12 Social Networks, Communities and Exchange Sites for Book Lovers
Book lovers who want to get book recommendations, connect with like-minded readers and exchange books for free will enjoy these sites created specifically with the reading enthusiast in mind.
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Social Networks
Goodreads - With more than three million members, Goodreads is the largest social network for readers. Members can use the site to track what they are reading, make lists of books they would like to read, recommend books and form book clubs.
Shelfari - Shelfari is a global community of book lovers who share what they are reading by building virtual book shelves. The site is a good place to discuss and discover new books with friends and other readers around the world.
BooksWellRead - BooksWellRead is an online book journal for people who want to share thoughts on books they have read. The site can also be used to take notes and get book recommendations.
ConnectViaBooks - ConnectViaBooks is another global community for book lovers. Members can meet other readers, get recommendations on what to read next and write book reviews.
Sites and Communities for Book Groups
BookGlutton - This unique community for book groups allows members to read, annotate and discuss books online. Classic books are free to read online; more recent publications must be purchased.
LitLovers - LitLovers provides free resources to make the book club experience more interesting and fun. Resources include book reviews, reading guides, discussion questions, book club tips and literature courses.
Reading Group Choices - Reading Group Choices distributes a printed guide each year for book clubs. They also have a website that offers a monthly newsletter, recommendations for book clubs and regular drawings for free books.
ReadingGroupGuides - This online community for book groups boasts more than 2,800 reading guides, discussion questions and author interviews. ReadingGroupGuides also has monthly contests that award free books to reading groups.
Book Exchange Sites
BookMooch - BookMooch keeps used books in circulation by allowing members to exchange books for free. The site works on a point system that requires you to give away one book for every two you receive.
Bookins - This book swapping site, which has more stock than a large Barnes and Noble, allows readers to trade books and DVDs without ever contacting each other. Bookins pays for the postage when you send an item out and charges a flat rate of $4.49 for every item you receive.
Paperback Swap - Nearly five million books are available for trade on the Paperback Swap site. Members are required to pay actual mailing costs to ship books out but can receive books from other members for free.
Swaptree - Swaptree makes it easy to trade books, CDs, DVDs and games by allowing members to list an item they don't want and then displaying a selection of everything that can be received in exchange for the listed item.
