A voracious reader on a tight budget has many ways to satisfy his literary need. There are hundreds of book exchange and donation communities on the internet, local meetings and initiatives such as “Forget a book”. Read more about all these options and other ways to get books.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Getting Free Paper Books
Step 1. Exchange books on the internet
There are several websites that facilitate the exchange process. Here are some options:
- Sign up for a site like Troca de Livros. The platform allows you to exchange books through a scoring system.
- Join BookCrossing to join a worldwide community of readers who pass books from hand to hand.
- If you choose an international site, check if there is the possibility of exchanging books only with people from your country so as not to spend a lot of money on shipping.
Step 2. Access donation sites
They're not limited to books, but they're also a good place to find them. Here are some options:
- Take a look at local ads for people who need to get rid of some objects.
- The Tem Açúcar app lets you share things with neighbors, including books.
- Look for giveaway ads on sites like OLX and Facebook communities focused on trading, selling, and giving. When you schedule to meet a stranger, choose a public place with good movement of people and day.
Step 3. Organize your own book exchange event
If you have works that you no longer want to read, invite friends and relatives to a meeting at home and exchange. The ideal is to exchange one book for another, without considering the value, to lighten the mood.
Step 4. Take a look at the leftovers from the charity bazaars
Often charities end up donating items they can't sell. Look for these events in your city.
Step 5. Look for public bookshelves
Some groups have placed public shelves in open places, such as bus stops. Unfortunately, there are few initiatives in the country and it is not easy to find them. If you can, contribute and organize a public shelf in your city.
- If none of your library rat friends are aware of public shelves, look online.
- Creating your own reading and book exchange initiatives is a great way to meet other readers in your area. If you live in an apartment, ask the manager if you can put a bookcase in the common area of the building.
Step 6. Watch out for book donations
Sometimes authors donate a few copies for advertising or a critical review.
- Check out the #amazoniveaway hashtag on Twitter to see digital and paper book donations. You can also search Amazon itself or in forums that specialize in books or promotions.
- There are blogs that do giveaways, but it's not worth following several blogs just for that reason. Look for books themed blogs if you want to read texts by authors, critics and scholars in the field.
Step 7. Make the most of the library
If you have read all the interesting books in your city library, talk to the librarian. Some libraries allow you to borrow a book located in another facility.
Place a book order with the librarian. Perhaps he will include the work in the list of future purchases and let him know when it becomes available
Step 8. Organize a book exchange event
If you have a big garage, make a book exchange spree.
Method 2 of 2: Finding Free eBooks
Step 1. Download a digital book reader for free
Sites that sell e-books often use common formats, but reading PDFs and text files is more enjoyable with specific applications. If you don't have a book-reading device, but do have a computer, try these options:
- Download FBReader to read files of all formats including epub and MOBI. There are versions for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android and iOS.
- Download Adobe Digital Editions to open epub-like files.
- Read Kindle ebooks (MOBI format) with Kindle Cloud Reader, Kindle for PC, or Kindle for Mac.
Step 2. Browse the free digital book collections
There are several websites that are dedicated to promoting and offering e-books for free. They are usually by younger and lesser-known authors, but there are exceptions.
Step 3. Search for sites that provide non-copyrighted books
The most famous is Project Gutenberg, which has a huge catalog of works in several languages. There are also other platforms, such as the Public Domain, which is a Brazilian initiative.
Pay attention to the differences that exist between copyright laws, as each country considers a specific period. In Brazil, it is 70 years after the author's death
Step 4. Access the free digital book sections
Virtually all sites that sell e-books have a section of works that can be read for free, such as Amazon, Saraiva and Livraria Cultura.
Step 5. Borrow digital books from the library
There are libraries, mainly from educational institutions, such as Senac and public universities, which allow reading e-books using the internal network.