As I have embarked on new projects over the years, there is often a period of acquiring books and other sources. This often includes purchasing at least some of them as I find it very helpful to have them on hand in physical form to read and reference.

As referenced in the title of this post, here are three themes regarding this process:

1. I enjoy finding, receiving, and reading the books. This is all fun. I like books, I like doing research. The books have a practical end – they are there to help complete my writing – but I also enjoy knowing them and having them.
2. Finding books can be time-consuming. Almost all books can be had. I have done a few projects where a few books are very hard to find, let alone get one’s hands on. You may need to consult multiple websites and search engines to try to find certain texts. (WorldCat can be helpful here as it can display how many libraries own items.)
3. And almost all books can be had for a price. If one is working with a budget or does not want to spend more money, this complicates the search. And how long can one wait to see if there is a cheaper price.

In some ways, the process is common across projects. Budget time and money to find and acquire books and then enjoy having and using them. At the same time, the particulars of finding and using books can vary quite a bit within and across projects.