Book Mooch

bookmooch

I’ve always been a bookworm, I can lose hours in a bookshop and never come away from one without an armload of new books to add to my stash. As a result I have a bit of a space problem. Most of the time I solve this by making regular trips to the Exchange Bookshop in Dalkey, a shop I’ve been going to since I was about 12 and it was just a little cramped room full of Fantasy and Science Fiction novels. Now I’m down in da country I don’t get to Dalkey so often and so my bookshelves are starting to buckle again.

I decided to go online and see if I could find anything that would help me clear out my library and I found a couple of book swapping sites (PaperbackSwap and ReadItSwapIt), unfortunately none of them would allow international members. Just as I was thinking I’d have to set up my own (ha!) I found Book Mooch which not only allows international “mooches” but you even get extra credit points for them. I love the design of the site too, the homepage illustration really jumped out at me (I’m a sucker for good illustration) and there’s also a blog by founder, John Buckman.

The way it works is:
1. You sign up and list the books you own that you’re willing to give away.
2. Other users email you requesting your books.
3. You send them those books and receive points in exchange (1 point for addresses in your own country, 3 points for international ones).
4. Using those points you can request books you want from other users.

Simple! I’ve already signed up and you can see my books here.

** Illustration credit Andrice Arp, courtesy of BookMooch.com **

12 Responses to "Book Mooch"

Add Comment

  1. Cathy

    June 11, 2007 at 4:44 pm

    That’s a great site. Do you know , where you “release” books in the wild or alternatively, send them away ?

  2. Cathy

    June 11, 2007 at 4:45 pm

    Ok, this did not come out right! http://www.bookcrossing.com is the address, bookcrossing then name…

  3. gingerpixel

    June 11, 2007 at 5:02 pm

    Hi Cathy, yes I signed up to BookCrossing awhile ago but so far haven’t released any books. I think the chances of me finding one where I’m living is just too remote but I love the idea of it.

  4. Cousin John

    June 11, 2007 at 7:05 pm

    hi claire, i just checked the email address i put in and its the gmail one so if you could forward on those photos that would be most awesome :-)
    good nighht the other night in Helen’s……

    talk soon,

    John

  5. flee

    June 12, 2007 at 2:40 pm

    Hey Claire…….just got caught up on your posts. I want to just say that I felt really bad for you and for Eve going thru all of that mess! I’ve learned, through experience, that you have to be aggressive, at least you do here…especially in hospitals. My son, Asher, was hospitalized for a week a few years ago with an asthma attack. It was horrible watching him suffer like he did. I hope Eve is finally back on her feet. Love your pictures too! Hope you are enjoying your summer.

    Love you much Claire…
    flee

  6. gingerpixel

    June 13, 2007 at 9:07 pm

    Hi Flee!

    I know what you mean…I would rather go through any pain or illness rather than watch Eve in pain.

    Hope you guys are enjoying the Arkansas sunshine!

  7. Mary

    June 14, 2007 at 5:29 pm

    Hi Claire,
    I am like you, from the attic to the downstairs loo my home groans with books. I have often wished there were book sharing clubs as well as book clubs. I could break the bank with what I spend at times.

    Will look into the site and see how things go, thanks for the head’s up!

  8. gingerpixel

    June 14, 2007 at 9:13 pm

    Mary, if you do join up you’ll have to let me know so I can check out your books! I’m really enjoying it so far. I’ve already sent 3 books to all corners of the globe and have 3 on their way to me.

  9. laurie

    June 18, 2007 at 12:34 pm

    hey, you can also sell books on amazon.com… you don’t make a LOT of money that way, but you can make a little.

    i did it compulsively for about three months (which is as long as most of my compulsions last) and i made about $100.

    i know they allow it internationally, because i’ve bought books from the UK and ireland. just go to their website, call up the title of a book you own and would like to sell, and then click on the little box that says “have this book and want to sell it?”

    it’s easy.

  10. gingerpixel

    June 18, 2007 at 1:09 pm

    Hmm, thanks for the tip Laurie, I may just have to give that a go. It’s funny I never thought of it since I’ve bought stuff from Amazon that way.

  11. Ann

    June 19, 2007 at 8:33 pm

    Brilliant! I can’t wait to sign up. The nearest bookstore is in Macroom, a 25-minute drive away. (And it’s not exactly Waterstones.) I’ve been mostly using the library and then going on book buying binges when I go up to Dublin.

  12. Pingback: gingerpixel » Book Overload