What's the general view on turning up with an armful of books?

[jmo21]

as a highly expensive contractor, who is bound to be hated by many of the permies, turning up with a load of manuals seems particularly short sighted.

As others have said, google should be plenty helpful to find out all the little things you need.

[d000hg]

as a highly expensive contractor, who is bound to be hated by many of the permies, turning up with a load of manuals seems particularly short sighted.

As others have said, google should be plenty helpful to find out all the little things you need.

I don't think my role as a contractor is to memorise.

I take the point turning up with a stack of books may look weird, but I find companies which have a decent technical library tend to have better overall skills, not worse.
Can always take out a sub with O'reilly online, I just like real books though

[Shimano105]

I live by the phrase JFGI

[EddieNambulous]

I just subscribe to Safari .

[max]

I just like real books though

Read the books in the office, not on client site.

Unless it gives you some sort of pleasure, some sort of ego trip, to get one over your obviously less intellectual compadre's. You'll be real popular.

[RichardCranium]

I found leaving reference material at the client site meant it 'went walkies' to permies' desks. Even from my desk drawer with my name clearly written on the cover.

[Jaws]

I read my books at home, for a start it's too noisy in the open plan office (which means coding is a joy).

On the first week of this contract I brought in a couple of those mini/pocket o'reilly books - they weren't necessary as I was set up with internet access very quickly.

I've got safari, which can be useful if you are considering new technologies although using it seems a bit too much like browsing to everyone else.