Lori

Benchmark Blog 5: BookCrossing

For those of you that don't know, I am a voracious reader.  I almost always have a book in my hand and with all the kids' activities, I have a lot of down time on my hands.  I go through approximately 3 books a week, sometimes more.  It has gotten to the point that I can't always remember the books that I have read by the cover, so I was trying to find some way to keep track of it.  I thought about blogging about each book or simply making an Excel spreadsheet, but I really did not like either of those options. 

A few weeks ago I was in Panera and noticed a sign that said "Free books."  I check a lot of books out from the library, because it is so convenient to my house, but I frequently forget to return them on time and end up with fines.  So I jumped at the chance for books with no return time-frame.  It turns out these books are tracked (at the discretion of the reader) on a website called BookCrossing.  I logged on and registered my book that I has "caught". 

It turns out that this was the perfect way for me to create a catalogue of the books that I have read.  I really like several features that the website has developed:

1. It allows me to review the books that I have read.  The reader makes journal entries about the books.  These can be anything about where you found it, where you released it, or what you thought about the book.  It also has a 10-star rating system. 
2. It allows me to choose the option of distribution.  The thought behind BookCrossing is for people to share books that are languishing on their bookshelves.  So when I "catch" a book, I go on and register it through the BCID number listed and make a small note.  I then choose the "to be read" option and wait to review it until I have finished.  But it also has a "Permanent Collection" option that I really like, because I can keep track of books that I have read, but that I don't intend to pass along.
3. It allows me to see that others are enjoying (or at least reading) books that I have donated.  I read a lot and not all of the books are worth keeping.  I used to pass them along to the local library.  If they are in really good shape, I still do.  However, some of the books I pick up from the thrift shop and are not usable for the library (a lot of have been discarded from the same library).  I would often re-donate them back to the thrift shop, but now I can pass them along when I go to Panera and let others benefit with free books. 
4. It also has a list of "BookCrossing Zones" which are registered places that have free books.  This is a worldwide program and you can find books all over.  There is a BookCrossing Zone locator that makes it easy for you to find one near you.  You can also choose to just tell people in the "Release Notes" where you have dropped the book.

I really recommend that you go check it out if you like to read.  It has definitely saved me a lot of money and provides me with a great way to track what I read.  The website is:  http://www.BookCrossing.com .  If you register, please put that I referred you.  My screenname is lorimadrid.