In my experience the books I wanted to read we're often already on loan to someone and I would have to wait for them to be returned or for them to get the book

In my experience the books I wanted to read we're often already on loan to someone and I would have to wait for them to be returned or for them to get the book from another branch. It was particularly bad with series. I was pretty excited by the fact that I could buy my own books when I got my first job. I still miss Borders.