Hey, everybody, just read what you're comfortable reading in whatever form you read it in.

What I REALLY want to know is what you're allowed to bring on the plane that goes on your face, in your eyes and into your mouth.

And, ladies, are you now allowed to take a pocketbook (small or large) on the plane AS WELL AS a carryon or are you limited to just one? If it's just one bag, I'm trying to figure out how in the world I would squeeze everything I normally take into it.

Am I the only person who occasionally has several books going at the same time? One in the car always, just in case I am stuck somewhere and another on my night stand. So much easier to toss a paperback when finished. But then if I am into something really interesting I just might stay up all night to finish it.

I usually read up to 4 books at once. One or two are hardbacks and not amenable to the schlep. Another one or two might be paperbacks. I always have a book in my bag or briefcase. I read on the DC Metro, waiting for a case to be called in court, standing in an obnoxious line somewhere, etc. If you have a book to read, you can mentally go to another place and not worry about getting angry when you have to wait.

And, I just finished my 100th book this year (no joke). I read very quickly. It used to drive my exhusband nuts as he could not believe I was actually reading a book that quickly. I do not read quickly by design (no special speed reading courses, etc.). It just happened that way. I am in the middle of "Anna Karenina", a US history book, a book of Salvador Allende's speeches (slow going, but a trip to Chile coming up) and also poring my way through the Blue Guide to DC on the Metro this week.

On trips, I generally take "throw away" cheap novels, mysteries, etc., that were left here by my kids (or someone else). Kids are grown and on their own. If I read a book on a trip, I simply leave it where I'm done with it or give it to someone.

Not having a book on an airplane would be a serious problem for me, but I would survive.

By the way, there is nothing wrong with traveling with library books, but I don't think I would take them overseas.

I have taken library books to the beach for the kids when they were small.

I have taken library books to Europe and will again. No biggy.

The only reason I wouldn't take library books to Europe is that I would worry about losing them. It is less hassle to just toss the cheap novels and make more room in the suitcase coming home.

I didn't read all of the replies to your post so forgive me if I'm restating what someone else already said. I just got back from traveling on US Airways. I too reviewed the TSA guidelines before traveling.

I had puzzlebooks and guidebooks in my carryons. They didn't open my carryons at all except for the bag that contained my medical equipment. I also saw other passengers with magazines and a couple with paperback books.

The cost of replacing library books is to cover binding, classifying and handling costs as well as providing a deterrent to people who lose them.

Probaly no issue with taking them overseas as long as you realise the risk of loss is higher than taking them to your home and now is even higher given the uncertainity as to what will be allowed on.

As an aside, I was staying at the Pan-Pacific in Singapore and my paperback went missing. I knew I had last read in bed. Housekeeping was fantastic - they searched everywhere and it turned up in the hotel laundry. Yes it had been bundled up by mistake in the sheets when they changed the bed.

FauxSteMarie=
I'm impressed! And I can believe you=I lived with someone for a few years who had the same passion, and speed for reading. And equally amazed at the knowledge he retained. I once asked him an obsure question about music when he was napping, and he rolled over and sleepily churned out several paragraphs worth of information-including names and dates! Scary! :)

IMO if you travel on an international flight with books belonging to a public library checked into your luggage, it's the same as leaving them in someone else's hands in a situation with a greater risk of loss or damage. Fine if you do that with your own things, but different with things that don't belong to you. Libraries provide an important service to the local community, which is why I wouldn't think twice about taking a libary book to the beach or something, but not on a flight overseas.

Just returned from London, Heathrow. Books were not a problem on either end of the trip. You are allowed a small carryon, acutally I had a small backpack that fit in their measurement apparatus. But no solutions , lipstick, or gels of any kind. They were confiscating them left and right. Some people had purchased them at the duty free shops and were just out of luck. Where have they been ??. I know traveling

Just flew from Bristol to Toulouse and back. no problems with small hand-luggage
either way, though at Bristol we all had to take our shoes off!!!
we could buy any cosmetics and drinks we wanted airside at Bristol; not so easy at Toulouse as all they had was one cafe which was very over-stretched.
we took one case that had easily accessible pockets so that anything they rejected as hand-luggage could be placed easily in the case. Turned out we didn't need to do this, so I had to carry all my books.
boarding seems to be taking longer as they were hand searching carry-ons either a lot [Bristol] /everything [Toulouse]. but I felt safer - which is good.
hope this helps!