I totally agree with this -- I started checking out cookbooks a couple of years ago when my shelf space became more limited. My rule of thumb is that I need to make 3 recipes in the time it's checked out (our library has a 3-week term plus one 3-week renewal) that are successful, plus find 10 more recipes that I want to make to justify buying it.

More than once, I've found notes tucked into cookbooks from previous borrowers with helpful suggestions (use half-and-half instead of cream in a soup, for instance).

I belong to a cookbook club, but buying a new cookbook every month is just out of the question for me. Luckily, my library usually has at least 1 or 2 copies of the newest cookbooks out there. Sometimes I end up buying them, sometimes I just photocopy the recipes I like. (My latest test drive was Giada's Kitchen - the Grilled Shrimp in Artichoke Tomato Broth is incredible. The only thing I'd do differently is add a squeeze of lemon at the end.)

The only drawback I've found to borrowing cookbooks from the library is that they sometimes come with all sorts of splatters and grease stains on them, but that's just a minor inconvenience for me.

Actually, I love seeing the splatters and grease stains in library (and second-hand) cookbooks. It's proof that the recipe is good, or at least interesting enough to try.

I do this all the time. The selection is great, and what they don't have at my particular branch they'll just deliver from another. I've been renewing Baked since November haha. These cookies went down might well.

http://makingitwithmeleyna.com/?p=188

Heck yeah I do this! I currently have 366 Delicious Ways to Cook Rice, Beans, and Grains by Andrea Chesman checked out for another week.

I had David Lebovitz's "The Perfect Scoop" out for 15 weeks and only returned it after I received a copy as a gift (the New York Public Library loan period is three weeks and the renewal limit is five times). I recently returned "Fast Food My Way" and "More Fast Food My Way" without making any of the recipes but enjoyed skimming through for fun (love that Jacques Pepin recommended using potato flakes in one of his creations).

I checked out Martha Stewart's "Cookies" cookbook from the library, renewed it 3x, then sadly had to return it. Luckily my best friend gave it to me as a gift for Christmas! I love browsing the cookbook section of the library!

OMG. Checking out the cookbook stacks at the local public library is one of my most favorite pastimes. Good food brainstorming and there is something magical about the moment you pull that ONE cookbook off the shelf that is filled with earmarks and schmeared with foodness.

Currently have World Food Cafe, Local Flavors and Splendid Soups for me. My daughter has both Pretend Soup and Salad People checked out.

Swiss Chard, Parsley and Garlic Soup from Splendid Soups is simmering on the stovetop as I finish this note. Yum!

dangerous hobby. for some reason i cannot get a library cook book back in on time. everything else is ok. it's just cookbooks. i don't want to let them go and start to think they're mine already!

Yay, so glad people are using their libraries!

Scan the recipes you like.

In addition to this great advice, I would also note that most public libraries have a selection of magazines available, either that you can flip through there or check out for a week or two. I don't subscribe to any magazines myself (good way to save money!). Instead, I go to the library from time to time, and spend an hour or two flipping through magazines to find recipes I like. This way, you get access to lots of magazines (well, depending on what your library subscribes to but food magazines are usually popular) and can also look through back issues. For instance, if it's winter, I'll look at the current issue of a magazine, but usually find some good ideas from back issues from winter months in past years.

I love testing out the cookbooks at the library, but even MORE I like to buy used library copies online. You can get a $40 cookbook in like-new condition for around $15, and it'll often have the plastic library covering still on it (which is great for the messy kitchen environment).

Buy used cookbooks and keep 'em out of landfills!

I've got 3 different cookbooks form the library right now. I can't imagine buying a cookbook until I actually work my way through a couple of the recipes - of course I'm still trying to find the one that I got an amazing chocolate pie out of and then returned to the library without noting where the recipe came from.

I could not agree more! I am the hugest fan of the library!

Love the library for cookbooks and gardening books! I log onto the library catalog from home, search for books I want, reserve them or request them from another library, and then they call me when they're in. Fantastic! And worth the 50 cent charge for reserve items at my library.

I also belong to bomc2.com and get a new cookbook each month for about $10 plus tax, delivered to my house.

If you like what the Library has to offer by way of cookbooks to check out then be sure to see Rebecca Federman's "Cooked Books" blog: http://cookedbooks.blogspot.com/ Rebecca uses her blog to highlight the rich historical culinary collections of The New York Public Library.

Wow -- I'm kind of surprised so many use the library for cookbooks. Most people I know look at me funny when I tell them I do it.

I work across the street from the main branch of the NYC circulation library, so there is always a good selection of titles. But if you want something in particular, you can reserve the book online. I just picked up Andrew Carmellini's Urban Italian. I was able to reserve it even before the library had it in stock.