dh and I don't lend books to anyone anymore either, in fact the only book we have lent out since making this rule hasn't come back 12 months later! and that's even after telling them why we don't lend books out anymore people seem to get a little annoyed too when we say they are welcome to read it here but not take it home... I guess they take it personally but hey after you loose so many books to 'friends' there are just some you don't want to let go of. A girl I know was given a beautiful book for christmas one year and some guy who wasn't even that good of a friend who was there for a chirstmas party took it without asking and then dropped it back a few weeks later with a note saying he didn't think she'd mind if he borrowed it and he left it on the front door step and he'd underlined and doggy eared several pages :0 now that is RUDE!