Buzz
There are numerous ways to fulfill the reading desires of avid readers who often spend a considerable amount on books. Hundreds of online book communities are exchanging and giving away their books, releasing them 'randomly' or organizing local meetups. Explore these methods, along with a few ways to find books through in-person interactions.
Steps
To Get Free Books
Online Book Exchanges. There are several well-known websites dedicated to book exchanges. Here are a few options:
- Join book-by-mail sites like BookMooch, WhatsOnMyBookshelf, or PaperBackSwap. You send books to other users and earn credits to request books for yourself.
- Sign up with BookCrossing to join a global community of readers passing books from one person to another.
- To avoid long-distance postage fees, look for country-specific sites online, such as BookSwapAustralia or the UK's Read It Swap It.
Join free book websites. There are no limits to giving away books, but that doesn't mean you can't find great reads. Some options include:
- Join the Freecycle community to find free books in your city.
- Use TitleTrader to search for books, movies, and music.
- Check the free sections of sites like Craigslist, Yerdle, or Freelywheely. Be cautious and only meet strangers in public, crowded places.
Organize your own book swap. If you have too many books, suggest a book exchange with friends and family. A one-for-one swap works best, regardless of the book's value. This keeps things friendly and focused on good reads rather than the quantity exchanged.
Search in charity shops. Charity shops and thrift stores often have free bins for items they can't sell. If you're lucky, you might live near a 'store' that gives away books, like Book-Cycle in the UK.
Look for public book exchanges. The Little Free Library project has been expanding miniature bookhouses on lawns and sidewalks. Many are listed on the project's online map. Cafes, libraries, and university buildings have long used the 'public book exchange' idea, but most are known only by word of mouth.
- If none of your bookworm friends have discovered these exchanges, search for an online forum in your city and ask about them.
- Starting your own is a great way to collect books and meet local readers. If you live in an apartment, ask your landlord if you can set up a book exchange in the lobby.
Watch for free book giveaways. Sometimes authors give away their books as a way to encourage purchases or gather reader feedback. The easiest way to find giveaways is on large book community sites like Library Thing and Young Adult and Children's Book Central.
- The Twitter hashtag #amazongiveaway often features ongoing book or ebook giveaways. Select 'Live' instead of 'Top' to see the most recent results.
- Many smaller blogs also host related content, but they're only worth following if you're already a fan. Browse directories of book bloggers online if you're interested in news from authors, editors, and others in the book world.
Make the most of libraries. If you think you've read all the books you're interested in at your local library, talk to the librarian. Most librarians will allow you to request books from other branches or borrow ebooks using your library card.
- You can request a specific book from the library manager or a friend of the library organization. Depending on the budget, library staff may help order the book and notify you when it's available.
Volunteer for book exchanges. If you know someone with an attic or garage full of books, offer to help them organize their shelves and exchange books you find during the process. Bookstores and libraries might also be open to book swaps if you help shelve books for a few hours.
Search for free ebooks
Find an ereader for your computer. Many ebook websites offer computer-friendly file formats, though reading PDFs or text files can be challenging. If you don't have an ereader but only a computer, try these free options:
- Download FBReader to read all popular ebook formats, including epub and MOBI. The Mac version was incomplete as of February 2016.
- Download Adobe Digital Editions to read epub formats.
- Read Kindle ebooks (MOBI format) using Kindle Cloud Reader, Kindle for desktop, or Kindle for Mac.
Browse free ebook collections. There are many online databases dedicated to free ebooks. They often focus on new or lesser-known authors, but there are exceptions. ManyBooks.net, GetFreeeBooks, and Free-Ebooks.net are some examples.
Explore public domain collections. The most famous of these is Project Gutenberg, which offers a vast collection of public domain works. Other similar projects include Internet Archive, ReadPrint.com, Europeana, and the Digital Public Library of America.
- If your country has strict copyright laws, downloading certain works might still be illegal. For example, Project Gutenberg Australia includes some works that remain copyrighted in the United States.
Check the free sections of ebook stores. Nearly every ebook store has a free section, including Amazon Kindle Store, Kobo, Nook Books, and Google Play Books. Lesser-known options include Smashwords, a popular indie publishing platform, and Feedbooks, a mobile-friendly ebook store.
Borrow ebooks from your library. An increasing number of libraries offer temporary, free ebook downloads directly to personal devices. Check with your library to see if they use the Overdrive app or another system.
Tips
- If you don't mind spending $2 or less on a book, you can find inexpensive books during library sales or surplus book sales.
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