Bookmooch (Get books you want and send your no-longer-wanted books to good homes– almost free.) 

My stepdaughter Becky, a person whose taste in books I greatly respect and appreciate, recently told me about Bookmooch. I loved the name before I even knew what it was: “mooch” has always been one of my favorite expressions, and probably also one of my favorite things to do.

 To mooch is to take something that isn’t yours, usually with the owner’s knowledge and grudging permission, but not always.  If you “mooch” something from someone without telling them, it’s not considered stealing – exactly – because you’re 99% sure they won’t mind, and/or won’t really be too mad when they find out. You mooch something with the understanding that you will might replace or return it….

What is Bookmooch?

Bookmooch is an on line book sharing cooperative of moochers: people all over the world sending books to each other, using a point scale and the honor system. It is run by a man named John Buckman, who was concerned with several aspects of the international book situation. First of all, he was aware of the number of books that sit in people’s homes, never to be read (or read again.) Second of all, he realized that many books go out of print quickly, so that it is not always easy to find a copy of a particular older book. Third, he was concerned that it is very hard to get a book from another country, in another language, and encourages mooching between countries. There is a blog (http://blog.bookmooch.com) with RSS feed available, for specific updates and news.

Why Bookmooch and not the public library?

Truth be told, anything you can get through Bookmooch can probably be accessed (eventually) through a good public library. But when you mooch, you can keep a book as long as you like, because you own it. If you want a book in another language, the library will probably take a lot longer to find it and get it to you. And Bookmooch allows you to get rid of books in exchange for points, with a ratio that is much more advantageous than used book stores.

What’s the downside?

You are not going to find hot new titles on Bookmooch. A popular book can take a long time to find its way from your Wishlist to your home. And people do occasionally change their minds and decide not to send a book to you.

Final thought:

Bookmooch has the feeling of a genuine community of book lovers. The number of moochers is constantly increasing, and this is clearly an operation that will only get more efficient and rewarding with time. The more of us who join, the more choices we will all have. Bookmooch is a very welcome new tool for the hopelessly addicted bibliophile (you know who you are.)