Today’s topic: Book-swapping. Do you do it? What site(s) do you use? How did you find out about them? What do you think of them? Do you use LT’s book-swapping column feature for information on what to swap? Do you participate in any of the LT communities that discuss bookswapping, like the Bookmooch group for example?
I certainly do book-swapping, how else could I have such a magnificent Mt. TBR? I’m grateful for BookMooch, because without it I wouldn’t have found LibraryThing, and without LT I wouldn’t be blogging. I heard about BookMooch on NBC’s Today Show, when they’d had a segment on free and almost free sites on the internet. The name “BookMooch” was catchy and easy to remember, which is a good thing because it was a week or so before I finally got around to signing up.
From BookMooch, I found LibraryThing through the “LibraryThing add” button. After a month or so on LT, I found out about PaperBackSwap, which is different enough from BookMooch to warrant both accounts. I’m very thankful for LibraryThing, because through the “other places to find ARCs” thread (now ARC Junkies group… YaY!) I found a lot of opportunities to get ARCs, and finally graduated to a blog, and more books than I could read in 2 years snowed in and alone!
I like the LT swap column fair enough, though it’s rarely accurate, and includes the UK only sites in the “books available” numbers. I do participate and enjoy the BookMooching group on LT. My current favorite BM thread is the “Book search for friends” one.
I not only enjoy getting books, but also sending them out to people who I know have been dying to read a book I’ve enjoyed, usually… though there was one book I was so glad to get out of my house (it was the worse book I’ve ever read).
Don’t forget to enter to win a $20 Borders Gift Card… or a $10… and now that there are over 500 entries, a $5 gift card is on the table! If we hit 600, I’ll add another $10, and at 700 another $5! That’ll make $50 in My First Ever Giveaway!
Filed under: Tuesday Thingers | Tagged: blogging, bookmooch, Borders, Borders gift card, gift card, Giveaways, LibraryThing, NBC Today Show, paperbackswap, swap |
In the Shadow of Mt. TBR 
I don’t do any of these fun things. What is wrong with me!? Craziness that is what it is!
I don’t know if I could do the whole book-swapping thing. I am probably too selfish. I just don’t want anything to happen to my books.
I think that my brothers traumatized me for life when I was younger. They would borrow my books when we were little and I would either never see them again, or if I did they were practically destroyed. So, I only let people borrow my books if I KNOW that they will take good care of them. I just can’t stand the thought of somthing happening to them.
P.S. Congrats on hitting over 500!
I am totally with you, one site seems to lead you to another, thank goodness! Enjoyed your blog:)
I just may have to try Book Mooching, seems like alot of work though. Is it?
I agree Book Mooch is a great name – when you hear it, you just have to go check it out. I’ve been finding a lot of opportunities to get ARCs, too. In fact, I’ve had to take a break on that until I can actually get some of them read!
My reading buddy only looks too big to be a bother while I’m reading…she has absolutely no personal boundaries, so she’ll climb into my lap (all 45 pounds of her!) or worm her way under my arm, or bump me with that big schnoz until I pay attention to her.
I know…who would have thought a few months ago we’d be so involved in our books coming in and going out of the house?
I never thought I’d get excited about giving something away, but I agree, it’s fun to send a book to someone who really wants to read it!
Lol I do like the name bookmooch 🙂
Ok, so after reading all your comments on other people’s Thingers replies, I’m convinced you and I need to start a BM fan club…
I also really enjoy sending out books to someone who expresses how much they want to read it. The only problem for me is that my friends and family swap so much that I found I couldnt keep up with BookMooch. I’d list a book one night and the next morning a friend/relative would ask “You don’t happen to have (such and such) lying around?” 🙂
Thanks for coming for a visit:)
I am partial to Paperback swap myself. My account has been on hold since we moved, I’m just now getting ready to jump back in. 🙂
I have accounts at both as well – they seem to compliment each other well, at least for me.
I’ve had an account at PBS for almost a year now. I’ve been thinking about adding one at Book Mooch but am unsure that I want to work that hard to be honest.
Though the journal swaps look like fun.