In today's MMD 140309 there is a discussion of how to get a look at
a book that is out of print and/or is very expensive to buy.  Worldcat
was suggested as a source to use to find which library might have your
book in its collection.  You might be lucky to find a nearby library;
however, the odds are that it can't be found locally, but can be found
in place(s) somewhere in the USA.  Then what?

One can get actual access to such books via an inter-library loan.
No distant library will send the book directly to you for a week or
two.  However, most decent libraries have a reciprocal inter-library
loan set-up with many, many institutions, whereby the latter will
send the book to your library for you to take home for a set period,
measured in weeks.  (Of course, you must have a library card at that
local library.)

This policy is not limited just to books, but can include professional
journals.  Your library may be able to obtain a free copy that is not
available on line, or available only for a sweet fee, and get you a
copy of the latter for free, pursuant to some sort of inter-library
group purchase of overall access.  (I base the preceding on my wife's
regular use of these procedures through two local libraries.)

The fees charged by your local library will vary: some are free, some
are more.  Some are eager to help, others do it somewhat grudgingly.
Check it out.

Paul Eggert
Fountain Hills, Arizona