What started out as a fun way for readers to connect and talk about their favorite books has spun into a dreadful disaster. BookTok is a part of TikTok where readers connect, recommend books, and share their opinions on books. It seems harmless right? However, BookTok has become an overwhelming monster with every video being 5 or 10 new recommendations you have to read. The volume of books being recommended is absurd as no person with a job and a life could possibly read all these books and keep up with their other responsibilities.
One major problem with BookTok is that every video shows a person holding these books in their personal collection. This consumerism is ridiculous as people feel pressured to buy books and add them to their TBR (to be read) list. Content creators show off their personal libraries which can be great, but it also has negative effects. Showing all these books or their latest Barnes and Noble haul can make reading a financial burden for some as people feel pressured to buy all these books.
As someone who worked at a public library for over two years, BookTok is problematic. It can be fun to write down recommendations and see if your local library has them. If not, you can get them from a different library in the system. But that takes time, and by the time you get the book and read the book, BookTok will have found its new big hit and you’ll be out of the loop. Pushing this aggressive consumerism, and the idea that if you don’t buy and read it now you’ll be missing out, is awful. Public libraries are great because they provide a variety of books and can make recommendations tailored directly to you. The best part about the library is that the books are free! This relieves a heavy financial burden since most books will run you at least $20 for a hardcover. These videos of people buying 7 or 8 books daily show an unsustainable lifestyle. Furthermore, since library books are free, and can be taken out or returned whenever, if you don’t like a book just take it back. Everyone has made the mistake of buying a book because the synopsis on the back seemed intriguing only to start the book and hate it. I feel so guilty when I buy a book and end up not liking it, but with a library, it’s stress-free. Someone can bring the book back and get a new one. We used to have a saying that life is too short and there are way too many books out there for you to read a book you don’t love.
BookTok is also ruining libraries since librarians feel pressured to buy all these popular books since patrons are asking for them. The only problem is these books will sit on a shelf after the fad for the book wears away. Libraries have set budgets and putting a book into the system takes time.
At the end of the day, libraries are a more sustainable option with greater public benefit. The singular copy of a library book will be read by numerous people, instead of these people each buying their own copy. Visiting your local library and using libraries, will make a strong case for the budgets to be increased in the future so more books can be bought and more programs to benefit the community may be run.