No Money for Books? No Problem!

No money for actual books? There are multiple sources that can help overcome that obstacle, without having to deal with finding a library that has a specific book available, and it can be done from the comfort of the home. There are a couple Web sites that allow readers to exchange books for books, as well as sites that have books accessible online.

BookMooch and PaperBack Swap are Web sites where readers can trade books, in order to receive books in return. Getting involved in the Web site is really simple. Readers simply have to sign up, list which books they would like to exchange. The more books a user sends out to others, the more books they are able to receive. Typically, for every book someone sends out, they receive a book in return. However, with these Web sites, the book a reader gets in return does not have to be from the person they send their book. Instead, the sites use a point system. For every book sent out, a person receives a number of points which they can then use like money to ‘buy’ a book that they want to read. Once they request a book and receive it, the user can then keep it or put it back on the site for others to request.

While both sites allow users to receive books for nothing more than contributing to sending books out, BookMooch is unique because it allows users to use their points for other things besides just books. Users can use the points they receive and donate them to charities that BookMooch is committed to helping. Some of the charities include the Public Library Charity Fund, Books for Prisons, Charities for Children and New Mothers, and Books for Schools and Classrooms. Within each of those categories, BookMooch has listed various companies or organizations that are hosting specific charities. The site is working to help get everyone books who want them, not just those who can afford them.

Another great source to getting books when money is tight is Web sites that host books online for free that people can read. One popular Web site is Planet eBook. While the books are not necessarily popular fiction, there are multiple choices including Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, George Orwell’s 1984 and H.G. Well’s War of the Worlds. There are multiple Web sites that are dedicated to hosting classic literature online for the public to read. A few other Web sites are ManyBooks and Classic Reader. While not everyone would want to take advantage of these Web sites because they only host books considered as classics, there are those who enjoy the availability of these books online.

For those who would prefer to read popular fiction, Public Bookshelf is the place for them. The site is a place where authors can upload their stories, especially if they are newly published. Different genres available on the site include Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, and combinations of those. The Web site also allows authors to connect with their readers and learn what they could do to excel in the world of books, since they are able to have comments and direct interaction with readers. This site would also be a good place to receive beta readers for aspiring writers.

With money being tight, Web sites like those mentioned can be viewed as a relief to readers who may not be able to afford books to quench their thirst for adventures that books give. No one should be deprived of reading simply because of financial issues, and thankfully with more and more Web sites appearing that are hosting books online, readers will not have to suffer the loss of books.

Shayla