My secret to read books for free.
Did you know that you can request a book be added to your library’s collection? I share a lot of books on this blog that I’ve enjoyed and that I think are good reads if you want more ideas or inspiration for simplifying. And while you can order those books, and buying an author’s book is an effective way to support an author (but leaving an honest review online is probably an even better way to support an author in the digital age), you can also read those books for free.
You can read books for free and it’s really easy.
This is going to sound very obvious to some of you readers but, I think a lot of us need reminders about the obvious (myself included). Visit your local library. Book you were looking for is out? Put your name down on the waitlist and be patient. When we lived in Vancouver I would keep a list of books I wanted to read and add myself to the waitlist at the Vancouver Public Library website.
It could not have been easier to read books for free.
I would get a notification that the book I was waitlisted for was in and that it was pulled and waiting for me at the library. Three block walk to the library and I was picking up that book for free!
What if the library doesn’t carry the book you want? Request that it be added to the collection. As an author it has been thrilling to see my book in stores. But to see my book in a library has been an even bigger high. And when people have shared with me that they borrowed the book from a library or even that they requested it be ordered in? Amazing.
If you haven’t acquainted yourself with your local library in a few years I’m giving you this prompt to head down there now. See what your library has to offer. My very small library is part of a regional network of libraries. I can order in books from many different libraries if my local doesn’t have it. They also offer access to an online education system – FOR FREE – that has a catalogue of courses.
Here’s another thing I recently learned about the library network in British Columbia: you can access any library around the province with a BC One Card. So, say you are visiting a relative for an extended period of time or on a longer vacation, you can access the local library. Free people. Free!
Long ago I wrote about the death of print books. Guys, I was wrong. My aging eyes prefer paper and while I do read on a Kindle sometimes, my first choice is paper. I feel more and more that I need fewer screens in my life and while the e-reader offers me convenience, I don’t think I’ll ever just use it as my main reading medium.
I also see myself getting into audiobooks more as the kids get older and I have more hours in the day where I don’t need my ears available for breaking up squabbles and being alerted to children throwing large objects down the stairs for fun.
What am I reading lately? For free I read Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby, working on Booker prize winner A Long Way from Home by Peter Carey and plan to re-read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. Not for free I recently read Just the Funny Parts by Nell Scovell (think Tina Fey Bosspants-ish) and The Female Persuasion: A Novel by Meg Woltizer.
Here’s the point where I ask you to support a fabulous human with her soon to release book. I’m sure many of you know Brooke McAlary from her podcast Slow Your Home. Her beautiful home in Australia was also featured here in a families in small homes interview.
Brooke’s new book, Slow: Simple Living in a Frantic World, comes out July 10th in the US. Brooke is touring the US this summer – go see her! – and doing a lot to get the word out about this wonderful book. If you’re a Slow Home Podcast fan head out there and meet Brooke, hear her speak and buy her book. And again, you can support Brooke and read her book FOR FREE by requesting it at your library.
Do you make good use of your library? Or do you prefer to invest in buying the books for yourself? I do a mix. A lot of library use, some Kindle books and I buy hardcover if I know I am going to read it again myself and share it with others. Is there anything incredible about your local library? The free online course access my library offers still blows my mind.
I’m a trustee for my town’s library, and I love reading about people using their libraries. Please, make sure whomever holds the purse strings (in my town it is Village Board of Trustees that approves our overall budget and how many full-time positions we can offer) knows that you value your library and your librarians. People sometimes think that with so many electronic resources, how necessary is the librarian? But when we are short staffed or have mainly part-time employees* due to budget constraints, they realize the value of a professional librarian. Let them know you want your tax dollars to support your library.
*I live in the U.S. and because health insurance is employer-based, they only offer it for full time employees, and don’t offer enough full-time positions. People, especially kids, like to see familiar faces at the library. If you love your library, let them know it.
Thank you for these reminders. My husband is on the library board so I get some of my insider scoop on our library from him 🙂
A lot of libraries also let you read dozens of free magazines through the RB Digital app—which is amazing!
Libraries are such a good resource for families. I once fell victim to ordering books from Amazon or picking up the latest and greatest at Target. Although I prefer reading an actual book on paper, sometimes a Kindle read works best. The library online resource app has been so helpful. I’m in Colorado, and you can join any library in the state. I bet more states offer that kind of sharing as well. I can’t wait to read the new book by Brooke! How exciting. I’ll have to check the library. 🙂
Our libraries also provide access to the overdrive and BorrowBox apps, so we can borrow ebooks and audiobooks for free. I really got into ebooks when I was breastfeeding because it was so much easier to do one handed! And now I listen to audiobooks when I drive, or when I’m cleaning up after the kids are in bed
Yes, we love the library too!! And all the ones here have such great children’s programming, both drop in and registered, along with play areas for the littlest ones with basic blocks, puzzles, coloring etc. I also read your latest book from our library and I’m pretty sure I was the first one to have gotten my hands on the copy 🙂
Another really big thing here right now is “Free Little Libraries” where people have a cute little library box made and have it on their lawn with free books for the taking. Even our local parent resource center puts kids books in the little libraries. We love checking them out on our walks to see what new books are there and choosing which ones from home we are ready to pass on!
I have a dream of making a free little library outside my house. But that would take carpentry skills..
Great reminder about library programming. My oldest is in the summer reading club and it’s 2 hours of reading, arts and crafts once a week. Drop off! Free! We loved the contained soft play area for toddlers at the VPL on rainy days.
Yes! We love our library and am a huge fan of both holds and requesting books. In fact, I requested your most recent one earlier this year. 🙂 Libraries are the best!
I am a huge advocate for the library. At one point I made an effort to get rid of my non-necessary hard copy books and converted to Kindle / iPad books, but it isn’t the same. I prefer paper books; it gives me a sense of accomplishment (plus I never get distracted with a notification or something from a device).
I didn’t think to request books to be ordered, that is a great idea. A lot of books I want to read are by independent authors, and while I want to support them, I’d still much rather get it at the library.