Is there a netflix-like service for books?

[MidnightCommando]

I know most people usually go to the library but the one in our town is the size of a closet and mostly conservative/religious titles. There is a fairly decent-sized library in the town where I work but since I do not live in town it costs $50/year and I do not want to pay that.

We have netflix which I love and is $15/month.

Is there a similar service for books? Not e-books either, I stare at a computer long enough during my day.

Thanks!

[Tortuga Mama]

A lot of libraries do inter-library loan - it takes a little longer, but maybe your small library participates and you could get books from other larger libraries sent to your smaller one.

[MidnightCommando]

I should have clarified that I do not want to use our local library. It weirds me out, plus they are few hours, most of which are when I'm away at work.

[annethcz]

Is there a particular reason you don't want to use the library in the town you work at?

$15/month = $180/year vs. $50/year for the library.

Have you heard of paperbackswap? It's not a lending library, but a free book swapping service. You pay shipping for all of the books you send out to other people, but you can request books from others and don't pay to have books shipped to you.
http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php

[fivi2]

To answer your question - yes there is. I have heard of bookswim.com and booksfree.com

I have not used either one. I asked for reviews of bookswim a while back and I don't think anyone responded. I like the idea a lot. To me it is about the convenience of having it delivered to me - getting time to browse at the library is next to impossible! But, for me the money didn't work out. I felt like for the money per month I could buy the same number of paperbacks on Amazon and then own them, kwim? paperbackswap might be good for you, but I haven't tried it.

Good luck - and if you do try a service I'd love a review!

[MidnightCommando]

Originally Posted by annethcz

Is there a particular reason you don't want to use the library in the town you work at?

$15/month = $180/year vs. $50/year for the library.

Where is my freaking brain these days? For some reason I was thinking $50/year was more than $15/month.

Good thing I'm not an accountant huh

Think I'll go get a membership.

[Keeta]

Originally Posted by fivi2

To answer your question - yes there is. I have heard of bookswim.com and booksfree.com

I have not used either one. I asked for reviews of bookswim a while back and I don't think anyone responded. I like the idea a lot. To me it is about the convenience of having it delivered to me - getting time to browse at the library is next to impossible! But, for me the money didn't work out. I felt like for the money per month I could buy the same number of paperbacks on Amazon and then own them, kwim? paperbackswap might be good for you, but I haven't tried it.

Good luck - and if you do try a service I'd love a review!

I just wanted to suggest to anyone who - like me - finds it difficult to browse in the library (not such a great toddler activity for mommy), that you can almost always browse from home when it is convenient and then just put those books on hold. There should be some kind of integrated system with your library's online catalog to reserve or place a hold on a book. If it's in your "home" library they will just take it off the shelf and reserve it for you. If it's at a different library location they will deliver it to your "home" library for pickup. You can usually check your hold status online, or sometimes they will email you when things are ready for pick up. They will usually just be on a shelf with your name on them, either self-service or the librarian/clerk will get them for you when you go it. It's great - you walk in, get your preselected books, walk out. Totally painless. And free.

[fivi2]

Originally Posted by Keeta

I just wanted to suggest to anyone who - like me - finds it difficult to browse in the library (not such a great toddler activity for mommy), that you can almost always browse from home when it is convenient and then just put those books on hold. There should be some kind of integrated system with your library's online catalog to reserve or place a hold on a book. If it's in your "home" library they will just take it off the shelf and reserve it for you. If it's at a different library location they will deliver it to your "home" library for pickup. You can usually check your hold status online, or sometimes they will email you when things are ready for pick up. They will usually just be on a shelf with your name on them, either self-service or the librarian/clerk will get them for you when you go it. It's great - you walk in, get your preselected books, walk out. Totally painless. And free.

Thanks! I did recently discover this about my library... But dh is at work during most of the library hours and I have twin toddlers... So even trying to run in and out is a pain! But I do make it work. There are just days when the thought of books arriving on my doorstep sounds pretty nice!

[Keeta]

Originally Posted by fivi2

Thanks! I did recently discover this about my library... But dh is at work during most of the library hours and I have twin toddlers... So even trying to run in and out is a pain! But I do make it work. There are just days when the thought of books arriving on my doorstep sounds pretty nice!

I totally understand. I do paperbackswap as well as the library. It's always nice to receive books in the mail.

[nukedwifey]

Originally Posted by annethcz

Is there a particular reason you don't want to use the library in the town you work at?

$15/month = $180/year vs. $50/year for the library.

: