Barry states/asks
I'm not hearing much about this from folks over in the Uk or Ireland and I'm wondering, not having been to any singing things there in almost 3 decades if in their clubs, bars & where ever they hold their sings if they have encountered this "from the book singing" thing?
Possible reason for lack of UK responses is that the thread is headed "Rise Up Singing", and this is not that common a book this side of the great pond.
We do get singing from books/papers. I am sometimes one of those. For various reasons:
1, I decide to sing at the last minute with nothing prepared, scrawl the first lines of the verses on paper to ensure I've remembered them all, and get them in order.
2, sing something I've written the words to which is topical so must be done while still topical, but which will become rapidly outdated so it is not worth fully commiting to memory
3, something already sung prompts a particular song which I know I have the words for with me.
4, at the last moment the circle organiser suggests a 'themed evening' and I manage to track down a suitable song

Cheers

Nigel