[There was a time I almost always purchased books. Or, after reading a book from the library that I loved I went out and got the hard copy to keep. It was when I realized I simply can't keep them all, plus there are other ways to spend my money if I'm not keeping the books.
But how many books did you buy a year? These people are probably buying like 100-200 books a year.
Well, if I read at least a book a week, and always had a stack of books to read..... I also purchased new & used hardcover & paperbacks. Using the library depended on the library where I lived. In Massachusetts & Michigan I used the library on a regular basis. In New Jersey Keith worked for a publishing company that published tons of fiction, popular non-fiction & children's books. I basically read what he gave me to read. In Pennsylvania, California & Connecticut I only read what I purchased or borrowed.
It was living here that I realized I'm mostly purchasing paperbacks these days & began using the library to reduce the expense & collection. I've gotten rid of loads of paperbacks I don't want. I've kept most of the hard cover books even if I'm not a fan of it. At some point we will move & I will have to reduce the books by at least half.
It is funny that the stack of to be read books is mostly on my Nook now.