I’d like to be done with books. I’d like to have all our reference volumes online.

Unfortunately, in the real world, that isn’t happening yet. Of course, a great deal of our reference material is available online, but much of what we need still comes printed on dead trees.

One day that will change. But it’s not happening as fast as I’d like.

In the meantime, we get pocket parts in the mail every few weeks. These supplements to your books often cost more than $75, even though they may contain as few as 50 pages. It’s amazing.

Do you need the pocket parts?

Often, the answer is no. The law is well settled in some fields, and the pocket parts just don’t have much of importance. You can easily skip a year and buy the update the following year. It really depends on the particular book.

The pocket parts often just show up with a bill even though you didn’t order them. You are usually signed up for an automatic subscription when you buy the book.

The booksellers are counting on you to open the pocket part, stick it in the book, and never think about whether you need it. They just want you to pay the bill.

Don’t do it. Think before you insert. Don’t automatically keep the supplement. Decide whether it’s something you really need.

Don’t hesitate to ship the pocket part back if you don’t need it. Don’t worry, the publisher will keep you on the list for next year’s update.